Don’t let the threat of spots stop you from applying sun cream to your face! Find out how to protect against sun damage without the worry of breaking out.
Why use a facial sun cream?
We all know that your face can be vulnerable to sunburn without adequate sun cream but did you know that sun exposure can also contribute to other forms of skin damage?
When UV rays interact with the skin ‘free radicals’ are formed. These are highly active molecules that can cause irreversible damage to skin cells.
The extent of the damage will vary, depending on the length of time you have exposed the skin to the sun and your skin type, but can include premature skin ageing, pigment damage and the emergence of melanomas – a preventable type of skin cancer caused by UV light exposure.
Antioxidants are an important element of sun protection because they mop up free radicals and quench their damaging activity. By wearing a high-factor antioxidant facial sunscreen and reapplying it regularly, you can minimise your risk of experiencing such damage.
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Do SPF make-up and SPF moisturisers offer the same protection as facial sun cream?
SPF make-up and SPF moisturisers do offer effective sun protection but remember that the sun-shielding benefits that products offer will only be effective so long as they remain on the skin.
Once applied, our mineral SPF15 makeup should sit on the skin surface until removed so, you should not need to reapply these products in order to maintain your SPF15 protection.
What is the best way to apply sun cream to the face?
To get the best protection from your facial sun cream it should be applied in the morning after cleansing.
Our Facial Sun Cream has hydrating moisturiser properties and for this reason there is no need to apply a moisturiser or serum to the skin beforehand.
To allow the antioxidants and filters in your facial sunscreen time to sink into the skin, apply it 20 minutes before sun exposure, then reapply it every 2 hours to maintain the protection.
Can facial sunscreen cause spots?
A major cause of summer spots is blocked pores. These attract acne bacteria which feed off a supply of sebum that is found naturally on the skin. To avoid this, check your sun cream for signs of pore-clogging synthetic ingredients such as silicone and mineral oil.
Neither ingredient is used in Green People’s Facial Sun Cream, which is non-greasy and non-pore clogging.
Sweat can also clog the pores so be sure to wear a non-greasy facial sunscreen in the day and remember to wash your face thoroughly after a day in the sun.
A sun cream for blemish-prone skin
Penny is the author of the beauty and lifestyle blog www.pennyfrance.co.uk. Here she explains why Green People’s Facial Sun Lotion is the ideal product for her sensitive and blemish-prone skin*.
“I have always struggled with breakouts when on holiday and I believe this to be because of pore-clogging creams I have used in the past.
“I have extremely sensitive skin, I am allergic to fragrance and I use only cruelty-free products, so it can, at times, be difficult to find a suitable product for my face and skin.
“Whilst using Green People’s Facial Sun Cream abroad, breakouts were non-existent and it is not at all greasy upon application. My skin has reacted so positively to the product, that I now use this cream as my daily moisturiser as well as an SPF, I love it so much!”
“I loved it so much that I have now started using this cream as my daily moisturiser!”
Your post-sun facial regime
Even if you don’t wear make-up on sunny days it is important to thoroughly cleanse and hydrate your skin after wearing sun lotion.
DO YOU NEED TO WASH SUNSCREEN OFF?
Reapplying your sunscreen regularly will mean that you have built up a layer of cream on your face and it is likely that a pore-clogging combination of sweat and dirt will also have accumulated on the skin surface. This needs to be removed so that the skin can breathe and repair itself overnight.
HOW TO WASH OFF FACIAL SUNSCREEN
- To start, lift away and excess dirt from the skin surface by using an oil-based facial balm.
- Splash the face with water and then repeat the cleansing process using a cream cleanser or foaming face wash.
We recommend first using our Age Defy+ Ultimate Wonder Balm followed by our Foaming Face Wash. This alcohol-free face wash is balancing for combination skin types and contains antibacterial actives to prevent blemishes.
WHY APPLY AFTER SUN TO THE FACE?
It’s important to cool and rehydrate the skin after sun exposure and applying our antioxidant rich Hydrating After Sun has several benefits:
- Peppermint and Myrrh gently soothe sun-tired skin
- Nutrient-rich Aloe Vera helps to cool and restore a depleted skin barrier
- Antioxidant-rich actives neutralise free radicals which can linger in the skin even once you are out of the sun
- Olive Squalane keeps the skin hydrated to prolong your tan and prevent peeling
Adding an organic serum to your evening skin care or grooming regime will also help to alleviate skin dehydration. Light on the skin, our skin serums all contain a high level of antioxidant ingredients and sink deep into the skin tissue to help it recover from free radical damage.
