A Man's Comprehensive Guide To SPF Skincare
SPF is one of the most important tools in our grooming arsenal. Ashley Ogawa Clarke explains why.
Apr 01, 2023
About Ashley Clarke
Ashley Ogawa Clarke is an editor and writer, and a consultant for Humanery. Ashley is the former Deputy Editor of MR PORTER, the online menswear destination, and has previously written for US Vogue, GQ Style, the Telegraph, Wall Street Journal and the Observer among others. He has been writing about men’s skincare for ten years, and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan.
Wearing a decent SPF is the single most important thing you can do for your skin. Working to protect against sunburn and skin cancer, but also to stave off fine lines and wrinkles, SPF can prevent hyperpigmentation, age spots, and a host of other stuff that stands between you and looking your best. In otherwords an SPF is a non-negotiable part of everyone’s skincare routine, an anti-ageing forcefield to be deployed before leaving the house each day.
Ready to start getting serious about wearing one? Of course you are. Below, a few tips to keep in mind.
Get SPF into your daily routine
Perhaps the biggest hurdle to overcome when wearing SPF is consistency. Most of us are guilty of associating sun cream with hot sunny weather or being on holiday with a margarita by the pool, but any dermatologist will tell you that SPF should be a non-negotiable part of your skincare routine all year round, no matter your skin type, ethnicity (or current proximity to the beach).
An easy way to get into the habit of wearing it everyday is to swap out your daily moisturiser with a cream that has built-in SPF. Though it’s generally acknowledged that an SPF by itself will be stronger, an SPF moisturiser is the next best thing, and most are formulated to stop you looking greasy while still offering protection.
A trusty example is The Grey’s Daily Face Protect SPF50, which is lightweight, non-greasy and absorbs into skin fast. Best of all, it has been specifically formulated so that it won’t irritate the skin of people who are sensitive to chemical sunscreen, and sits on top of the dermis rather than being absorbed into it, allowing skin to breathe.
Swot up on mineral and chemical SPFs
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor – the global standard measure for how powerful a product is at protecting against sunburn. There are two camps of SPF: mineral and chemical. The latter is the more popular, found in most modern SPF products, and made, as the name suggests, through chemical formulations that serve as protection against UVA rays (which cause ageing) and UVB rays (which cause burning).
Mineral sunscreens, meanwhile, work more as a physical barrier against the sun by utilising a mixture of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to form a layer on skin that literally blocks out the sunlight. They are less likely to irritate sensitive skin than chemical sunscreens because they have fewer ingredients, but are also known for being chalky and white. Dr David Jack’s All Day Long SPF50 cream is the best of both worlds – it’s lightweight on skin and has a mineral tint, meaning it will protect from the sun without leaving a milky white cast.
Don't neglect your lips
If you’re already using a lip balm, there’s no good reason to not upgrade it to one that already includes SPF. And if you’re not, well, now’s the time to start. As well as keeping your lips in good nick and avoiding unsightly dryness, an SPF will keep you looking younger for longer by preventing those vertical lip wrinkles. Nothing ages a person like corrugated cardboard lips.
Fortunately, finding a good one is easy. Jack Black has a collection of lip balms that come in a smorgasbord of flavours including mint, grapefruit and shea butter, and incorporate SPF25 for extra protection. SHAKEUP Cosmetics’, meanwhile, has a moisturising lip gel (aptly named ‘Lip Life to the Full’) that also includes SPF25, working to nourish lips and keep them looking healthy. For even stronger protection, try Ultrasun’s SPF50 Lip Protection, which is made from moisturising shea butter and argan oil, and enriched with Vitamin E.
Invest in an SPF gel
If the thought of smearing your face with SPF cream every day no matter how silky or absorbent the formula – or if your skin is particularly oily – consider opting for an SPF gel instead. Melting into the skin like water, and totally non-comedogenic (it won’t clog pores), a gel is a fail-safe way to make sure your skin is still protected without worrying about looking greasy. Athletia’s Skin Protection UV Gel is a particularly good shout.
As well as being fortified with SPF 50, the Japanese brand’s formula is water-resistant and non-sticky, meaning it’s deal for long days or even sweaty workouts. What’s more, it’s been infused with the subtly masculine scent of cedarwood, rosemary, grapefruit and lemongrass, making it a pleasure to put on every morning.
Add an extra layer of protection (and perfection!)
Though we recommend wearing a separate, dedicated SPF product for more comprehensive sun protection, a BB cream or tinted moisturiser with built-in SPF is an excellent way to get through the summer (and frankly the whole year) looking your best.
As well as adding some much-needed glow and colour to sun-starved skin, a tinted moisturiser works to smooth out any imperfections, blemishes and visible pores to improve skin texture, all while looking like you’re not wearing anything at all.
Benny Hancock is the name to know; the brand’s BB Face Perfecter does what it says on the tin, and will quickly become an essential part of your daily routine. And, if you struggle with panda eyes, try Shakeup Cosmetics’ Eye Eye Captain, an under-eye concealer with SPF 25 to add an extra (and crucial) layer of protection against fine lines around the vulnerable eye area.
Don't forget your scalp
Here’s something to scare you into SPF submission: sun damage on the scalp can damage your hair follicles, upping your chances of losing your hair prematurely.
To stop this happening, be sure to make your scalp part of your SPF routine. Lifejacket’s SPF Sun Protection Spray is a polymath product that can be used on the face, body and scalp, and is a lightweight oil-based liquid that absorbs easily and won’t leave your skin or hair feeling sticky. Consider it your on-the-go secret weapon against the sun, for the summer and beyond.
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