Louise McSharry: You don’t need to spend loads of money on SPF — in fact, I recommend you don’t

I won’t lie, my response was a lengthy sigh. She’s getting married this year and while I wouldn’t put her in Bridezilla territory, she is certainly feeling the pressure — which means I, in turn, am feeling the pressure. (Una, if you’re reading this, it’s going to be fine, I promise.)

On this occasion, however, the panic wasn’t directly related to the wedding; instead, it was about skincare. My sister had been for IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment and desperately needed some SPF. “The lady”, she said, had been horrified to hear that she barely washes her face, let alone engages in a proper skincare routine. It horrifies me too.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 4th April 2024

To be clear, I’m not horrified that she doesn’t have a skincare routine — I believe that it is your right to do whatever you wish with your face and body as long as you’re not hurting anyone else. I am, however, horrified that she would spend a load of money on a skincare treatment like IPL without doing the basics.

For the record, I’m very much in favour of IPL. I’m actually part way through a course of IPL myself. The treatment targets certain colours in the skin, meaning it can diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation, redness and broken veins. It’s therefore very effective at improving the overall skin tone.

Still, if you’re not using SPF, there’s not much point in pricey treatments (IPL costs around €800-900 for the recommended course of four treatments), as the sun is the number-one cause of premature ageing.

The impact of SPF is so significant that at a recent event I attended, consultant dermatologist Professor Caitriona Ryan of the Institute of Dermatologists said that she can tell immediately if a patient uses it regularly. (She also said she knows straight away if we’re using retinol, which speaks volumes for that ingredient too.)

Using SPF regularly means every day. Not on sunny days, not on days when you’re going to be outside for a while, every single day. Even if all you do otherwise is wash your face (please wash your face), putting on SPF afterwards will make a huge difference to your skin’s health and appearance.

You don’t need to spend loads of money on SPF — in fact, I recommend that you don’t. You need to use around a quarter of a teaspoon on your face every day, so you will get through it reasonably quickly.

I like Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF50 (€22.60, via cultbeauty.com) as it absorbs quickly, offers excellent broad-spectrum protection and doesn’t leave a white cast. Other favourites include Avene Very High Protection Fluid for Sensitive Skin SPF50 (€23.50, via theskinnerd.com), which is great for sensitive skin; Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50 (€24, via kskin.ie), a super all-rounder that works beautifully under makeup; and Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Age Super UV SPF50 (€16, via boots.ie), which is a great budget option.

I’ve written about SPF before, but when my own sister hasn’t gotten the message, I can’t help but think I need to reiterate just how much you should make it a part of your daily routine.

Do yourself a favour and pick one up today.

Lost in translation

You’ve probably heard of AHAs and BHAs, but are you familiar with PHAs? Polyhydroxy acids are a chemical exfoliator, just like their hydroxy sisters, which means they assist the skin in shedding dead skin cells and therefore help achieve an even skin tone and radiant complexion. PHAs are the gentlest of the acid trio, so are great for people with sensitive skin. They work beautifully in combination with moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Something old…

When I shared this week’s Something New to my Instagram recently, I was flooded with messages from people saying it reminded them of one singular product: Bourjois’s Little Round Pot Blushes. These guys were once a staple of many Irish gals’ makeup bags, thanks to the cuteness of the packaging and the formula of the product. Little Round Pots contained powder blush that was fine-textured and easy to blend, with a touch of shimmer. Sadly, Bourjois pulled out of the UK and Irish market so the products are trickier to get your hands on, but not impossible! If you miss the delights of a dinky Bourjois product, you can still get a Little Round Pot via Amazon (€9.49) or notino.ie (€4.80 plus €5.45 delivery). I’ve ordered one to revisit the old days, when Rose Frisson was my go-to!

... Something new

If there is one brand that makes the case for celebrity beauty lines, aside from Rihanna’s Fenty, it’s Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty. Now they’re launching a powder blush, and boy am I excited about it. The idea came when Gomez wondered what would happen if she merged Rare Beauty’s famous liquid blush with their highlighter. The result is Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush, which comes in a domed compact reminiscent of this week’s Something Old. As soon as I can get my hands on this one, I will. Sadly, Rare Beauty’s products are regularly sold out, so it might be a while; €29, from Space NK.