Suncream for face, scalp and body: What’s the difference?
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Posted: 14/06/23
Whether there’s a rare British heatwave or you’re off on your holidays, suncream must be an essential on your packing list. First things first, when choosing suncream for your face, body and scalp, you should always consider opting for those that contain broad-spectrum SPF. This means you will be protected from both UVA and UVB rays – an essential. So, you’ve got your bottle of SPF 50 and you’re good to go, right? Wrong!
To properly protect yourself from head to toe, you should be applying a different suncream for your face, scalp and body. But why? Read on to discover the difference between each product and find out whether or not it’s worth the extra purchase.
Suncream for face
Just like facial and body moisturisers, face suncreams are formulated differently from body suncare. However, suncream brands are paying more attention to the ingredients included in their facial sunscreens and they are being created to the same standard as your favourite skincare products. There are even some that contain popular skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid!
Many brands of suncream for your face are formulated to be lighter, non-greasy, and easily-absorbed when compared to their body counterparts. If you have acne-prone skin you should avoid applying body suncream to your face, as it’s more likely to clog your pores and lead to a breakout. Many face suncreams are also designed to better protect the delicate skin on your face, like under your eyes. Don’t forget your lips either – you can protect them with SPF lip balm!
Ambre Solaire Uv Protection SPF50 40ml
£8.99
Nivea SUN UV Face Senstitive Sun Cream SPF50 50ml
£7.49
Nivea Sun Lip Protection 5.5ml
£2.99
Malibu SPF50 Face +SPF30 Lip Balm
£3.49
Wearing suncream with makeup
Worried about suncream messing with your makeup routine? Don’t be! There are products designed specifically to sit under or on top of your makeup. Most face suncream formulas can go underneath makeup, just remember to wait a few minutes before applying anything on top so it has time to soak into the skin.
For those of you on the go, a mist might be better as you can simply spray on top of your makeup and keep it topped up during the day. Most of them are translucent and won’t affect your look! For an extra boost of protection, consider using foundations and powders with SPF in. However, don’t use these as an alternative to suncream for your face, as they don’t offer the same level of protection. See them as an added bonus!
Suncream for scalp
We’ve all been there… after a day soaking up the sun you’ve woken up to find dry, dandruff-like flakes all along your hairline. Unfortunately, many of us forget about suncream for scalps and hairlines, which can lead to burning and peeling. The good news is that it’s now avoidable with many suncream brands releasing scalp-specific ranges.
The difference between suncream for scalps rather than regular body suncream is the formula. Understandably, people aren’t keen on putting lotions or creams on their hair, as it’s likely to become clogged up and greasy! Because of this, suncare brands have worked hard to create scalp suncream in powder and spray forms, which protect the scalp without leaving behind a greasy residue.
Putting suncream on your scalp can be overlooked, especially if you have thick hair. But the sun is powerful, and UV rays will find a way to get through. If you suffer with hair loss or have particularly thin hair, we suggest wearing a hat for ultimate scalp protection.
Sunscreen for body is more likely to be heavier and oilier than those formulated for your face and scalp. However, we don’t suggest swapping your body suncream just yet, as face suncreams are often smaller and not formulated to spread all over your body.
Sunscreen for your body is usually in a cream, spray or mist form, so just choose your favourite! If you are prone to burning, or have children, opt for cream as you tend to get better coverage than spray.
Calypso Sun Lotion F30 200ml
£3.99
Piz Buin Moisturising Lotion SPF30 200ml
£5.99
Hawaiian Tropic Luminosity Lotion SPF50 200ml
£4.99
Ambre Solaire SPF 50 Dry Mist Spray 150ml
£7.99
Nivea Sun Lotion SPF30 200ml
£6.79
P20 Original SPF 50+ Spray 175ml
£18.99
So, do I really need different sunscreens for different areas of my body?
In short, no. If buying three different suncreams isn’t feasible, stick to body SPF and apply it on your face and scalp too. Protecting these areas with body suncream is much better than not protecting it at all. And if you stick to a high SPF, body suncream should prevent your face and scalp from burning! However, keep in mind that buying suncream designed for specific areas could offer better protection, and be better for your skin!
