The mercury is rising, and a heatwave is heading our way. While some will celebrate a long spell of sunny weather, heatwaves also come with UV warnings, making sun cream all the more important.
Don’t leave your sun protection to chance. Discover how to protect your skin during hot and humid weather with sunscreen and heatwave sun care tips.
Key points
- The World Health Organisation advises that sunscreen must be worn whenever the UV index exceeds 3[i]
- During the hot summer months, the UV index can exceed 7[ii]
- Applying sunscreen regularly and liberally is the best way to protect your skin from lasting damage during a heatwave
- Green People Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 is our top heatwave sunscreen for sensitive skin
- It is also advisable to stick to the shade, wear a hat, sunglasses and light cotton clothing
Why use sun cream during a heatwave
In recent years, the UK's summers have become increasingly hot. With record-breaking heatwaves now a regular occurrence, we all need to be more aware of how sun can affect the skin. Unprotected exposure to the sun can lead to forms of skin damage that include:
- Sunburn
- Lasting UV damage, including skin cancer
- Premature ageing
To protect your skin from the sun, you need light cotton clothing, a hat, sunglasses and, of course, plenty of high-factor sun cream that protects against both ageing UVA and skin-burning UVB rays.
Is your sun care routine heatwave-ready? Continue scrolling to discover our top-pick sunscreen and everything you need to protect your skin during extremely hot weather.
Which SPF is best for hot weather?
Unsure which SPF to use during the heatwave? While SPF15 will protect your skin from 93% of UV rays, when the weather is warm, it's time to step up your sun protection to at least SPF30. When applied correctly, this will shield against 97% of burning UVB rays.
Discover our top high-factor sunscreen, Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30. Natural, organic and kind to sensitive skin and prickly heat, this is our bestseller for a reason.
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
£32.50
“The nicest sun cream I’ve ever used: Easy to apply, quickly absorbed and non-greasy. What’s more, we avoided sun burn during the recent heatwave when we were outside most of the time.” Verified customer
Some people prefer to use SPF50 on their skin during a heatwave. This protects against 98% of UVB rays.
Looking for a natural and organic SPF50 to protect your family's skin during hot weather? SPF50 is the highest level of protection we offer and is found in our Organic Children's Lavender SPF50 Sun Cream.
Organic Children Lavender Sun Cream SPF50 100ml
Discover peace-of-mind protection with our SPF50 sun cream for kids.
£29.00
Don’t be fooled by the packaging; while this high-factor sunscreen is part of our kids' range, adults can use it too! The whole family loves it.
“This SPF50 is amazing. Our daughter’s nursery will only accept factor 50, but so many of them are thick, harsh and irritate her skin. This is wonderful. Rubs in well but thick enough to know it’s doing the trick. Smells so good, and we often use it ourselves as well.” Jo, verified buyer of Orange Children Lavender Sun Cream SPF50.
“It keeps my son's skin safe from the sun, and my wife has also started using this one rather than the adult one as she likes it more.” Simon, verified buyer
How to apply sun cream during a heatwave
ü Apply high-factor sunscreen
ü Apply early
ü Apply sufficient
ü Apply twice
ü Reapply regularly
Sun cream is best applied liberally and frequently during a heatwave. Apply sun protection to all exposed areas of skin, including your face, arms, neck, and shoulders. Don’t forget the commonly missed spots: the ears, feet and scalp!
As a guide, we suggest applying a wallet-sized amount of sunscreen to each area, tapping the lotion into the skin to ensure it is fully absorbed before going outside.
Many of us fail to apply sufficient sun protection during a heatwave, risking sunburn and long-term sun damage.
To help prevent this, the NHS has recently updated its sun safety guidance. It now advises applying sunscreen twice: once at least 20-30 minutes before going outside, and then again just before leaving[iii]. Applying twice means you are less likely to miss any areas.
When to reapply sun cream during a heatwave
Don’t rely on once-a-day protection! These products may contain pore-clogging ingredients and skin-irritating UV filters.
Applying your SPF liberally and frequently is key to protecting your skin during a heatwave.
Reapply every 2-3 hours, especially if you’ve been sweating, swimming or have towel-dried your skin.
The sun is usually strongest during the hours of 11am and 3pm, so it is best to seek shade during these times. Of course, this isn't always possible. If you are heading out in the midday sun, even briefly, always reapply your sunscreen first.
More tips for coping with a heatwave
Keep cool and comfortable during hot weather with our heatwave tips.
Drink up: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to help cool your body temperature and prevent dehydration. This is especially important when working outside.
Remember that alcohol and caffeinated drinks can be diuretic, causing dehydration; for optimal hydration, stick to cool glasses of water.
Seek shade: Plan your week to minimise time spent outdoors during the heatwave and try to stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day, typically from 11am and 3pm.
It is especially important to keep children out of the sun during these hours. If you are out and about, stick to shady areas and consider using UV protection for your car windows.
Resist the urge to exercise outdoors in hot weather; instead, opt for indoor exercise in an air-conditioned room.
Accessorize
Sunglasses and a sun hat are essential must-haves for a heatwave.
Sunglasses labelled 100% UVA-UVB protection or UV400 will help to protect your eyesight from strong sunlight. A broad-brimmed hat will help to shade your face and neck but be mindful that some woven fabrics can still let sunlight through.
For optimal protection, choose a hat made from UV-protective fabric and strengthen your hair’s UV resilience by applying our frizz-fighting, UV-defence Protein-Boost Hair Serum.
Protein-Boost Hair Serum 100ml
Smooth your style with our certified organic hair serum and leave-in conditioner
£16.00
Air
To keep your house cool, invest in an electric fan and keep curtains and windows shut during the day. Once the sun has gone down, open the windows to allow fresh, cooler air into the house.
A Peppermint-infused after-sun can also help to make you feel cooler. Apply just before bedtime in range of the fan, and enjoy a cooling blast.
Hydrating After Sun 200ml
Keep your tan for longer with this moisturising natural after sun lotion
£23.00
Weather watch
Keep an eye on the forecast and check the UV index on your weather apps before going outside.
The UV index indicates the intensity of the sun's UV radiation and was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It recommends wearing sunscreen whenever the UV index exceeds 3ii.
Travelling abroad? Heatwaves don’t just happen at home; they’re common on the continent! While the UV index rarely exceeds 8 in the UK, it can reach 8 or 9 in Mediterranean areas. For a sun-safe trip, check the forecast for your destination, pack plenty of sunscreen, and plan your sightseeing for the cooler hours of the day.
Rest
It's never comfortable sleeping in a heatwave, so make time to rest during the day, especially if the hot weather makes you feel unwell.
We hope you have found our guide to heatwave sun protection helpful. To find a suitable sunscreen for a heatwave, browse our natural and organic sunscreens or visit our sun care routine finder. You can also contact our friendly UK customer care team on 01403 740350 or @GreenPeopleUK.
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "How to apply sunscreen in a heatwave." Please do not use an affiliate link.
This post is information only and should not be considered medical advice. Seek medical advice if you begin to feel unwell during a heat wave.
