My Top 5 Suncream and Aftersun Products

As the weather is getting better I thought it was a good time to talk about sun cream. I am always very diligent about using sun cream and I urge to you to do the same. I am always lecturing people about using sun cream, from the girls at the office to my mum, I am probably boring them rigid but if the message sinks in then it’s worth it. It is very important and is the main way you can protect yourself from premature and, more importantly, skin cancer.
Many people avoid using sun cream as they think it means they can’t get a tan, they are too sticky or they just don’t like the smell. Many people don’t bother with a proper after sun and just use a normal body lotion, not realising the benefits of using a product designed to cool and hydrate the skin and soothe any sunburn. Honestly there are so many products out there now, and so much new technology in skincare that all of these sun cream fears can be avoided and you can easily find SPF that is clear, dries quickly and even helps you tan faster!
Vichy Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face Dry Touch SPF50 50ml £16.50 from Feelunique
This is ideal for people with sensitive, normal to combination skin, and a great suncream for people who love to be in the water or play beach sports, it’s got a really high SPF of 50, is mattifying with a soft, dry, no-shine, water resistant finish. It’s hypoallergenic and paraben free for those that want to avoid parabens entirely. A perfect product to use on yourself or your children to stop burned noses and cheeks without having a shiny face.
Vichy Ideal SoleilSuncare Oil SPF20 125m £16.50 from Feelunique
I recommend dry touch oil SPF’s for those that hate using creams that leave them with a ghostly white sheen and for those with dry skin as they are very moisturising. This one has a patented UVA and UVB filtering system and an SPF of 20 which is great for the body (always remember to use your higher or facial SPF for the décolleté and shoulders where the skin is thinner and more delicate). Some sun cream can smell a bit odd but this has a light fresh floral fragrance and is also great for sensitive skin and again, paraben free. This is one for the sunbathers, not for the swimmers as it’s not water resistant.
Nivea Sun Protect and Bronze Tan Activating Protecting Oil SPF 30 200ml £8.50 from Boots
The new technology in Nivea’s Protect & Bronze sun spray combines immediate sun protection of SPF30 with a formula that contains a natural plant extract which helps support skin's own melanin production (in-vitro). So basically it’s a tan maximiser and SPF in one, meaning you can spend less time in the sun to get more tanned. A brilliant idea in my opinion. This is an oil spray, with the benefits as mentioned above for the Vichy oil spray however this one is water resistant, so great for the swimmers, not just the sunbathers.
Nivea Sun In-ShowerRefreshing After Sun Lotion 200ml £5 from Boots
I’ve been really impressed with Nivea lately, as well as the tan maximising SPF they also have this new product which is a version of the brilliant in-shower moisturising range which I use quite often when I don’t have time to put on a normal body lotion and wait around for it to sink in. When you use this after being in the sun all day it feels really refreshing. It is applied in the shower rather than afterwards and it really hydrates your skin and helps take the heat out of any sun burn. It smells fresh and with a hint of lemon and cucumber but it’s not a strong scent which I prefer. This is a must for any beach holiday.
Bioderma Photoderm Aftersun 200ml Approx £10 on Amazon
This is a really great standard aftersun from the brand that makes the famous cleansing water. This after sun smells fresh and clean and makes your skin really smooth and soft, it’s a good tube as you can squeeze the last bit out easily and, while the lid is a bit hard to open, I think this is a bonus as it means it won't burst open in your suitcase! The claim that it can prepare skin for further sun exposure is rather disingenuous, as putting on any after sun couldn’t do that in any possible sense, but that aside, it does contain a great mix of soothing and moisturising ingredients that are really good for dry or dehydrated skin.

I would have also included the one last fabulous product that I recommend to everyone, but since I’m not going on a sunny holiday until September or November (Colombia wooo!) and it’s a ritual for me to buy this at the airport on the way there so it’s cheaper, I don’t have one at the moment.
So a special mention goes to the Lancaster Tan Maximiser Aftersun, a bit pricey at £20 but I think it’s worth is as it really does work for me, and I do lightly tan using this whereas normally I just go a bit pink and then back to white.
Do you have any favourite sun creams or tan maximisers?