Don’t forget these two areas when applying sunscreen

Supermodel Kate Moss is a changed woman. The former party girl has traded dancing on tables at all-night celebrations for clean living, with sunscreen replacing hangover cures in her morning routine.

“This is new to my regime: sunscreen,” Moss, 49, says in a video for US Vogue demonstrating her skincare routine. “My daughter tells me off all the time: ‘Mummy, you have to wear sunscreen.’ I do know it’s important.”

If you’re working inside, a morning sunscreen application should be enough.Credit:Lacey/Trunk Archive/Snapper Images

The founder of Australian e-tailer Adore Beauty, Kate Morris, has a head start on Moss, having prioritised sun protection as part of her skin routine for many years. “Do whatever you want with your skin but you have to wear sunscreen,” Morris says. “We are in Australia, after all.” It’s part of the reason Adore Beauty’s first in-house products under the label AB Lab, launched in October, were SPF50+ sunscreens with active ingredients.

Skin cancer expert Professor Adele Green is concerned we’re not doing sunscreen correctly. She welcomes the new focus on skincare products with an SPF 50 rating but still recommends using a dedicated sunscreen.

“In general, sunscreens are superior to cosmetic products, especially those with a lower SPF rating that aren’t water-resistant” Green says. “It’s very unlikely you’ll be applying the thickness needed to maintain protection. You should be applying the equivalent of a heaped teaspoon to your face, which will seem quite thick. If you apply it too thinly, you’ll know about it.”

Because it’s so exposed, the face remains a focus of sun protection. But there are two areas that people forget when it comes to applying sunscreen.

‘This is new to my regime: sunscreen.’

“The tops of the ears can be an issue, especially for men, who tend to have shorter hairstyles,” Green says. “For women, the neck is often ignored. You will see women who have paid attention to protecting their faces but below the neck reveals the effects of sun damage.”

If you’re working inside, a morning application should be enough but Green suggests reapplying sunscreen if you have outdoor errands or perform strenuous activity.

New Australian brand Mother SPF, launched by Tandia Walsh, backs the use of dedicated sunscreens such as its Mineral Face & Body Sunscreen SPF30. “This is the type of sunscreen you want to be wearing daily as it has been listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutics Goods as a protective formulation,” says Walsh. “To get to this point, the formulation has had to complete rounds of rigorous testing.”

Scientists and entrepreneurs may push the need for sunscreen but we are still paying attention to supermodel advice. If Moss says sun protection is the new smoky eye, we’re doing it.

Ask Steph

What is the best way to soften pencil eyeliner?
If eyeliner is too sharp, it can look severe; the trick is to soften the edges with a dedicated brush such as Rae Morris Jishaku #15 Precision Bent-Liner Vegan Brush (from Mecca, $50). To finish, apply a matte eyeshadow in a matching shade.

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