There is no way to hide from the sun unless you spend all your time indoors and only come out at night. However, there’s no better feeling than the sun’s rays on your skin whether you’re at the beach or just lounging around in the sun with a book. However, one thing you mustn’t forget is sun protection even if you don’t usually burn. Sun protection is imperative for skin health and anti-aging, but often it can be difficult to know what you’re getting. After scandals of sunscreens being found out to be no more than a moisturizer, here are a few of our favorite brands that you can trust to give you the ultimate sun protection, for any skin type!
Ultra Violette
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We’ve discovered one of the supreme sunscreens of the beauty and world and it has seriously changed our lives. It provides protection from the whole solar spectrum of environmental damage including UVA and UVB, infrared, blue, visible light, and pollution. It’s also hydrating enough to make your go-to moisturizer and primer redundant. Imagine how easy your morning routine would be like fast and fuss-free for the hectic schedule ahead. Made of a super-active ingredient called Pentavitin for a shot of hydration that lasts on your skin for a full 72 hours, this Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen will do wonders for your skin this summer and all throughout the year, to be honest. You can purchase Ultra Violette in Joyce beauty stores all over Hong Kong and online at www.joyce.com.
Ultra Violette www.joyce.com, ultraviolette.com.au
COOLA
This brand is the organic sunscreen that you’ve been waiting for, especially if you’re dedicated to a vegan lifestyle as all their products are completely plant-based! This Californian brand is 100% plant-based and cruelty-free, but don’t think that it in any way compromises on quality–quite the opposite! With a non-greasy and lightweight finish, it sinks in nicely to the skin as well as adding in that all-important hydration your skin cries out for in the sun. Their mineral sunscreens include active ingredients of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that scatter and reflect UV rays to offer your skin the ultimate protection. We can’t get enough of their products with an irresistible coconut scent–it’s the most delicious way to pick your mood up first thing in the morning and that provides a glorious pick me up every time you smell it throughout the day!
Buy online at www.coola.com
COOLA www.coola.com
Dr. Barbara Sturm
This internationally acclaimed product has revolutionized the way we think about sun protection. Rather than a lotion or cream to put on, meaning you have to substitute your usual daily products, Dr. Barbara Strum Sun Drops can be used in conjunction with products you already know and love. Simply add a few drops to your face cream or foundation before applying and let the unique formula work to regenerate damaged skin structures as well as deflecting the sun’s harmful rays. The easiest and most efficient way to add a highly protective SPF 50 to your existing skincare regime! We just love the fact that the serum is so lightweight that you don’t even know it’s there, working its magic seamlessly throughout the day with no unwanted greasiness. To find out more about Dr. Barbara Sturm and her thoughts on her skincare line, check out our interview with her here.
Dr. Barbara Sturm products are exclusively available at JOYCE Beauty
Dr. Barbara Sturm www.joyce.com
Aesop
With the sun being the main cause of early-onset lines and wrinkles, having the best protection for your face is of the highest importance! Aesop, the brand we know and love, has an outstanding facial lotion that has you covered. Featuring a formula of skin-softening ingredients, it is suitable for most skin types, with panthenol and squalane to lightly moisturize while green tea extract and vitamin E provides antioxidant protection which is especially important in polluted areas. With SPF 25, you can be assured that your skin will be protected. Despite the extremely useful UV protection and moisturizing qualities of this product, the thing we most enjoy is the subtle hibiscus aroma. It slowly transpires as you massage it into your skin leaving you feeling protected, moisturized, and fresh. A completely irresistible finish to an already lovely product.
Aesop G049, The Promenade Shops, Galaxy Macau, www.galaxymacau.com
Neutrogena
If you’re an eczema sufferer, the search to find a sunscreen that won’t cause a break out can be a constant cause of stress. This gentle formula from Neutrogena however, has been designed especially for you. The Neutrogena Sheer Zinc is dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores, therefore, reducing the chances of a bad eczema reaction. With an abundance of break-through features, it is no wonder that it was awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance meaning you can rest assured that it is a good choice. But what’s even better, in our opinion, is that it has an amazing dry touch. All too often creams and products can stay on the skin for too long, which is even more problematic for those of us with sensitive skin as it leaves more time for bad reactions. This product, however, has a dry touch finish, ensuring the utmost in comfort and feeling like you’ve got nothing on at all!
Neutrogena www.neutrogena.com
Caudalie
Caudalie has recently launched a pioneering Suncare Collection just in time for the sunny weather. Purposely created to protect both the skin and nature, the products offer invincible anti-oxidant shields with high protection against UVA and UVB, blue light, oxidative damage, aging, and pollutants. It is thanks to the revolutionary “ocean-protect” suncare filters and self-defense antioxidant patent complex, providing an ultimate clean and safe solution in terms of sun protection, safety, and the environment. We love that the ingredients boost the action of the sun filters by avoiding 100% of sunburn, reducing 48% oxidative stress from free radical-induced by UV, protecting against 99% damage to DNA, preventing the loss of collagen, and appearance of wrinkles. The Anti-wrinkle Face Suncare SPF 50 is priced at HKD $180 for 50ml and the Vinoperfect Serum & Suncare Set is priced at HKD $510.
Caudalie is available at Caudalie Hong Kong boutiques and counters.
Caudalie Shop F42, 2/F, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, hk-en.caudalie.com
Guerlain
Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Skin Defense has a magical effect that shields the skin from harmful light rays including UVA and UVB while also allowing firmer, plumper skin, and reducing fine lines, all in one process. The formulation ensures daily skin protection with SPF 50 thanks to incredible ingredients that include the exclusive Guerlain royale jelly, ouessant black bee honey, and Moroccan euphorbia honey. It protects the skin’s collagen and improves synthesis resulting in a more radiant texture. The Abeille Royale Skin Defense is priced at HKD $605 for 30ml and is the perfect daily skincare routine you need in your life right now.
Guerlain is also available at Lane Crawford
Guerlain New Yaohan Macau, Avenida Doutor Mário Soares n˚90, Macau, www.guerlain.com/hk
Guerlain Galleria T at City of Dreams Macau The Shops at The Boulevard, City of Dreams, Cotai, +853 8791 8400, www.dfs.com
This article was originally written by Jessica Mallard in August 2019 and updated by Apple Salangsang in May 2020.
