The Summer Series: Summer, Sun and SPF

After a fair few emails from you lovely lot, the Summer Series is making a comeback for it’s second year running. In the UK we’ve currently been forcast almost a week of sunshine, with this weekend being amazingly sunny and super hot, so I couldn’t really think of a better time to start it. So get ready for summer makeup tutorials and outfit of the days, but for now I thought I’d give my two cents on the most essential summer skincare product – SPF.

I’m not a massive user of SPF every single day – I tend to work during the hours when you see the sun most, so on the rare occurrence my skin get’s some sun post 6pm, I take it sa my chance to get some much needed vitamin D (most of us are deficient and I’ve actually been diagnosed with this recently). But in the event of a sunny weekend, I like to make sure my skin is protected whilst I’m sipping squash in my garden, pretending i’m on a beach with a large cocktail. If you want to know more about SPF, Caroline Hirons has made a wonderful cheat sheet, which I love because she doesn’t have an SPF crazy approach to things – just nice and sensible.

When it comes to body SPF I don’t generally have a preferred favourite, it all depends on my budget and where i’m going really. But for face I generally tend to steer towards the French brands as I find they don’t tend to clog my skin and i’ve never burnt using them. My favourite has to be the La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC Fluid Extreme (SPF 30), a light, water resistant SPF for sun sensitive skin. It doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin and is perfect for use under makeup. I tend to use this one on cooler days where i’m in and out of the sun. For days – like today – where my bum is firmly glued to a chair in the garden, I like to go for something a little heavier. This is where the Vichy Capital Soleil Velvety Cream SPF 50 +* comes in. It’s much a much heavier facial SPF, and at first can look a little white on the skin, but once it sinks in it blends perfectly and has a wonderful smoothing effect on the skin. If I’m in the sun all day i’ll reapply regularly to make sure my little face remains burn free.

They both protect from UVA and UVB rays and are the perfect size for popping in your bag if you’re on the go. Now I just need to settle on a favourite body SPF – testing will be taking place over the next few weeks so watch this space….

19 Comments

  1. nicolina(:
    06 Jul 2013 / 12:22 pm

    Your glasses are so pretty!! I'm so happy your summer series are back :)x

  2. Aynur A
    06 Jul 2013 / 12:42 pm

    Your sunnies are GORGEOUS!
    ♥ Filthy Fashion ♥

  3. Lillian ParisianToBe
    06 Jul 2013 / 12:46 pm

    Im so excited for this series! I also love the La Roche-Posay SPF.
    xo Lillian parisiantobe.com

  4. Joanne Sheppard
    06 Jul 2013 / 1:14 pm

    The glasses are perfect. Interesting article as I'm one of those people who always forget sunscreen because it just never feels right on my skin. I may try these out in the near future

    JoanneSheppard.blogspot.co.uk

  5. Talisa Tossell
    06 Jul 2013 / 1:28 pm

    I love that vichy suncream!

    http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/daniel-wellington-classy-collection-in.html

  6. Catherine Fox
    06 Jul 2013 / 1:36 pm

    Love the sunglasses so much

    http://mynotsocrazyexistence.blogspot.co.uk/

  7. ellalogy
    06 Jul 2013 / 4:38 pm

    I love the La Roche Posay sunscreen. The sunscreen that has impressed me the most so far this summer has been the Boscia one, with SPF 50… the ingredients are very natural, and it's perfect as a base under makeup!

    Ellie | Ellalogy 

  8. Maddy
    06 Jul 2013 / 4:44 pm

    Love the summer series, I need to get a good SPF! xxx

    Maddy from UNSTITCHEDD 

  9. Anya
    06 Jul 2013 / 10:14 pm

    I'm an SPF obsessive! Its a really off day for me if I ever forget it haha. Lovely post!

    www.crazylins.blogspot.co.uk

  10. Celina
    07 Jul 2013 / 12:32 am

    So excited for your summer series!
    I have just purchased two new tubes of sunscreen after being sunburnt for the past couple of days.
    Hooray for summer!
    xx

    Celina | The Celution

  11. Jem
    07 Jul 2013 / 1:19 am

    This post is just in time as I'm going SPF shopping soon! (Haha sounds so geeky and weird now that I say it..)

    http://jemaroons.blogspot.com

  12. Mollie Browne
    07 Jul 2013 / 6:40 am

    I've been looking for a good facial SPF for my holiday so I'll pick up one of these!

    www.whatmolliedid.blogspot.co.uk

    xxx

  13. Vanja Smole
    07 Jul 2013 / 6:28 pm

    I'm trying to find a nice SPF cream for my face because I have acne, so it is quite difficult.
    I wrote my first post on my blog today, check it out if you have time, please!:)

    crayonsandbeads.blogspot.com

  14. Cassandra Perrin
    07 Jul 2013 / 6:36 pm

    Lovely sunglasses. I should really wear SPF on my face more often!

  15. Pippa Jones
    07 Jul 2013 / 8:49 pm

    Love the sunglasses, and like you spf isnt something I use every day spesh with our weather, but recently its something we are going to need!

    Pipp xx
    http://pippjones281190.blogspot.co.uk

  16. Madeline
    07 Jul 2013 / 10:25 pm

    Love the sunglasses ! Loved this post as I am a pale ginger-haired girl hah !

    Madeline | Its a Mads Mads World

  17. Aman Kaur
    08 Jul 2013 / 3:18 am

    Love the shades!

    xoxo, Aman | coffee chic | twitter

  18. My Daily London
    09 Jul 2013 / 7:30 am

    Beautiful sunglasses x

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    15 Jan 2015 / 7:58 am

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