You will have heard it a million times before: wearing a face SPF every day is key to healthy – and healthy-looking — skin. Finding the best SPF for face is key to blocking the harmful effects of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, which wreak havoc on the health of our skin and its cells, and leads to decreased collagen and elasticity, fine lines, pigmentation, and an increased risk of skin cancer if it isn’t used.
While historically SPFs have been quick to clog pores, felt greasy on the skin and left a white or grey cast over darker skin tones, nowadays formulas are much improved and are made with innovative technology. Applying an SPF now feels like an enjoyable step in your morning skincare routine, rather than something to dread. Look for formulas that have both UVA and UVB protection (find out more about sun protection here), a minimum of SPF 30, and a formula that suits your skin’s specific needs.
Another factor to consider in your sunscreen selection is its effect on the environment. While the science around exactly how damaging sunscreen is to our oceans is inconclusive, what ingredients should we be looking out for to make the best choice possible? We speak to marine biologist Professor Cinzia Corinaldesi from the Università Politecnica delle Marche and Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at Skin55, for a five-step guide.
The best Black Friday 2022 Face SPF deals
Coming from the US, Black Friday traditionally marks the day after Thanksgiving, which is also known as the day commencing the Christmas shopping season. Loved for its tempting markdowns and offers, it is also now a permanent fixture in the English shopping calendar. It is followed by Cyber Monday, with deals continuing until midnight that day. Historically, both days were 24-hour shopping events only, but retailers have now broadened their windows, with some running for up to 10 days — not including early Black Friday deals, which are already live now. So, when is Black Friday and when is Cyber Monday? In 2022, Black Friday falls on Friday 25th November and Cyber Monday on Monday 28th November.
Here are some of the best Black Friday deals for face SPFs available to buy now.
- DR BARBARA STURM, Sun Drops SPF50, was £115, now £86
- REN CLEAN SKINCARE, Clean Screen Mineral SPF30, was £33, now £25
- Ultra Violette, Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating SKINSCREEN™, was £34, now £29
- Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution SPF 50, Translucent, was £34, now £27
Avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate
The main chemicals to watch out for are oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are commonly used in sunscreen to absorb UV light. “We [have] demonstrated that oxybenzone, octinoxate and enzacamene caused complete coral bleaching even at very low concentrations,” says Professor Corinaldesi. Octocrylene is another chemical that’s potentially harmful to marine life, with the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory compiling a handy list of the ingredients we should try to avoid.
“Certain organic filters have been identified in water sources worldwide and there seems to be a suggestion that they are not easily removed by common wastewater techniques,” adds Dr Mahto. “Many of the filters have also been found in various species of fish worldwide — the impact of this is uncertain on the food chain.”
Opt for a mineral sunscreen instead
Mineral sunscreens, which typically contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are thought to be less harmful to coral reefs in comparison to their chemical counterparts. “Mineral sunscreens rely on inorganic filters, which form a physical barrier on the skin surface,” explains Dr Mahto.
It’s worth remembering, though, that some research suggests zinc oxide can also pose a danger to marine life. “Our studies indicate that zinc oxide nanoparticles are very harmful to marine organisms,” says Professor Corinaldesi, but adds that titanium dioxide with surface coatings — as found in Green People’s scent-free SPF 30 — “has a much lower impact on coral reefs”.
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Look for non-nanoparticles
Particle size matters, too. While nanoparticles can be absorbed by coral reefs, research suggests that larger non-nanoparticles (a label you’ll see on lotions) are better for the environment. Ren’s Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 uses non-nano zinc oxide, while Stream2Sea’s sunscreens contain non-nano titanium oxide. “Consumers should look out for sunscreens that use non-nanoparticles because nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are expected to be more harmful to marine organisms than non-nanoparticles,” explains Professor Corinaldesi.
Read beyond the ‘reef-safe’ or ‘ocean-safe’ labels
The increase in demand for eco-friendly sunscreens means that a lot of brands are now marketing their products as ‘reef-safe’ or ‘ocean-safe’. This usually means they don’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate — the two chemicals banned in sunscreen by countries such as Hawaii — but they could still contain other chemicals on the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory list that are potentially harmful to the environment. “Consumers should check the ingredients on the label of the products,” Professor Corinaldesi comments.
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Don’t forget the packaging
Beyond the ingredients in sunscreen, it’s important to consider the packaging as well, with discarded sunscreen bottles contributing, in part, to the 8m tonnes of plastic that end up in our oceans every year. Brands such as Green People are using recyclable plant-based packaging made from sugar cane; a much more eco-friendly option compared to traditional plastic containers.
From barely-there textures to subtly-tinted creams for when you don’t feel like wearing make-up, shop British Vogue’s edit of the 20 best SPFs for your face below.