Think there’s nothing new under the sun? Well, history does repeat itself, but certainly there’s plenty new in the world of suncare. As a melanoma survivor myself (I wrote about it here), I am always encouraging everyone to get checked – and as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – to protect themselves. Stay out of the sun from 11 to 3pm, wear a large floppy hat, sunscreen, and do fake tan rather than suntan. In this scenario, it’s better to fake it than bake it.
When I choose sunscreens for my family, I look for the label ‘broad spectrum’ i.e. UVA and UVB protection as UVA is now known to also be dangerous. I prefer to avoid parabens, non nano titanium dioxide, and nano particles of any type. Iron oxide is a safe physical (mineral) sunscreen.
I headed down to the beach with my children to photograph some of the latest sunscreens and self-tans newly released for summer 2015 and I’ve included where to buy them, and their retail prices for each, below. Slip slop slap, people.
Garnier has been in the sun protection business for decades; they were the first company to put a sun filter in their sun protection oil back in 1935. Now, 80 years on, Ambre Solaire have released this Sensitive Advanced range with very high 50+ ratings. They estimate the New Zealand sun protection market is worth $30 million so it’s a lucrative business to be in, and SPF50+ is now the most popular SPF in the market with creams (66%) and sprays (17%) the biggest sellers, and aerosols (13%) and roll-on sticks making up the remainder.
Sensitive Advanced is the first range to protect against long UVA rays, previously thought harmless, but now known to be dangerous due to the great penetration. It is dermatologically-tested, hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types, including children’s skin. It is free of parabens, colourants and is fragrance-free. They are reasonably priced too: the face lotion is $16.99, SPF50+ family and kids sunscreens are $19.99 to $22.99.
Pictured below: Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids RESISTO (water resistant) 50+ Spray $22.99 and lotion $19.99, and Sensitive Advanced Kids very high 50+$21.99. Note these do contain nano titanium dioxide.
To be honest, seaweed is waaaay more interesting than shooting sunscreens with mum!
If you like the concept of a very high protection on your face, but would prefer to avoid a sticky white sunscreen AND still want some foundation coverage, this is the little peachy coloured gem for you. Garnier Ambre Solaire BB Cream high alta SPF 50 is a tinted formula for face (and neck – don’t forget your neck; the sunshine doesn’t) which retails for $17.49 and has a touch of colour with a SPF of 50. If anything, I found it very coloured; I am fair and this was strongly-tinted dark-peach. Has nano titanium dioxide and parabens. Available in supermarkets and pharmacies.
Neutrogena does awesome sunscreens; I am a big fan of their spray on sunscreens and Sport ranges. The new Ultra Sheer Face (normal skin types) and Clear Face (aimed at acne-prone skin) sunscreen liquid lotion SPF30 and SPF 50 are now on shelf for spring from September. It has oxybenzone, a chemical sunscreen (absorbs suns rays) not physical sunscreen (reflects suns rays.) No parabens. Retails for $22.99 from supermarkets, pharmacies and department stores. www.neutrogena.co.nz
Murad have released this cute wee package – Essential-C Sun Balm broad spectrum SPF35. As you can see from this, I’ve been wearing this already. I applied it to my face under makeup for normal day-to-day wear as opposed to beach wear as I haven’t been at the beach or out in the sun intentionally, just incidental sun exposure like on the school run and walking to the shops. The sun never sleeps. Pop this little wind-up balm on, and you know you are protected. I’d describe it as a dry wax in texture and it’s quite moisturising without being oily. Available at Caci nationwide for $54. www.murad.co.nz
Le Tan was one of the original home spray tan products and still has the classic Le Tan in Le Can in 3 shades, a gradual coconut tanning gel which develops over 4 hours, and an instant mousse foam that’s easiest to apply. Le Tan’s range retails for $22.99 from Kmart, Farmers, The Warehouse and many pharmacies and supermarkets.
Le Tan Wash Off Spray ($22.99) is pretty much the only spray tan I can do as I am allergic to DHA, the active ingredient in fake tans. It is extremely bad luck. This however was mild and totally fine on my skin with no allergic reaction at all as it contains no self tan DHA – it is basically a spray on, wash off cosmetic coating for you to get a nice tanned appearance.
Below: Le Tan Wash Off Spray before and after.
