As a nation that isn’t always blessed with a natural dosage of vitamin D from the sun, we have been pretty lucky lately. The high temperatures over the weekend almost had me wanting to leave the house in a swimsuit -not to mention the amazing weather we have today! But being the ‘conservative Irish girl’ that I am, I had to resist the urge to give in to this socially unacceptable behaviour (if you don’t get the joke, then you simply do not cyber stalk me enough, hashtag just saying).
But back to skin protection and the misconception that black people do not need to wear any – I know, zero to one hundred, how do I do it? I can imagine some pro-black melanin proud individuals reading this, and thinking ‘how dare she?’ But I’m sorry to break it to you, your melanin is no guarantee against skin cancer. We all need to protect our skin from the external environment, regardless of skin colour or tone.
If you are one of my day one followers, then you would know that I am quite an advocacte for sunscreen, even on days when it isn’t sunny (which is most days in the Great emerald Isle). I’ve spoken about this previously, so without delving too deep into the reasons why you should protect your skin from UV rays throughout the year, I’m going to be discussing some of the sun protection products I’ve been trying over the past few weeks and then give you some top sun protection tips from the experts themselves 🙂
Uriage Bariésun Spray SPF 50*
Uriage Bariésun Spray SPF 50+and Uriage Lip Balm
“Uriage Bariésun Spray SPF 50+ is a very high protection sun lotion which has been enriched in Uriage Thermal Water which provides moisturizing and protective properties. This lotion is hypoallergenic, and designed to sensitive skins.”
This spray quickly made it to my list of must-have summer products after only one use. Unlike some other sunscreens I have tried in the past, this doesn’t leave any grease or a white hue. It absorbs in the skin very quickly and almost leaves a mattifying affect on the skin. It is super light and has a pleasant fragrance too.
- Final Verdict: Out of all the sunscreen products I have tried in the past, this is by far my favourite!
- Rating: 1000% yes
- Price: €30, pharmacies nationwide and www.uriage.ie
Payot Sun Sensi Spray Protector SPF 30*
Payot Sun Sensi Spray Protecteur Anti-Age SPF30
“Payot’s Sun Sensi Spray Protecteur Anti-Age SPF30 is an airy-light, invisible, non-greasy, cooling milky mist that provides high protection against UVA and UVB rays for the body. It is water-resistant and has anti-ageing benefits.”
This high protection sun screen is air-light, water resistant and has anti-aging properties. It provides and SPF of 30 and is best used every two hours. Unlike the Uriage spray, this payot sunscreen is used for the body only. It is a bit greasy for my skin type on my face and didn’t leave the mattifying finish I would have liked – much like the majority of sunscreens, in fairness. Thankfully, it does leave an invisible finish with no with hue at all!
- Final Verdict: Points lost for not being face-friendly, as it is specifically designed for the body.
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Price: €32, pharmacies nationwide and www.payot.ie
Swatches !!!
One spritz of each product,L: Uriage, R: Payot
Natural light,no flash
Neither of the two products left sunscreen marks or a white residue so that’s always a win if you’re going to be out showing your pins at the beach! 🙂
Top tips from skin experts at Uriage about staying protected in the sun:
- Try to avoid being out in the sun when it is at its hottest. This is generally around 10.30am -3.30pm in the summer months.
- Use your clothes to cover-up vulnerable areas and sit in the shade if it is at all possible.
- Find a hat that will provide extra cover. One with a 3 inch brim can give you adequate protection.
- It might sound obvious, but make sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin, and when doing so make sure to use a sufficient amount of product, use two layers rather than one to be safe.
- Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before leaving the house, and importantly remember to reapply every 80 minutes or after any swimming or sweating even if using a waterproof formula.
- Kids love swimming when on holiday – but make sure that after they get out of the pool or sea that you dry them with a towel and reapply sun screen.
- Finally, do not forget to apply to these areas on yourself and young children – the top of the head, the ears, nape of the neck and also feet!
*Both products were gifted, but all views remain my own. Full disclaimer here.
Share this on social media:
Related Posts
- 10000The sun is finally back! This means, we’ll have a few summer-related beauty posts with plenty of tips for keeping shiny skin in check – always a priority in summer weather! So are some of the first things that spring to mind when you think of summer? Ice-cream, light clothing, the…
- 10000My final post for Acne Awareness Month will be about dealing with summer breakouts. As you well know, our bodies produce more oil and perspiration tends to increase during the summer. This can lead to acne breakouts, which is why it is important to take extra care of your skin…
- 10000They say it takes 21 days to form a habit: you leave mascara on your lashes today, you forget to wash your face tomorrow and before you know it, going to bed with a full face of makeup becomes a normal part of your life. Sleeping with makeup is probably one…
