MY SUNSCREEN WARDROBE
I’ve said it before and I’ll trot this line out every summer as long as I still have people listening – I am a living, breathing scientific study into why sunscreen should be your number one skincare priority.
I’ve lived all my life in Queensland, half of that holidaying every school holiday time at the beach; the other half living at the beach.
Even in the days when sunscreen stung like nobody’s business and we got a giggle out of the Coppertone billboard at Surfers Paradise where the puppy pulled down the pants of the tanned kid to show a white bottom, I was wearing sunscreen.
Long before rashies were invented, mum had us wearing t-shirts over our swimsuits. Our summer our clothes were permanently stained with zinc.
Did I think it was cool?
Not on your life. But when I “grew up” and was responsible for my own sunscreen application, the habit was already in place. My face especially has always been covered up and slathered on.
The result: skin that’s not of a leather-like consistency best found on a ridiculously expensive designer handbag. And so far no melanomas.
Touch a very big hunk of wood on that one.
I’d love to tell you that I have one go-to sunscreen. But I don’t. I have a whole wardrobe of essential sunscreens. Of course.
Want to take a peek inside my sunscreen wardrobe?
Everyday body - NIVEA Light Feel Every Day Sun Lotion SPF30+ ($16.43)
If I’m not off to the beach but I’ll be in and out of the house all day, this is what I reach for to slap on my arms and legs.
It’s beautifully light but still very effective. I used it every day during our recent trip to the US and never burned.
At the same time, I didn’t feel icky and sticky in my summer clothes.
Everyday face and chest - Invisible Zinc Environmental Skin Protector ($35)
My skin is sensitive to zinc. I know. Unusual. Many “natural” products I’ve tried (during my adult years) that have included zinc have caused my face and chest area to break out in red, itchy welts. This is not an attractive resort look, I can tell you.
But I’m happy to say that this zinc product and I are very much poolside cocktail friends.
The light consistency is perfect for under makeup and for ensuring I cover my chest area, which cops more sun exposure than my face most days.
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24 Responses to this article
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Kathryn October 11, 2012
Thanks for the tips I live in Victoria and swear by Nivea’s Daily Face Veil for under make up not sticky !
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Nikki @ Styling You October 11, 2012
Yes! Kathryn that’s a good one.
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Carolyn October 11, 2012
Thanks for the great suggestions. Some there that I will try this year.
The Ella Bache foundation is also great for total coverage.
I was very zealous with my daughter’s skin when they were young and they have thankfully kept up the regime.
The only tan they acquire is of the fake kind.
Can’t say the same for a lot of their friends, still sunbaking.-
Nikki @ Styling You October 11, 2012
My teenage daughter doesn’t bake but she only wears her rashie now if actually on her surfboard. I’ve conceded but on the condition that she’s plastered with 30+ and doesn’t stay out in the sun for hours.
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muttering housewife October 11, 2012
Clinique Superdefense SPF25 is one of the few creams I can put on my nose and chin without breaking out. They also make a body sunscreen that I haven’t seen in Sydney. I’m going to have to try the Nivea range when that runs out. Just got back from two weeks in Cairns and very proud that the whole family are the same colour as when we left. Melanoma is a killer. I survived but I was lucky.
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Nikki @ Styling You October 11, 2012
It is very much a trial and error if you are prone to breakouts or sensitivity with products – when you find something that works it’s a winner. Thanks for your tip!
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Norelle October 11, 2012
Everything in moderation – don’t; forget your Vitamin D levels, everyone, which are low in Australian women and children. Try to get about 20 minutes of exposure each day – preferably not on your face.
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franny64 October 11, 2012
Like you I had to wear a T-shirt and even a hat in the water plus that horrible liquid Block-Out. I am very glad now and ensure my daughters keep their beautiful, fair skin well covered!
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Nikki @ Styling You October 15, 2012
How badly did that stuff sting?!
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Seana Smith October 11, 2012
I still have to wrestle with some of the kids and could kiss you for letting me know about the spray one that will work on wet skin. Hooray, rushing off to purchase.
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HoneycombValley October 11, 2012
It would be good if people are also made aware that many sunscreens contain toxic ingredients. Do your research before slathering them on yourself and your kids, or try a mix of making your own using Zinc oxide and natural ingredients. Covering up and staying out of the sun during the peak UV times is also important…but we still need some Vit D too to stay healthy.
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Nikki @ Styling You October 15, 2012
Agreed, the ingredients are important but natural does not necessary mean no skin reaction – as I found out with zinc oxide in a “natural” product.
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Lisa October 11, 2012
I also use invisible zinc everyday but will look at getting the Nivea everyday sun lotion,great idea,and I also like handcreams with sunscreen in them as your hands are always in the sun driving,hanging out washing etc etc and they do show your age before your face ,my right hand looks a wee bit older than my left with sun damage that I am now trying to correct.
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Liz October 11, 2012
My mother’s famous words – ‘you’ll thank me when you’re 15′ when it came to being tackled and smeared with sunscreen as a little girl during summer holidays! I still hear her voice when I reach for the sunscreen, another 15 years on and I’m still thanking her – no leathery skin or sun damage!
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Nikki @ Styling You October 15, 2012
Yay for your mum too!
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Emmaly October 11, 2012
Love this article, like you I was in shorts & tshirt over my swimwear long before it was the done thing, I even had to wear a hat in the water and remember getting picked on at the beach. But now I still have great skin, although still very fair, I adopt many of the same practices I always have but now with a rashy or cheesecloth top, heram pants and more stylish hats. And my kids both wear rashies and shorts. The kids who aren’t covered up tend to be the odd ones out. I also relate to the chest getting more sun, I sunscreen there daily now as we’ll as my face
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Thea October 12, 2012
I use DMK (Danne) transdermal sunblock every morning on my face and neck. Absolutely brilliant sunscreen! If I am planning on being out in the sun all day, as on a recent trip to western Queensland, I put the invisible zinc foundation on over the top. I find it too heavy for everyday use, though. I’m still looking for the perfect body sunscreen, and will try the one for wet bodies this summer. We often use the one by Hamilton that is a clear, no sticky liquid. Sunscreens are he’ll on camera gear, and that is the main reason I am out in the sun. Generally I keep my pasty white body well covered.
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Sarah October 12, 2012
I use the Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery spf 30 on my face. It is wonderfully light. But so light that I am suspicious as to whether it actually works – any thoughts, anyone?
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Buttercup February 5, 2013
Sarah, it is a little expensive but I have been using that cream for a couple of years. It does work, and lasts for a long time
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