HI-TIPS: How To Find Your Perfect SPF?

With the summer of ‘24 well underway, we need to be keeping our skin safe from the hot New Zealand sun. The answer to that? SPF. We know it’s important, but sometimes, little things stop us from sticking to sun protection. Whether you want non-greasiness, or to maintain your flawless makeup look, here are some solutions to find the right SPF for your needs! ✨

BEAUTY OF JOSEON

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin makes it tricky to apply SPF, as your skin is more reactive to external products. For those that don't know, there are two types of sun protection - physical (also known as mineral), and chemical. Physical/Mineral sunscreens act as a protective barrier on the surface of your skin, while chemical sunscreens are designed to sink into the skin to absorb harmful sun rays, turning them to non-damaging heat. If you have sensitive skin, you have to be really careful of ingredients in chemical SPF. Because of this, you may find that physical sunscreens are more compatible with your skin type.

For Beauties who want something gentle, I recommend Torriden’s Dive In Mild Sun Cream! This product is zinc oxide based, a protectant that is a safe choice for sensitive skin. The formula is hypoallergenic, and free of artificial fragrances, alcohols or anything that may cause irritation. Though it has a matte formula, this sun cream is full of hydrating ingredients, and won't dry out the skin.

Applicable over makeup

This holiday season calls for many occasions to get dolled up! But even if you’ve used SPF underneath your makeup, reapplication is necessary to give your skin the protection it needs. For someone who wants to keep foundation or concealer in place, sun creams get annoying as they need to be rubbed into your skin, and can smudge your base makeup.

For the makeup enthusiast, I recommend something with an alternative application method, such as a sun stick, spray, or cushion. The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sun Stick is a current favourite option among our Beauties. A light formula infused with eight different hyaluronic acids, this sun stick will glide smoothly on the contours of your face. Like the name suggests, it is ‘airy’ and non-sticky, meaning you can reapply without smearing your makeup!

Tinted/BB Sunscreens

On the flip side, if you’re getting tired of layering products from SPF, to primer, to foundations, a tinted sunscreen might be the answer for you! The right tinted sunscreen can be the perfect all-in-one, as it not only protects your skin from the sun, but the subtle tint of colour helps mask blemishes.

My recommendation for a multitasking product is the Heimish Artless Glow Tinted Sunscreen Shine Beige. The formula is designed to blur out imperfections, and is tinted beige to double as a BB cream. There is also a glittery finish that adds a soft glow. Although there is that tint for the ‘blurring’ effect, there is no white cast once rubbed into the skin, making this suitable for different skin tones.

Because I prefer light coverage, my personal pick is the non-tinted version, the Artless Glow Base. Even though there is less coverage, this still blurs out the appearance of pores and gives my skin a pearlescent shine.

Oily skin

We’ve all been victims to that layer of grease on the face from a particularly oily sunscreen at some point in our lives. I don’t know about you guys, but that annoying feeling can really put me off wearing sun protection. Luckily, there are options for us to avoid that!

Sun serums have a lighter, more watery texture, that are designed to be light and refreshing. My recommendation for a sun serum is the Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Sun Serum. A serum version of the highly sought-after BOJ sun cream, this includes Niacinamide to help maintain the skin’s oil-moisture balance. The lightweight formula makes it suitable for even oily or combination skin types. On application, it dries into the skin to prevent a greasy and sticky finish.

With the right SPF for you, these annoyances will be a thing of the past. Let’s enjoy this bright Aoteaoa summer together! 🏖️

Title Image: skinsider.co.uk