Summer Skincare with Le Formulaire
Sunscreen is the cornerstone of every regime, particularly in the summer.
As the sun has started to appear, let’s talk about summer skincare! Our skin can cause us some trouble during the change of seasons, but now as we are finally shedding our winter layers, our skin should begin to feel a bit happier and hydrated than it may have during spring.
Our focus for summertime is, of course, protecting our skin from the sun. Exposing our skin to sun is essential to create Vitamin D and regulate our circadian rhythm - as well as hundreds of other processes within our system, however we have to be careful that we get this exposure as safely as possible to prevent sun damage that can be painful, lead to premature ageing of the skin, and in worst cases, contribute to skin cancer.
Sunscreen
The number one way to protect our skin is, of course, by covering it! Sunscreen is essential everyday. During the summer we recommend wearing SPF 30 and above, with SPF 50+ being the gold standard for summer. There are thousands of sunscreens to choose from, and plenty of debate over whether mineral or chemical sunscreens are better for you. Truly, the best one is the one that you know you’re happy to wear every day. There are hundreds of sunscreens to choose from, so we believe the best advice is to look for one that will compliment your skin type and feels luxurious over your moisturiser.
As the summer sunshine heats up our bones, you may want to swap your foundation in favour of a tinted sunscreen. This will not only give you a lovely sheer coverage during warm days, but the tint also acts as an extra barrier for blue light from the sun rays! A tinted screen is ideal for pigmentation prone skin due to the added protection the iron oxide ingredient provides. La Roche Posay’s tinted sunscreen is a gorgeous choice as is Interdermology Synergy 6. Most tinted sunscreen are geared towards light to medium skin tones, so unfortunately it can be difficult to find tinted SPF for deeper tones. Le Formulaire’s tip is to look towards Ultra Violette’s broader range of shades in SPF 50.
For oilier skin types, you might like to skip your moisturiser and just use a sunscreen to hydrate and protect your skin. We love to pair Revision hydrating serum with Heliocare’s gel-oil free SPF 50.
We also adore the Anthelios line by La Roche Posay for their handy pocket-sized bottles and their wide range.
How much sunscreen should you use?
When it comes to sunscreen, the more the merrier! We need to use a quarter of a teaspoon on our face and the same on our neck - this is about two finger-lengths worth.
If your sunscreen leaves you with a chalky look when using the correct amount, then do not use less to spread it out thinner, as this will compromise the efficacy. It is advisable to look for another option that does not have this effect. Equally, putting 2 finger lengths of sunscreen on at one time can take some time to rub in depending on the formulation. A Le Formulaire tip is to apply two fingers worth to your face and neck, wait a few minutes for it to dry down, and then apply the same amount again to ensure you are receiving the guaranteed protection level of your SPF without needing to rub your face for too long!
Some sunscreens will settle immediately after initial application, while others may not. If your favourite choice leaves you shiny, we recommend using a little bit of translucent powder on top to tone down the glow if needed.
When out and about in the sunshine, please remember to re-apply every two hours. If you’re sitting inside near a window, we recommend reapplying mid-way through the day.