text: When I think about going on holiday there’s always the essentials you think of when it comes to packing – passports, wallet, clothes and SPF. Honestly SPF comes up as one of the top things that I never leave the house without whether I’m travelling or not – even on a cloudy day. Let’s talk about one of the best SPF creams out there!
  When I was growing up there wasn’t a lot of education around sun protection – in fact, the more tanned you were, the better. Bronzed, sun-kissed skin was idolised when I was a teen but there wasn’t much talk on protecting your skin from UV rays. I would bake in the sun for hours with no sun protection, get blistering sunburns every summer but still, no one really shouted about the importance of SPF. I am SO glad we are all a bit more clued up these days and you better believe I’m getting regular mole checks and also wearing SPF on the regular, especially in the sun.
  Having a small child also makes you really take note of the fact you need to top up your sunscreen every two hours. The last thing you want is a small child with a sunburn (keeping them up all night) so I am diligent about sun protection when it comes to my little one.
  A brand I’ve used for years and love so much is Ultrasun (the best SPF) and I’m so happy to be able to use it on my daughter. When we think of sun protection we often only think of UVA and UVB but Ultrasun protects against not only UVA/UVB but also Infrared-A rays and HEVL (Blue Light). I love that it’s fragrance-free as well and is perfect for sensitive skin. The Ultrasun UVA filters are also over 90% against an EU standard of 33% (which is also shown on the packaging).
  When we go on holiday in a sunny country the first thing we do is slather on the SPF before heading outside. Ultrasun’s formulas are amazing if you are visiting the beach as they are made to last through water, sweat, showering, swimming and even towelling off. The lamellar technology in the formula also means that the products absorb just under the surface of the skin, with even distribution and overlapping of coverage to ensure you are FULLY protected and it means it works longer.
  And honestly, every time we have used Ultrasun on our holidays and in the sun, we haven’t gotten a sunburn – true fact. The formula is just that good! The formulas also last 2 years after opening whereas the average sunscreen only lasts 6 months after opening.
  For kids I love the Ultrasun Kids SPF50+ – its fragrance-free for the most sensitive of skin and I swear this formula was made for wriggling kids because it rubs in easily and absorbs so well.
  For the whole family we love the Ultrasun Family SPF30 – it’s free from oils, emulsifiers and perfume. I know everyone goes on about scents in suncare but honestly isn’t that what perfumes are for? And by the way you wouldn’t want to be applying perfume on your skin and then going out in the sun but that’s a conversation for another time!
  I never skip SPF for my face either, whether I’m at home in London or far away on a tropical island. The Ultrasun Face SPF50+ is SO GOOD. It actually works so well as a primer – my face looks super glowy after applying and it sits well under makeup. Also, if you are packing and you want to pack light – this product works as your moisturiser, primer and SPF all in one. It’s also loaded with antioxidants like Ectoin which is scientifically proven to prevent UVA-induced premature photo-ageing of the skin.
  And the last but certainly not least, a must-have from Ultrasun is the Ultrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF50 – honestly this is SO good for top-ups and I’ve even used it for my little one’s legs on-the-go to make sure she also stays topped up on sun protection. What I love about this product is that you can use it over and under make-up AND you can use it on your scalp as well. Trust me from someone who has had a scalp-burn, they are no fun.
  And it’s amazing to use products that work but we also have to think about the environment when it comes to sun protection. Think of how many millions of people apply SPF and then go swimming in the sea with ingredients in their sun creams that aren’t environmentally-friendly and are even toxic to marine life? I’ve been aware of this for quite some time and have always tried to only use products that are safe for marine life when I’m planning to go into the sea.
  Ultrasun have gone beyond reef-safe and ocean friendly and have actually been awarded BASF ECOSUN pass status. They are the ONLY suncare brand in the world to have been awarded such an accolade which looks at 8 tests across everything from endocrine disruptors to sediment toxicity. Ultrasun has not only passed the tests in all areas but exceeded them.
  We hope to continue many more sunburn-free years with this brand and really highly recommend them if you are looking for sunscreens for kids!
  *this post is in collaboration with Ultrasun but all words/images are my own