I was introduced to Skinnies gel last season, and am super keen to use it all up again this year as well. Actually I think my mother-in-law got hold of my tube before I had the chance to; it was so nice. She won’t see this tube. It is a clear gel sunscreen and – as it says on the tin – a little goes a long way, with 100ml of Skinnies equivalent to 500ml of regular sunscreen. It is free of parabens and preservatives. Interestingly, it comes out like a light gel-balm, and absorbs well. It has no water at all; most sunscreens’ first ingredient listed is water as the main ingredient; this has only 7 ingredients – a fact I like- with iron oxide (i.e. it is a physical, or mineral, sunscreen), and vitamin E to nourish skin. They also have the original and admirable offer of halfprice online sales to people who have suffered melanoma, and they donate to Melanoma Foundation. 100ml Sungel retails for $34.95, 35ml $18.40 and LOOKS Beauty gel $44.30. www.skinnies.co.nz
Trilogy Instant Bronzing Gel – review by Simonne Walmsley
I’ve never used any kind of self-tan product before – we’ve all seen orange celebrities and my pale-skinned, redheaded self was a bit scared to even make eye contact with the stuff, to be honest. In the absence of ever developing even so much as a hint of golden summer glow, I’ve historically gone with wearing jeans until dangerously close to possibly actually melting, before admitting defeat and baring my legs for the season. And to be honest, most often they stay hidden under long skirts and linen pants. Even I’m afraid of my arctic-whites.
Trilogy’s Instant Bronzing Gel ($25.90 trilogyproducts.com) was a very pleasant surprise and is a new favourite summer staple. It smells like a tropical holiday for a start – who could resist? I especially love the subtle shimmer given by the light-reflecting mineral ingredient, mica, and my very sensitive skin showed no sensitivity to the product at all, likely thanks to the use of natural ingredients in general, and especially well recognised skin carers such as aloe vera and Vitamin E. Love!
The gel spreads easily and evenly, dries quickly and gave me a lovely gentle colour for several days (I built my colour up once a day over three days initially), although as a self-tan rookie with a bad habit of not reading instructions, I confess I did spend a day with orange hands after applying the self-tan just before crashing into bed one night. Self-tan is not moisturiser. Lesson learned.
Postscript: Also, I think I used the self-tan over three nights but found the third night made it a bit dark on my skin – you may want to build up the colour over two nights. (Better safe than sorry perhaps?)
Another tanning product we’ve been trialling is Kiri Organics, a 100% natural gradual tan developed by New Zealand brother and sister team Sarah McKim and Craig Blunt. Available for $29.95 and exfoliating mitt $14.95 from www.kiriorganics.co.nz or all 0800 827582 for stockists.
Kiri Organics Gradual Tan review – by Lauren Kittengloves
Kiwi made with 74% certified organic and 100% natural ingredients, Kiri Organics Gradual Tan has attracted a lot of positive feedback from reviewers. Not tested on animals, “Gradual Tan blends moisturising avocado and macadamia nut oils, native NZ kawakawa extract, soothing elderflower, nourishing chamomile and Vitamin E in an antioxidant-rich organic raspberry water base.”
You can understand how eager I was then for this fake tanning product to work with my (very) fair complexion this summer. So much to like about the product even before it had touched my skin. If this was my first impression, my second impression was also a very positive one. The light fragrance of the lotion on my skin was a refreshing change to the tanning lotions I had tried previously and reminded me of a subtle bees wax. The aroma was pleasant and natural smelling and remained that way as the colour started coming in over the next 12 to 24 hours.
However, despite this positive start, and despite my careful observation of application instructions (including exfoliation with Kiri Organics Exfoliation Mitt), my personal experience was that the lotion turned my complexion too dark for my tastes and furthermore produced blotches and an uneven result. Because fake tanning lotions can be such a personal preference, and because we all have such unique skin conditions, my unsatisfactory result could come down to “operator error” and/or an undesirable chemical reaction to my particular skin type. Therefore I am not willing to dismiss Kiri Organics Gradual tan as a failed product. Clearly there have been other users who have had positive outcomes. So if you’re willing to risk it for the amazing 100% natural ingredients at RRP $29.95, I’d still recommend trying it for yourself. You might strike it lucky and as Kiri Organics say themselves it’s better to “Fake not Bake” this summer.
I really rate this one: COOLA mineeral sunscreen. I like that it has non-nano titanium dioxide physical (mineral) sunscreen as its active ingredient. This CC cream is made with 98% natural and 70+% certified organic ingredients and is SPF20. It has a lightly tinted colour that works as a BB cream-type coverage and you could easily layer foundation over it. I wore it by itself in the holidays and it was ideal light coverage and gave a nice healthy glow. It retails for $55 from professional beauty salons, medi spas; see Facebook.com/COOLANewZealand for info.
Here’s another fantastic 50+ sunscreen; Ultraceuticals Mineral Defence Face & Body Lotion. I like that you can use it on your body AND your face as it’s sensitive enough and not irritating, and I really like that it has 100% mineral sunscreens that are complete UVA and UVB spectrum. $69 from leading skin clinics; see www.ultraceuticals.com for stockists.
Me at the seaside!
Megan Robinson
9th October 2014
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