The most important thing to remember is to be safe in the sun. Apply suncream regularly (ideally factor 30+), especially after swimming, avoid the midday sun and protect yourself further with hats and wear loose layers. Happy holiday-ing!
Suncream for face, scalp and body: What’s the difference?
Whether there’s a rare British heatwave or you’re off on your holidays, suncream must be an essential on your packing list. First things first, when choosing suncream for your face, body and scalp, you should always consider opting for those that contain broad-spectrum SPF. This means you will be protected from both UVA and UVB rays – an essential. So, you’ve got your bottle of SPF 50 and you’re good to go, right? Wrong!
To properly protect yourself from head to toe, you should be applying a different suncream for your face, scalp and body. But why? Read on to discover the difference between each product and find out whether or not it’s worth the extra purchase.
Suncream for face
Just like facial and body moisturisers, face suncreams are formulated differently from body suncare. However, suncream brands are paying more attention to the ingredients included in their facial sunscreens and they are being created to the same standard as your favourite skincare products. There are even some that contain popular skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid!
Many brands of suncream for your face are formulated to be lighter, non-greasy, and easily-absorbed when compared to their body counterparts. If you have acne-prone skin you should avoid applying body suncream to your face, as it’s more likely to clog your pores and lead to a breakout. Many face suncreams are also designed to better protect the delicate skin on your face, like under your eyes. Don’t forget your lips either – you can protect them with SPF lip balm!
Wearing suncream with makeup
Worried about suncream messing with your makeup routine? Don’t be! There are products designed specifically to sit under or on top of your makeup. Most face suncream formulas can go underneath makeup, just remember to wait a few minutes before applying anything on top so it has time to soak into the skin.
For those of you on the go, a mist might be better as you can simply spray on top of your makeup and keep it topped up during the day. Most of them are translucent and won’t affect your look! For an extra boost of protection, consider using foundations and powders with SPF in. However, don’t use these as an alternative to suncream for your face, as they don’t offer the same level of protection. See them as an added bonus!
Suncream for scalp
We’ve all been there… after a day soaking up the sun you’ve woken up to find dry, dandruff-like flakes all along your hairline. Unfortunately, many of us forget about suncream for scalps and hairlines, which can lead to burning and peeling. The good news is that it’s now avoidable with many suncream brands releasing scalp-specific ranges.
The difference between suncream for scalps rather than regular body suncream is the formula. Understandably, people aren’t keen on putting lotions or creams on their hair, as it’s likely to become clogged up and greasy! Because of this, suncare brands have worked hard to create scalp suncream in powder and spray forms, which protect the scalp without leaving behind a greasy residue.
Putting suncream on your scalp can be overlooked, especially if you have thick hair. But the sun is powerful, and UV rays will find a way to get through. If you suffer with hair loss or have particularly thin hair, we suggest wearing a hat for ultimate scalp protection.
Sunscreen for body
Sunscreen for body is more likely to be heavier and oilier than those formulated for your face and scalp. However, we don’t suggest swapping your body suncream just yet, as face suncreams are often smaller and not formulated to spread all over your body.
Sunscreen for your body is usually in a cream, spray or mist form, so just choose your favourite! If you are prone to burning, or have children, opt for cream as you tend to get better coverage than spray.
So, do I really need different sunscreens for different areas of my body?
In short, no. If buying three different suncreams isn’t feasible, stick to body SPF and apply it on your face and scalp too. Protecting these areas with body suncream is much better than not protecting it at all. And if you stick to a high SPF, body suncream should prevent your face and scalp from burning! However, keep in mind that buying suncream designed for specific areas could offer better protection, and be better for your skin!
The most important thing to remember is to be safe in the sun. Apply suncream regularly (ideally factor 30+), especially after swimming, avoid the midday sun and protect yourself further with hats and wear loose layers. Happy holiday-ing!
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