Review: Top 5 Favourite Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin!
Whether we like it or not, sunscreen is a must for all of us – especially in the summer months when we’re hitting the beach and soaking up the sun. If you’re spending the day at the beach reach for an SPF30 or higher and make sure you reapply every hour or after you’ve taken a dip. Dermatologists and skincare experts recommend that the average adult apply at least a shot glass full of sunscreen to your body when you’re out in the sun so make sure you slather it on good! Of course, not all sunscreens are created equal and finding one you love can be pretty much trial and error -especially if you have sensitive skin! So, to take the nightmare out of finding a sunscreen fit for a queen this summer I’ve taken the liberty of trying out loads of different sunscreens to bring you my top 5 favourite sunscreens for sensitive skin. There’s one for every type of gal and every skin type so keep reading to find the ideal sunscreen for you.
Lipidol Sunscreen Oil
Best for: Those who hate sticky sunscreen residue on the skin.
I know what you’re thinking; an oil-based sunscreen sounds super weird. But, hear me out. This stuff is liquid gold ladies and is one of THE best sunscreen I have ever used. While you might think putting an oil on your skin might spell bad news when you’re going in the sun, this oil does a great job of protecting you from harmful rays. The SPF 20 oil is great for lasses who spend a responsible amount of time in the sun (I’m talking a quick sun tanning session not hours-long stints in the sun) and who want their sunscreen to put something back into their skin (this oil supplements the skin’s natural oily layer that is stripped away by sun, wind and water). I was amazed at how quickly this oil absorbs into the skin and how soft and smooth my skin felt after applying. There was no sticky, greasy residue and I wasn’t compelled to wipe it all off seconds after applying (an urge I am always fighting with other sunscreens). This sunscreen is non-comedogenic, meaning it is designed not to cause blocked pores so it’s the perfect solution for lasses with sensitive skin. I also loved that my skin had a beautiful glow to it which, I won’t lie made me feel a bit like a Greek goddess on the beach.
The Lipidol oil range is exclusive to Clicks stores nationwide and the Lipidol Sunscreen Oil will set you back just R79.95
Safari SPF40 Moisturising Sunscreen
Best for: Those who want a sunscreen with moisturizing properties.
This lovely sunscreen from local company, Crème Classique, is a must try for moms and their families. Safari Sunscreen is well known in Joburg but for everyone else in the country, it’s relatively new to the market. I honestly can’t believe it’s taken me this long to find the Safari range of sunscreens and now that I have I’m hooked! Developed by local dermatologist, Dr Hardie de Beer, the Safari sunscreen range is designed specifically for the South African sun. The Safari SPF40 Moisturising sunscreen helps protect the skin against both UVA and UVB rays while also keeping your skin moisturised. I love that this sunscreen can be swapped out for your daily moisturiser in the morning and the fact that it keeps my skin feeling hydrated and beautifully soft even when I’m at the beach! This powerful sunblock will protect your skin for 2 – 5 hours while swimming and can even be used as a night cream! But wait, there’s more! If you loathe lugging around a massive tube of sunscreen everywhere you go then you’ll be thrilled to know that Safari have also launched a handbag and travel size pack which offers 5 x 20ml tubes of the SPF40 moisturising sunscreen in one convenient pack. I keep one in my handbag and my car so I am protected wherever I go! These little bottles of sunscreen are also perfect for your kids’ schoolbags and will allow them to easily reapply sunscreen before after school sports activities.
The Safari Moisturising SPF40 Travel pack will set you back about R130 while the full 200ml size retails for R170. Find the Safari Sunscreen range at leading pharmacies nationwide as well as online here.
Cetaphil Daylong High Protection SPF30 Face & Body Liposomal Spray
Best for: Ladies who love a spray-on sunscreen that is kind to sensitive skin.
One of the main reasons I love this water-resistant sunscreen spray-lotion from Cetaphil is because it’s perfect for getting to those hard-to-reach parts of my body that almost always end up getting sunburnt. It’s also a bonus that it can easily be used on both the face and body without causing any irritation or blocking the pores. Most sunscreens for the body can be quite thick and goopy and there’s no way I would put them anywhere near my face. But the Daylong sunscreen from Cetaphil is hypoallergenic (meaning it’s kind to sensitive skin) as well as non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores!). The incredible 2-in-1 product for lazy lasses like me – the less product I have to carry around with me the better I say! The formulation of this lotion includes Aloe Vera and Vitamin E which also helps to keep the skin moisturised and protected from the drying effects of the sun. The Cetaphil Daylong sunscreen is the ideal choice for busy outdoor types and is very water resistant making it great for water babies who love to linger longer in the pool.
The Cetaphil Daylong SPF30 Face & Body Liposomal Spray is available from Clicks and Dis-Chem stores nationwide starting from R154.95.
Juliette Armand SunFilm Face Gel SPF30
Best for: Those who hate the greying effect that sunscreens with zinc oxide have on the skin.
This unique gel-based sunscreen is perfected for ladies who love to look and feel great while outside in the sun. The tinted sunscreen isn’t a cover-up or for makeup purposes but rather helps ladies, who hate the greying effect most sunscreens have on the face, to look more natural and radiant when spending time outdoors. This fabulous sunscreen offers a non-oily, quick absorbing formula so it feels beautifully light on your skin all day long. I also love that it is designed to help strengthen the skin’s natural regeneration and keep you looking a little bit younger for longer. This is a great sunscreen for ladies who wear sunblock every day and can easily be applied under makeup. The fact that it doesn’t wash out your complexion means that it’s great for ladies who wear a full face of makeup every day as well as ladies who like to go mostly au naturel with their makeup. If you’re looking for something a little but different to complement your skincare routine then I would highly recommend going for this incredible daily sunscreen!
The Juliette Armand SunFilm Face Gel SPF30 is available from leading beauty salons and spas nationwide at a recommended retail price of R 605.00 for a 55ml. For stockist information visit the Poise website.
BioNike Defence Sun 50+ Very High Protection Lotion
Best for: Those who love a super high SPF coverage.
This light-weight, water-resistant sunscreen is ideal for sensitive skin and is nickel-tested, preservative-free, gluten-free, and fragrance-free. In addition to the basic sun protection, BioNike claim that this product also helps to prevent photodermatoses, pregnancy chloasma and pigmentation disorders for people whose skin is hyper-reactive to the sun. I love this product because it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky residue on the skin. The product is ideal for face and has a triple-action protection affect meaning it not only helps defends against short-term damage (UVA & UVB) but it also defends against free radicals generated by IR radiation and against long-term, biological damage (thanks to the “PRO-REPAIR Complex” that helps to strengthen repair mechanisms in the skin).
Find at Dis-Chem stores nationwide at a recommended retail price of R149.95.
wonderful, thank you, now i know what to shop for <3