By this point, most of us are well aware that SPF should be part of our daily skincare routine year-round, not just at the height of summer. A good face SPF protects your skin from the immediate and long-term effects of the sun - think wrinkles and fine lines, pigmentation and broken veins, the list goes on.
For the majority of us, hitting the SPF nail on the head is not as simple as whacking on any old sunscreen on top of your moisturiser and hoping for the best. It can often be tricky to find an SPF that suits your own unique skin type, especially if you're someone like me who who contends with oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin. Something too rich risks blocking my pores while anything super light tends to slide right off. And all before I’ve had the chance to step outside.
When I heard Emma Lewisham was releasing a new face SPF that promises to suit all skin types I was pretty intrigued. Lewisham has made a name for herself in the luxurious, high tech skincare department and her eponymous brand and products are designed to deliver transformative results - devotees wax lyrical about the science-backed formulas. Needless to say that when the new Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème, £46, hit the beauty desk, I was the first to volunteer as tribute. Two months later and here's my verdict.
What does the Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème do?
Billed as being suitable for all skin types, the Sunceutical SPF has been designed to prevent skin ageing and sunspots thanks to broad-spectrum SPF 50. Ingredients include:
Zinc Oxide: Zinc oxide sits on the surface of the skin, working to deflect the sun’s rays and provide instant protection.
Niacinamide: A type of vitamin B-3, niacinamide is well known for its ability to treat acne, redness and even eczema.
Saccharide Isomerate: A complex mixture of hydrating corn-derived sugars which have moisture-binding properties.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: A synthetic fatty acid-linked peptide that can help repair visible skin damage
Shop: Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème
emmalewisham.co.uk
A protective, SPF-meets-moisturiser that melts into skin with a non-whitening, satin finish.
Pros
- Suited to all skin types
- Refillable jar
Cons
- Expensive
How to apply the Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème
'After shaking the tub, I apply two pumps across my face and a third down my neck. As with all SPF products, liberal application is a must to ensure optimum protection - two finger lengths worth for the whole face is the recommendation given by experts. While it’s the final step in my morning skincare routine, I try to wait 20 minutes before stepping outside to ensure it has time to settle on my skin. On a standard day I add my foundation a few minutes after applying, but on days where I’m going make-up free I pop it in my handbag and reapply every 2 hours or so to keep myself protected. I have applied it on top of make-up before, but I recommend using tapping motions so as not to disturb your base.'
How we tested it
I’ve been applying the Emma Lewisham Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Crème every morning for the past two months. If I was going to react adversely to an SPF, I'd know within a few days thanks to the reliable smattering of white heads that would appear across my forehead. Instead, this has slotted into my routine beautifully.
Our review
Rachael Martin beauty editor says:
'The colour is the first thing I notice. It’s pink, and resembles a skin tint. As someone with a complexion prone to redness, I’m immediately apprehensive. Applying something so warm to my already pink skin? Well, it doesn’t fill me with confidence. Immediately after applying I’m pinker still. While it’s not sticky, there’s an instant flush of redness that leaves me convinced this isn’t the SPF for me. Yet patience, as it turns out, is key. Within a few minutes the redness had settled, replaced with a more even skin tone. There's no sign of an ashy white cast, but as someone with lighter skin I would be interested to see how it plays on someone with darker complexion.'
'While there's little coverage, there is a subtle glisten - think a hydrated radiance that doesn’t stray into sparkle territory (which is my personal beauty bête noire). My complexion tends to become oilier as the day goes on, so ensuring that my SPF is light and non-greasy is often tricky, but this one plays beautifully and wears well under make-up. My breakouts and redness have reduced too, which I’m attributing to the infusion of niacinamide, an active known for its ability to take down blemishes. My only gripe is the price. It's expensive at £46. But for such an impressive list of all encompassing benefits? I'd say it's money well spent.
Rachael Martin is Grazia’s Beauty Editor. Originally from Northern Ireland, she studied English Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, before moving to London to pursue a career in magazine journalism.
