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When it comes to SPF, not all products are created equal and you might be wondering what the difference is between high street SPF from the likes of Nivea, Ambre Solaire etc and medical grade SPF, like Alumier.
High street / chemical SPF
Most SPF’s or sunscreens you buy on the high street are chemical SPFs, made of synthetic compounds.
Active ingredients include things like avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate. Yeh – never heard of them have you? These chemicals don’t stop the UV rays from reaching your skin but are designed to stop those UV rays from causing damage to your skin – or at least that’s the theory.
Chemical sunscreens work by your skin absorbing all these chemicals and then when the UV rays hit your skin, these chemicals are supposed to turn them into heat and release them again.
The amount of chemical sunscreen you need to wear is significantly more than you’d think, to get the coverage it suggests. You also need to reapply every two hours when exposed to sunlight – even if it’s just day to day.
Most people wear high street SPF because they don’t know the alternative, they tend to be cheaper (although not always), they’re readily available and it’s what most of us grew up with.
If you’re choosing between high street SPF and no SPF, I would still recommend wearing something, but if you want a more natural, effective option, you want to consider…
Medical grade / mineral / physical SPF
Now one thing to say is, I wanted to differentiate between the two in common terms but actually you can buy some mineral SPFs on the high street. These are not medical grade – as medical grade skincare can only be sold through a practitioner, such as Christchurch Derma Spa Skin Clinic. Mineral SPFs are often referred to as physical SPF as they physically stop the sun’s rays from being absorbed by your skin.
The active ingredients in mineral sunscreens tend to be zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are minerals that literally block the UV rays from reaching your skin because they’re made up of tiny, opaque particles. They work by reflecting the light away from your skin.
Because the rays are reflected, the damage to your skin is reduced significantly.
When using a physical SPF, they can leave a residue on your skin. Some are more pronounced than others – you’ve no doubt seen the cricketers wearing white stripes on their faces? That’s mineral sunscreen but a very concentrated version, which is good for sports etc.
You’ll be pleased to know, you can get mineral SPF that isn’t bright white but still does a brilliant job…and I personally recommend the Alumier range, which I use myself.
Alumier SPF Range
The Alumier SPF range is a mineral sunscreen but because it uses micronized zinc oxide the particles are very fine and don’t create a strong white cast. All of their sunscreen products not only provide 100% mineral broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, they also help defend against pollution, HEV blue light & infrared radiation.
Alumier SPF is available in a couple of different options:
- Sheer Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (Untinted) – ideal for normal or dry skin and in the winter, when you need more hydration.
- Sheer Hydration Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (Versatile Tint) – as above with an added tint, which is great if you don’t wear makeup but would like a little bit of something to even your skin tone slightly.
- Clear Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – formulated specifically for oily and blemish-prone skin, this product is lighter than the Sheer Hydration and has oil-control technology to reduce shine.
If you’re not used to applying a mineral sunscreen, you may find it quite different to start with. If you don’t want it to feel at all heavy, I would recommend starting with the Clear Shield, as it’s a much lighter formula.
I would recommend applying your mineral SPF and then leaving it a few minutes before applying your make up. This allows it time to settle and reduces the chance of white marks.
If you have any questions about SPF, feel free to email me at the clinic on Kirsty@christchurchdermaspa.co.uk.
