Be honest, do you only ever wear sunscreen when you’re on holiday, lying by a pool, piña colada by your side? Even when the sun is shining in the UK and we’re planning to spend all weekend steeping in a beer garden, some of us will happily go out without slapping on our SPF — never mind when it’s cloudy outdoors. If that sounds uncomfortably familiar, you *may* need to brush up on your suncare skills.
Take our polls below to see how your habits measure up, and follow our handy tips on how to boost the effectiveness of your year-round suncare routine for glowy, healthy-looking skin.
You know the drill. You need to use an SPF every single day, even when it’s cloudy. That’s because the UV rays that cause sun damage — which can result in dark spots, premature ageing, fine lines and even skin cancer — are always present, with up to 80% of the sun’s rays still potentially being absorbed by your skin on overcast days.
How about a product that can do both? The Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Face range is designed to protect like suncare and perform like skincare. Harnessing the brand’s sunscreen know-how, and adding hero ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, niacinamide and glycerin, means you get SPF50+ protection combined with formulas that help to hydrate and strengthen the skin. Easily slotted into your daily routine and applied to cleansed skin, these lightweight products don't leave a greasy finish.
If you ain’t got time for both, a moisturiser that also contains SPF feels like the ultimate beauty hack. However, it’s important to ensure you’re getting sufficient sun protection. Some moisturisers and foundations only contain low levels of SPF, and coverage can be patchy. Dermatologists recommend using a broad spectrum sunscreen (that’s one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of at least 30, and reapplying regularly throughout the day.
Dark spots occur when the skin produces excess melanin, and UV radiation from the sun is a key trigger. Sunscreen is your not-so-secret weapon when it comes to avoiding hyperpigmentation, and with Ambre Solaire’s Anti-Dark Spots & Anti-Pollution Super UV Protection Fluid SPF50+, you not only get high SPF coverage, but also hydration and protection from pollution-induced oxidative stress, with an ultra-light formula enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
You don’t have to totally overhaul your AM to PM skincare routine, but experts do suggest some simple tweaks as you come into spring and summer. These include switching to more lightweight creams, swapping creamier cleansers for gel-based ones and adding antioxidants such as vitamins C and E to your regime, which are known to play an important role in skin regeneration. Using non-comedogenic products that have been developed to avoid pore-clogging will also help to swerve any unwanted breakouts.
The reality is that most suncreams degrade after around two to three hours on the skin, so by mid-morning, you’re no longer getting the protection you need. That’s why it’s important to reapply regularly throughout the day. Our tip? Pick up Ambre Solaire’s Over Makeup Super UV Protection Mist SPF50, which can be applied over make-up to easily top up your protection during the day. It also has an ultra-light texture that gives an invisible finish on the skin.
If your sunscreen has been hanging around your beauty stash since the pre-pandemic era, it’s time to consciously uncouple. While most are designed to last three years, incorrect storage (in a warm place, for example) can make it spoil faster. Most experts therefore recommend replacing your suncream every year – which, let’s face it, shouldn’t be an issue if you’re using it every day.
Discover the Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Face range at boots.com
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
