[imagesource: iStock / CoffeeAndMilk]

You’ve probably heard that the best skincare is sun protection and it’s true. From sun time to screen time, a good, broad-spectrum SPF is your skin’s BFF.

Or at least it should be a close confidante going forward.

A broad-spectrum SPF is one that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, which damage your skin differently.

UVB rays are responsible for burning (sunburn and potentially skin cancer), while UVA rays – making up more than 90% of all UV radiation – are responsible for ageing (fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation).

Broad-spectrum sunscreens include a combination of ingredients that offer full protection from both types of rays, including but not limited to zinc oxide, octinoxate, octisalate, and titanium dioxide.

But, did you know that a good SPF does way more than just protect your complexion from UVA and UVB rays?

While prevention is always better than cure, the new generation of SPFs do more than just protect your skin in the present – they work hard from the first application to forgive your skincare sins of the past.

Lamelle Helase Photo Repair Cream SPF 50 is an excellent SPF stocked at Skin Renewal, offering all-around protection and damage prevention for your skin.

It can physically repair skin cells on an atomic level thanks to the fact that it contains photolyase, a powerful DNA-repairing and DNA-correcting enzyme that physically corrects dangerous DNA breaks and “kinks” such as dimers.

Alright, let’s talk about the white residue.

If you think that wearing sunscreen every day means you have to make peace with a greasy, ghostly white layer on your skin, think again because those days are gone.

The new, innovative formulas sink effortlessly into the skin, delivering glow-getting benefits and even giving your go-to makeup application a boost.

An example of one of these “white residue be gone!” sunscreens is the anti-ageing, hydrating SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF50.

This high-protection, broad-spectrum sunscreen prevents sun-induced collagen breakdown, protects your skin from the ever-lengthening laundry list of environmental skin stressors, and leaves your skin radiant and glowing – with absolutely no white residue.

One of the most obvious signs in your 30s, 40s, and 50s that you’ve neglected to do your sunscreen homework in your 20s is pigmentation; dark marks and patches most often seen on the forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and chin.

Better late than never when it comes to applying SPF daily, 365 days a year, but do yourself a massive favour by applying one that can improve the appearance of your existing pigmentation.

NeoRetin GelCream SPF50 is an innovative daytime gel-cream and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen that supports epidermal exfoliation and renewal, combining potent anti-ageing and anti-pigmentation technologies.

The Pigment Control System in this product, a combo of Kojic Acid and Retinol Glycosphere, intervenes at all phases of melanin production and synthesis, ensuring the highest quality pigment control while diminishing surface pigmentation to create a clearer, brighter complexion.

Talk about an SPF superhero!

Since you’ve learned that doing the sunscreen homework when young can leave you with less work, later on, there are sunscreens for the young’uns, too.

Let’s talk about starting the SPF journey early.

The Heliocare range has two multitasking SPFs suitable for use on babies, toddlers, and children: Heliocare 360 Pediatrics Mineral SPF50 and Heliocare 360 Pediatrics Atopic Lotion Spray SPF50.

The “multitasking” part of these ultra-light, waterproof products is in how they protect young skins, meeting the highest photo-protection requirements while maintaining a healthy skin barrier, whether your kid is out and about in the sunshine or indoors in front of screens.

Both of these products are designed with sensitive skin and eyes in mind, too.

Whether you prefer a gel or a cream, an oil-free formulation or a tinted option, Skin Renewal‘s online skin shop has multitasking, broad-spectrum SPFs (SPF 30, SPF50 and SPF50+) for every skin type, skin condition and ‘how it feels on the skin’ preference out there.

From dedicated SPF ranges like Heliocare to holistic skincare ranges like Lamelle, SkinCeuticals and NeoRetin, chat to a doctor or therapist at your next Skin Renewal appointment about which SPF is the perfect for your bathroom cabinet, handbag, and beach bag.

Go well into the sun.