Velettà’s products do not come with built-in sunscreens. We firmly believe that we should all use a broad-spectrum sunscreen alongside our skincare and that relying on a built-in sunscreen is foolhardy.
A recent study
This view is supported by a recent study from the University of Liverpool. The study concluded that moisturisers with built-in SPF were not applied thickly or widely enough to garner protection (particularly on the eyelids).
Dr Sushil Tahilianai a consultant dermatologist explains that you need to wear a great deal of built-in moisturiser to achieve the claimed SPF benefits: “For SPF 15 to be achieved, a person should put 1.2 grams of moisturiser on the face, which is a great quantity…it will give a greasy look. Also, if one puts half that quantity [on] an SPF of 4 [only] can be achieved,”
UVA/UVB
Moreover, many combination products do not have both UVA and UVB protection. Many only contain UVB which means that although you may not burn, you will still suffer from the very ageing effects of the sun.
Layering
It is also important to bear in mind that it is not possible to achieve a high level of protection by layering products with a lower level of protection. Put another way, layering an SPF 10 foundation over an SPF 15 moisturiser does not produce SPF 25 protection.
Mineral vs chemical
The bottom line is sunscreen is probably the most important part of your daily skincare routine. Don’t skimp on it and don’t rely on the SPF in moisturisers. For our part, we use a physical sunscreen. These contain minerals like Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide and sit on top of the skin deflecting the suns rays. We choose a mineral sunscreen because they tend to be a little easier on our very sensitive skin. However, there are good reasons to layer both chemical and physical sunscreens mainly to ensure no UV light affects the skin. Chemical sunscreens work differently from mineral sunscreens as they absorb UV rays and convert the rays into heat which is released.
More tips
For a great series of sun protection tips from dermatologists, have a look at this Allure article.
