Terrible mistake! SPF50

[alorslanon]

Hello all, please can you help me! I’m 44, and my skin just looks SO awful. It’s quite dry but also greasy, and I’m just looking quite old all of a sudden. I’m currently fixated on the idea that I should be wearing SPF50 every day, so I’ve been applying regular suncream every day, and I’ve made it SO MUCH WORSE. Now i’m wearing moisturiser, sun cream AND primer, and my chin has broken out in spots and my whole face is peeling off. Something’s not right!

Anyway, any general advice would be much appreciated. But also, what SPF do people with (tired, dry but also somehow greasy) skin like mine recommended? I’m not made of money, but I am happy to invest if it will make a difference. Thank you so much.

Hi OP. I am 50 and been told I have nice skin. Since I was a teenager I have always cleanse, used toner/moisturer and now added an ageing serum. Morning and evening. It works. Once or twice a week I use a facial at home. Never too late.

Forgot to add, I drink plenty of water, good diet and exercise.

Altruist is great, they have a face cream with spf50, and they also do a tinted one. Their general sunscreen is also very good, not heavy or sticky. Also profits go towards helping albinos in Africa. You can get it on Amazon

Flawless tinted SPF50

Have to wash it off at night though ir get the same issues as you.

I use Neostrata sheer hydration with sunscreen SPF40 as a moisturizer and sunscreen in one. It's formulated for oily / spot prone skin. I was recommended it by a dermatologist and it's great.

What are you cleansing with?

@Seniorandjunior

There's a guy on Instagram called scamander14 and he regularly reviews and rates SPFs and has a data base of sunscreens. If you have time, it's definitely worth a browse. He's USA (or Canadian maybe) based but he does review mostly European and Asian SPFs. He's really good.

What's really interesting is the amount of SPF (which is the correct amont we should be using) he uses. I'm good for using SPF but I probably use half the correct amount. It's surprising how much you need.

Anyway. Currently I like Frezyderm.
I also like the Ambre Solaire one. Surprisingly good and so cheap. Heliocare or EltaMD mineral ones for running.
I dislike the La Roche Posay ones.
I am on a constant search for a decent tinted one.

Oooh yes my holy grail would be a decent SPF tinted moisturiser which doesn't require a second mortgage to buy.

James Walsh is another one good to follow.

I'm using Tesco own brand facial spf. No reaction

Nivea facial sun cream is amazing

Nivea facial 50 is amazing only £6

https://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/sun-care/ultra-light-daily-uv-defense-spf-50-pa----/WW0053KIE.html

This is the only sun block I like on my face.
It's a expensive but the larger one is only £10 more for twice the size. It's not greasy or claggy, which other mineral sunblocks are.

Hate the plastic packaging but using these twice a day has massively improved my skin

https://www.nipandfab.com/teen-skin-fix-breakout-rescue-pads

Lush did a powdered sunblock called powdered sunshine which works really well, but I can't find it. Hope it hasn't been discontinued.

Taking collagen supplants might help too.

A beautician recommended La Roche Possay but I only use mineral sunblocks on my skin, not sure if it is or not tbh.

I have loads of issues with sunscreen. I've just moved to mineral products and it is like night and day.

Current face sunscreen is Ultraviolette Lean Screen (space NK sell the whole range - there are two mineral products an SPF 30 and SPF50. Lean screen is the 50).
I've previously used REN Cleanscreen which was OK but I prefer the texture/ feel of the Ultraviolette. Clinique Citiblock upthread is also mineral and works for me.

LRP antihelios/ beauty pie face/ nivea face have all triggered bad reactions.

Bodywise - nivea/ ambre solaire/ sultan all been problematic - currently using Clinique mineral body SPF30 or an italian mineral products from Bottega Verte that I bought on holiday.

I honestly cannot say how nice it was to spend the jubilee weekend in the sun and not burn and not itch.

I always recommend the La Roche Posay SPF50 fluid. I also keep one of their sunscreen aerosols in my bag, and I then use that to top up during the day. It goes on really nicely, and doesn’t affect any make up you might be wearing.

I looked into UVA protection as I was really confused about this. As far as I'm aware the PA stars or PA+++ is primarily used in Asian sunscreens, as it was developed in Japan. Boots then started using it in their own brand sunscreens.

The weird thing about UVA rating, whether it's stars or plus, is that it is only in relation to the SPF rating. So if you have an SPF 10 and a really high PA +++++, it will still only be a low UVA rating, because the UVB rating is quite low.

The EU recommendation for UVA is shown on packaging when you see the letters UVA in a circle. This means that it meets the EU standard, which is that the UVA rating is at least one third of the SPF rating. So if for example your SPF (which covers UVB rays) is 30, then your UVA rating will be at least 10.

I think in the US, the words 'broad spectrum' mean that it covers UVA and UVB rays. So it depends on where you are really, they all have different rules. Talk about confusing!

Basically, look for a high SPF and UVA in a circle or a PA with 4 or 5 stars or pluses.

This explains it better -

www.wonderbaba.ie/blog/sun-protection-factor-uva-star-rating-and-uvb-explained/

Wow this thread is amazing! I was using Vichy spf 50 moisturiser and then I put L’Oréal Elvive daily moisturiser spf 30 over it. I would have very much recommended as It was all going great until lately my bronzer has started to pill off … I wear foundation & bronzer over them and I don’t know what’s causing the pilling as there are 4 products.

Please try nivea facial factor 50, no need for a moisturiser it leaves skin looking fab, only £6 in tesco u won't be sorry promise!!

La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 is the absolute very best. Its like a milk and very easily absorbed. You can also get it in a spray form which is good for topping up or if you forget to apply the cream you can just quickly spray yourself.

My teenage kids hate putting on suncreen but they don't mind this one.

gardinerfamilyapothecary.com/products/daily-skin-defence

i like this, but I do leave it for a few minutes to absorb before I put on my make up

I'm at the beach nearly every day.

I use one of these:

Skinnies LOOKS SPF30 Medium Tint, Broad Spectrum, Water Resistant, 75ml amzn.eu/3DzEoAA

Or

Skinnies 35ml SPF50+ CONQUER Sungel Sun Cream, Broad Spectrum, Reef Safe, Water Resistant 4 hours amzn.eu/9pXSAxf

It's the only stuff that doesn't hurt my eyes.

And this altruist tinted cream is SPF50. It's very nice but realistically only suitable for tanned skin as the colour is quite strong.

Altruist Dermatologist Anti Redness and Pigmentation SPF50 Tinted Face Cream, Unscented, 50 millilitre amzn.eu/1KWk3rX

Another one who recommends Clinique City Block. Stop the sun cream.

I find soltan too thick on my face..
Better ambre solaire ultra light or ultrasun

Second Biore Watery Essence, the best sun protection for face available.

Trinny London does a sunscreen bb type tinted cream that is good m. I wear it over moisturiser with spf in. No need for foundation or primer then either. My skin is a horrible oil slick and this seems to last quite well