SPF day cream - what might I like?

[Schoolislooming]

Hello,

Now that summer has finally sort of arrived, I need a daydream with SPF. I'm a recent convert to Elemis marine cream and love all things Decleor but neither have SPF. I don't mind spending money on moisturiser - I always think you should (if you can) buy something decent if it's going to sink into your skin everyday.

I'd rather have SPF built into moisturiser than add it as another layer (too lazy).

Thanks!

[RedundantExpat]

I use Avene from the pharmacy. It has SPF20 and smells nice.

[bialystockandbloom]

Clarins hydraquench day cream has spf15. My skin is a weird mx of dry, combo and normal, and this suits me really well. I also love decleor too but prefer clarins for summer.

[QueenBoudicea]

Another avene user here too. I use the light hydrating cream - spf 20.

[BoomChicaBoom]

I understand that you'd like moisturiser and spf in one hit but please be aware that the spf only addresses uvb rays and often they don't have uva protection which are the damaging, ageing rays. Also, remember that you would need to keep reapplying to get the actual spf stated on the packaging. I'd always go for a seperate spf if you can. I'd recommend clinique city block spf 40 - not greasy and it may actually be moisturising enough for you depending on your skin type. Goes well under make up too

[Schoolislooming]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will try them all out to see what I like.

Boom - I didn't know that about SPF in moisturisers. Are there any that include screen for UVA and UVB? I might try City Block but I've only just started using primer to stop everything falling off my face - not sure if I can cope with yet another layer!

[mignonette]

I love Clinique CityBlock with built in SPF. You can buy it in different strengths. It is an oldie but goodie. Just Like me...

[mignonette]

Oh and I only use City Block- none of this primer and other stuff. It seems perfectly fine on its own.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

I read somewhere that the UVA (aging and tanning) protection is only about 30%. Again too the difference between a SPF of 30 blocks 97% of rays, but SPF of 50 only blocks 98%.

It isn't quite so simple ....

[BoomChicaBoom]

I'm not sure about moisturisers with both uva and uvb as I've always used a seperate one I'm afraid, you can look for any with titanium dioxide in the ingredients which is what reflects the uva rays but it wouldn't tell you how strong the protection is. If you have dry skin, possibly give boots no7 face anti-dark spot cream (or something like that!) a go as they all have five star uva protection, or la roche posay anthelios melt-in cream. If you have normal /combination skin, I'd go with the city block. Hope that helps! I'm a bit of an spf nazi, always carry it and constantly offering it out to friends who still believe you have to burn first before you can get a tan

[BoomChicaBoom]

Fleshwound, do you mean that city block only blocks out 30% of uva or sun block in general?

You're right about the not being much difference between spf 30 and 50. I saw a suncream in a shop the other day which was factor 2!! Umm, so just body lotion then?!

[Schoolislooming]

Thanks all - I feel educated now!

Will investigate City Block to see if I could replace my primer with it. Let's hope we get the sunshine to make it worthwhile!

[Itsjustafleshwound]

The article said that it was for suncreams that protect vs UVA.

[evertonmint]

I recently read into this and decided to go for a separate SPF to make sure I had good UVA coverage (seeing as I thought it worth using sunblock to stop aging, it seemed daft not to have one which blocked UVA which is the thing that causes aging!)

I am using this Clarins stuff and it goes on really easily and invisibly. And it takes about 10 seconds to do my face. I used to be a lazy arse with my face until a few weeks ago but this really hasn't added much time to my new routine.

[NickECave]

I recently swapped from Boots Lift and Luminate to Eucrin Even Brighter Day Cream (also available in Boots and about the same price) which has SPF 30. If I'm going to be outside for long periods on hot days I use a factor 30 sun block as well. Very happy with the Eucrin - it moisturises and plumps things up without being greasy and I'm prone to spots when I swap products, which hasn't happened this time.

[BabCNesbitt]

Probably a stupid question, but if you're using a separate SPF and moisturiser, do you put the SPF on before or after the moisturiser?

[juneau]

SPF 15 is not enough for every day (according to my dermatologist), so you should look for something with a higher SPF than that. I've read good review of Garnier Ambre Soleil BB Cream, which is shockingly reasonable at only £8 Garnier Ambre Solaire BB Cream

[juneau]

Sorry, I should say the Garnier one is SPF 30

Also, Clarins is having a sale at the moment, if you like posher stuff. Up to 40% off: Clarins

[juneau]

Clarins Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser with SPF 30: Here

[Vibbe]

I've been told that SPF15 is enough for winter (assuming you're not in the mountains with snow and so on), but during summer SPF30 should be the minimum.

Foundation, BB creams, powders and other makeup apparently doesn't give enough protection as you use a much thinner layer of makeup. According to WebMD, you should use around 7 times as much foundation as you normally do to get the level of protection that's mentioned on the label.

[evertonmint]

SPF after moisturiser.

[Schoolislooming]

Update - as city block is out of stock everywhere I got the Clarins one evertonmint linked to - it's great, doesn't feel like a sunblock at all and I can keep my fave moisturiser. Thanks.

[evertonmint]

Ah, glad you like it! I'm still loving it too :)