Do I really need a separate SPF sun block for my face?

[notjustamummythankyou]

For years I have always used a moisturiser with an SPF - often SPF 15, and for the past couple of years SPF 30. Is this enough, or should I fall into the laps of the cosmetics giants and get a separate daily sun block?

I used to use Clinique city block many moons ago, but found it quite chalky and it made me look as white as a ghost. So, any recommendations? I'm 43 and my skin is pretty well behaved. I'm happy to spend anything up to clinique / Clarins / lancome kind of prices.

Ta!

Yes jaffa, but my point is that we are not in the habit of using enough of a separate SPF either. Whether we use 0.5mls of a moisturizer with spf50 or 0.5mls of a sunscreen with SPF50, the effect is the same. You need to slather on either to get the SPF quoted on the bottle. If you are using a moisturizer with SPF 50, then that's fine. i agree, spf15 isnt worth a curse.

It is cosmetically unacceptable to most of us to use the correct amount if sunscreen, just as it is cosmetically unacceptable to use the correct amount of a moisturizer to achieve the SPF quoted on the bottle.. By using SPF 50, we are getting a reasonable amount of SPF.

so after all of this you are agreeing with me :)

The OP asked if she needed a separate product with an spf....

I said yes, if she is using something which only has an spf 15.

Clearly there are no foundations or probably daily moisturisers with spf 40-50 ( except ones marketed as sun block pe se) so that's why I said what I did!

Perhaps I misread your original answer.

But there are moisturizers with SPF 50. I use one.

Sorry posted too soon. So if you're using a moisturizer or primer with spf50, that's fine.

I read an interesting article by Dr John Briffa here about how sunscreen may not actually prevent skin cancer, well melanoma anyway which is the most important one to avoid, he links to another one of his articles with more studies. Also read elsewhere about the mechanism by which sunscreen can cause skin cancer if not reapplied in the right timeframe.

It's all rather complicated and I'm undecided about whether to bother with sunscreen/sunblock at all this year. I use mineral foundation which supposedly offers some protection, and I have a Bare Minerals sun powder.

Those who use facial sunscreens, are they all day ones or do you reapply? I haven't seen any that actually say they offer all day sun protection, as some of the sunscreens do, but nor do the instructions say anything about reapplying. I wear mineral foundation so I couldn't apply a cream on top.

I'm tempted to try Ultrasun this year for days when I'm likely to be out in the sun a lot, as it only needs to be applied once a day so then I could use my normal beauty routine.

It's all difficult. We don't know if it prevents melanoma yet. We are presuming that it does but there isn't yet definitive proof. The other side to sun is aging from sun damage. There is a definite prevention from this with sunscreen. Make sure to supplement with vit D.

I use an ordinary spf50. I haven't yet found a comfortable all day one tho I see on another thread Ultrasun do one, must look at it. I wear make up every work day and use a Peter Thomas Roth powder with SPF 45 or 50 in it thru' out the day. I'll have a look and link it. On non work days it's easy to reapply SPF.

This one

Hi- op here. Thank you all for your comments and for the links - interesting reading.

I currently use a moisturiser with SPF 30 but don't reapply it. Jaffa -I take your point that this is nowhere near enough on hot and sunny summer's day.

I was in boots yesterday and noticed that many more of the suncream manufacturers are making sun protection for the face which is not oily. One I haven't seen before is Eucerin mattifying face protection (SPF 50 I think).

I don't wear much more than bb cream / tinted moisturiser most days, so a tinted SPF 50 would be good - two in one!

Jaffa - do you use the SPF 25 or SPF 40 city block?

I use the SPF 40 all year round- have half a tube of 25 left and will use it up but find it's a bit thicker- though I think they have possibly changed the formula recently so that the 25 and the 40 are both sheer.

I think the questions about whether it prevents melanoma are off topic in some ways- blocking UVA and UVB certainly helps slow down ageing caused by sun damage.

Funny you should say that. I've just remembered that I decided to try again with city block spf25 last summer, but mislaid pretty much a full tube. Had a rummage around and found it: its much more sheer than I remember (in fact its called City Block Sheer) and certainly not as greasy.

Its got a 24 month 'use by' on it. Going to give it a go - that's saved me £17!