What is sunscreen?
Sunscreen also known as sunblock and suncream is a therapeutic/cosmetic product designed to protect the skin from sun radiation. Sunscreens will either be broad spectrum protection (protecting against both UVA and UVB rays) or they may focus on just the one. Broad spectrum protection is what you should be looking for as both UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. UVA rays can penetrate glass and are responsible for premature ageing. That tan you get when you have been out in the sun is your skin’s way of protecting you from the UVA rays but it is also an indication of skin damage. UVB rays cause skin cancer, these rays cannot penetrate glass but they are present all year round, including on cloudy days and in the winter. It is a dangerous myth that Black people do not need to wear sunscreen, so my melanin beauties, you need to wear sunscreen, too.
What’s the difference between physical/mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens?
Mineral/physical sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are physical filters that reflect the sun’s rays and sit on top of the skin. They tend to be better tolerated than chemical sunscreens so if you have sensitive skin you may opt for a mineral sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens use chemical filters such as homosalate and octocrylene and they work by absorbing the sun’s rays and converting them into heat which is then released. They don’t leave a white cast but there is some concern around their safety as some ingredients are dangerous to aquatic life and have links to endocrine disruption.
Gotta love that Navi tint.
What is the minimum SPF I should wear?
Dermatologists recommend wearing an SPF of no less than 30 but if you can find an SPF 50 product then even better. If you are fair skinned, have red hair or freckles, you should be wearing SPF 50 and reapplying without fail. It’s important to apply your SPF 15 minutes before sun exposure to give your skin time to absorb it.
COOLA Classic Face Mist SPF50
How much sunscreen do I need to wear to stay protected?
In order to get the full SPF protection of your chosen sunscreen you need to apply at least a quarter teaspoon to your face (or two full finger lengths) and you must reapply every two hours to stay protected. For your body you need to apply at least six teaspoons. If you’re not applying the correct amount of sunscreen you won’t get the full SPF protection and are risking skin cancer and skin damage. There are lots of brands that now specialise in sun protection, both mineral and chemical alike. You can choose a supermarket own brand, a drugstore brand or a high end luxury brand depending on your budget. Some sunscreens are even water/sweat resistant for a limited amount of time but you must reapply every 2 hours to stay protected.
Coola Classic Face Sunscreen
Does sunscreen expire?
The short answer is yes. Your sunscreen will last approximately 12 months. After this time period it is no longer effective and you need to replace it. Some sunscreens will indicate a specific expiry date, others will have the little 12M symbol on their packaging. Take note of when you bought and started using your sunscreen to ensure you are not using an expired product as you want your SPF to be effective.
Reapply every two hours
One of the challenges of reapplying sunscreen is if you are wearing makeup. Brands have found ways to tackle this by creating sunscreen face mists, face sprays and makeup setting sprays with an SPF of 30. I’ve recently discovered the brand Coola, which is a vegan suncare brand that has sprays, mists and creams for the face and body. They make both mineral and chemical sunscreens and I have tried one of their mineral sunscreens and three of their chemical sunscreens.
COOLA Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 50ml
This sunscreen offers broad spectrum protection and is subtly fragranced with white tea. It comes unscented if you prefer your sunscreen to be fragrance free. COOLA promises it to be non-greasy, lightweight and hydrating. An added bonus is it is water resistant for up to 80 minutes and is vegan, cruelty free and made from 70% organic ingredients. This has become one of my favourite chemical sunscreens to use as it is non-comedogenic and leaves my skin looking very dewy and healthy – so much so that I have skipped foundation when out and about. There is no dreaded white cast as it is a chemical sunscreen and it is not difficult to remove at the end of the day. On the packaging they recommend removing with just water but I always remove sunscreen with a cleansing balm and flannel and follow with my cleanser to ensure thorough removal.
COOLA Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 30 50ml
A broad spectrum mineral sunscreen with cucumber that offers a matte finish but unfortunately it’s not one of my favourites. The finish is very matte but it left a blue/purple cast to my face that took extra foundation to conceal. Saying that, it does have a nice velvety texture and is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. If you can be bothered to wear extra foundation to hide the Navi cast and chemical sunscreens aren’t an option, this may be a workable solution.
COOLA Classic Face Mist SPF 50 100ml
If you’re wearing makeup you may be tempted to forgo reapplying your sunscreen every 2 hours. I know, I know, you don’t want to ruin that flawless beat. However, if you want your makeup to look good, you have to take care of your skin. Enter the sunscreen face mists that promise to protect your skin and not disturb your makeup. I read good and bad reviews about COOLA’s Classic Face Mist. Most complaints were about the bottle breaking upon being dropped or the nozzle not working after only a few uses. I haven’t had either issue, thankfully. This spray is 100ml and is SPF 50 which is brilliant. It has a slight alcohol smell but it’s not overpowering. I have used it to reapply and it leaves a slight shine and the mist isn’t forceful. Just make sure not to inhale the mist and to cover your face evenly. My makeup was not ruined after applying which was a huge plus.
COOLA Refreshing Water Cream Sunscreen SPF 50
I heard good things about this sunscreen and wanted to try it out. My excuse is that sunscreens only last 12 months and you need to wear at least a quarter teaspoon on your face so I’ll run out soon, right? This sunscreen comes in a tub and I was worried about hygiene as I don’t like to constantly be putting my fingers into a jar. It has a cool(a) little system where you press down on the top and a little glob of sunscreen comes out. The scent is hard to describe, I want to say algae, not like I know what that smells like. Out of all the sunscreens featured, it contains the least amount of product, only 44ml and is the most expensive at £45. Despite that, it does include blue screen protection meaning your skin will be protected from blue light. The finish is also dewy but much less so than COOLA’s Classic Face Sunscreen above so for those who want a more subtle sunscreen glow this may be a better choice for you.
Conclusion
I’ve had a blast experimenting with COOLA’s face sunscreens. I’ve almost finished the Classic Face Sunscreen as it’s my favourite of them all to use. Space NK, Sephora, LookFantastic and Amazon are just some of the retailers who stock Coola face sunscreens. If you’re quick, you can also bag a discount as they’re regularly on offer.
