We’ve all heard how important wearing sunscreen is all year round, but wearing this skin-saving skincare product is even more important in the summer months as we all come out of hibernation and head outdoors to make the most of South Africa’s glorious sunshine.
The thing is, not all sunscreens are created equal and this must-have product has come a long way since the thick, greasy formulations of your childhood. We’ve rounded up our favourite sunscreens from some of the best skincare ranges, perfect for everyday wear, whether you’re chilling makeup-free poolside or popping it on under your makeup for a midday rooftop end-of-year function.
Say ‘Hello!” to Helase from Lamelle
Helase is a DNA-correcting, topical skin cream with the revolutionary Photolyase Enzyme that physically repairs skin cells on an atomic level. What this means is that when you wear a Helase sunscreen brought to you by the Lamelle team, you’re both protecting your skin from future sun damage and turning back the clock by repairing the damage caused by your skin sins of the past. What we love about the Helase range is the fact that you have two options – Lamelle Helase Urban Defence 30 and Lamelle Helase Photo-Repair Cream SPF50.
While both sunscreens offer broad-spectrum, high-protection and repair DNA damage, Helase Photo-Repair Cream SPF50 is a thicker consistency that delivers a dewy skin finish, while Helase Urban Defence 30 is a lightweight formulation that delivers a matte skin finish once absorbed into the skin.
Which one you choose boils down to personal preference texture-wise and your lifestyle:
- Helase Photo-Repair Cream SPF50 is water-resistant, making it ideal for sweaty outdoor workouts and in-out-in-again poolside and beachside activities.
- Lamelle Helase Urban Defence 30 isn’t water-resistant but it contains a technology that reduces the effects of particulate matter (pollutants), making it ideal for those living in urban areas, more likely on any given day to be navigating the concrete jungle rather than a trail run with an ocean view.
Interestingly, for many Helase fans, it’s not about choosing one or the other but rather having both – SPF30 in the makeup bag or handbag and SPF50 in the beach bag or backpack.
Think sunscreen is glossy, sticky and whitening? Think again…
Lamelle Nourish Multi-Active Sun 30 is a highly active, organic, broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides maximum protection from UV radiation and free radicals while giving you no excuses not to wear it. If you avoid including an SPF in your morning skincare routine (after your moisturiser and before your makeup) because you don’t like the white residue and greasy, sticky feeling of sunscreen then this is the SPF for you.
Containing Pycnogenol, a very powerful antioxidant that soaks up excess free radicals and protects your skin from UV damage, this product’s claim to fame is that it’s “non-whitening, gloss and stick free.” So, not only will using this sunscreen daily keep sun damage at bay, but it will also have your skin looking healthy and radiant too.
Looking for an SPF that targets pigmentation, too? Look no further…
NeoRetin GelCream SPF 50 is an innovative daytime gel cream with a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen that supports epidermal exfoliation and renewal, combining potent anti-ageing and anti-pigmentation technologies.
Suitable for non-sensitive skins with brown marks or pigmentation that are showing signs of skin ageing, this product has exfoliating properties which help to diminish surface pigmentation, creating a clearer, brighter complexion. How? Well, it contains a Whitening Booster System (including Kojic Acid and Retinol Glycospheres), which intervenes in all phases of melanin production and synthesis to ensure the highest quality pigment control.
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, but that’s not all… this product also boasts Retinsphere technology – a new delivery system that helps to lessen the irritation of Retinol. Two words: You’re welcome!
And last, but not least…
Because prevention is always better than cure.
The Protect range by SkinCeuticals range includes three broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens containing chemical-free UV filters. These sunscreens are suitable for daily use and all skin types and SHINE – delivering optimal and comprehensive environmental protection – when used in combination with the SkinCeuticals Prevent range.
SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF 50 is a high-protection, broad-spectrum sunscreen that prevents sun-induced collagen breakdown. By applying this product daily, you will protect your skin from environmental damage, prevent premature ageing, hydrate your complexion and see radiant, glowing results – all with no white residue.
SkinCeuticals Oil Shield UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 is a lightweight, mattifying formulation that reduces oiliness while delivering high UV protection with a fresh dry-touch finish. Offering broad-spectrum UV protection against UVA and UVB rays, this sunscreen provides optimal protection, is super comfortable to wear and – thanks to the fact that it contains Silica Silicate – absorbs sebum and minimises the appearance of pores, too.
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 offers your skin water-resistant, broad-spectrum protection. It contains high levels of Zinc Oxide, together with Artemia Salina, a plankton extract that increases skin’s resistance to UV- and heat-induced stress. The magic of this formulation lies in its translucent colour spheres which adapt to every skin tone ensuring your complexion appears not only even but luminous.
We’ve all heard the saying, “The best skincare in your 40s is skincare is sunscreen in your 20s”. The bad news is that no one can go back in time and listen to their mothers or grandmothers but – if you’re closer to 50 than 20 – you can incorporate sunscreen into your skincare routine at any age and reap the rewards of the multi-tasking and anti-ageing formulations available in our Skin Renewal Online Skin Shop.