I have to say that, partly due to the lack of (law enforced) product labeling, the awareness of full-spectrum sun protection (against both UVA and UVB rays) in the UK is still lacking (especially compared with the strong awareness in many countries in East Asia, such as Japan). However, there has been some slight improvement partly thanks to TV adverts from Boots such as this:
Boots‘ No 7 range has recently released Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream (50ml), which SPF 15 and 5-star UVA protection. (Boots uses a star rating system to indicate the level of UVA protection in a product. Products with a 5-star label offer the strongest UVA protection.) The cream has a relatively light creamy consistency and feels emollient on the skin. The consistency is likely to appeal to those with normal-to-dry skin.
The product uses octocrylene and ethylhexyl salicylate (also known as octisalate and octyl salicylate) as the anti-UVB ingredients and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane as the anti-UVA ingredient.
Some of the moisturizing ingredients in this product are glycerin, shea butter, cetearyl alcohol, butylene glycol, and sodium hyaluronate.
The product contains antioxidants such as retinyl palmitate, ascorbyl glucoside, medicago sativa (alfalfa) extract, phyllanthus emblica fruit extract (also with anti-inflammatory properties), ginkgo biloba leaf extract, and tocopherol (vitamin E). It also contains palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (along with retinyl palmitate) as cell-communicating agents.
The product contains fragrance (parfum).
One drawback of this product is the inclusion of alcohol. It is not towards the top of the ingredient list but it is among the first half of the list. It could still cause problems for those who react negatively to alcohol. If alcohol were left out of the product, this would be a very well-formulated daytime moisturizer (with proper sun protection and an array of skin-benefiting ingredients) for those with drier skin types.
(The product featured in this article is provided by Boots.)
Related posts:
Neutrogena Multi-Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF 25 & Night Moisturiser
SHISEIDO Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Day Cream SPF 15 & Night Emulsion
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree about the lack of awareness with UVA protection, but it’s getting better. However, my main problem is finding a daytime moisturizer that also contains UVA protection and not only UVB protection like most. Usually you have to use an actual sunscreen product to get that protection so it’s nice to see a product that combines both.
I recently found La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV which is one of those rare daytime moisturizers that contain UVA as well as UVB protection (SPF 15, PPD12, generally PA+++ is about PPD8-10). It’s nice to have for winter when you don’t need such high protection and don’t want to use another product on top (although a little more protection wouldn’t hurt). However, it was the only one I knew of and it’s good to see more options.
On the law front, I think there is EU-wide legislation that forces sunscreen products to also state UVA protection. It’s either already in force or should be very soon. I think this won’t apply to moisturizers though as that’s not their primary function obviously.
As much as I love your makeup reviews, your skincare reviews are also written so well! I like how you talk about the ingredients too but it doesn’t get boring at all and it’s still interesting.
Hi Leila,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am pleased that you enjoy both my makeup and skincare reviews. :)
I do need to look into the EU regulations regarding labeling the level of UVA protection. I think it might be worth following up on them regularly on my blog.
Even though not a lot of products sold in the UK are labeled to show the level of UVA protection, I would say that many products that have an SPF do also offer sufficient UVA protection. (I thought I’d clarify this, as I wasn’t suggesting otherwise in my review. I was mainly referring to the lack of enforced labeling and the general lack of awareness.)
Many (but by no means all) daytime moisturizers with an SPF that I have come across in the UK have titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane as one of the main ingredients. I would consider them to be products that offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays (even though their packagings/labelings may not specifically indicate so).
Thank you very much for posting your comment! :)
I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your blog! I like that you write about Asian brands but also traditional European brands like Dior or Chanel! I don’t actually wear make up, because my skin is atopic/very dry and I’m not sure how wearing make up would react my skin. I love that you also have non-make up beauty tips they are really helpful as well!
I read somewhere that make up protects your skin but do you know if it really does? If it does, the wearing make up would be only a good thing to do, right?
One more thing I like about your blog is that you always answer to all comments! It’s really sweet, and there aren’t that many bloggers who do so.
Anyway, Have a nice day! :)
Hi Sara,
Thank you very much for your encouraging words! I am glad that you enjoy reading my blog! :)
I do enjoy answering the comments. I think it is one of the things about blogging that I enjoy the most. It is great to share ideas and exchange tips! :)
I probably wouldn’t say (as a generalization) that wearing makeup can protect the skin, but I do think wearing well-formulated makeup products (that suit your skin type) shouldn’t harm your skin (providing that they are taken off thoroughly in the evening, obviously).
If you would like to try wearing makeup, a well-formulated liquid-based or cream-based blusher layered on top of well-moisturized skin could work well for you. (Make sure that it doesn’t contain anything drying or irritating.) Sometimes a blusher is all you need (hence the name of my blog)! :)
Thank you very much for stopping by again, and enjoy your day! :)