| Product: |
Nivea Sun Tan Cream |
| Date: |
11/06/01 (593 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Protects against all rays, Keeps skin safe and looking lovely!!, Non greasy and easy to apply
Disadvantages: There is no way of protecting 100% against the sun., Only water resistant, don't forget to reapply
~~NIVEA MOISTURISING SUN CREME~~~~
Yes, it is that time of year again when the shelves of the chemists and supermarkets suddenly become full of sun lotions, sun sprays, sun oils, after suns and fake tans. I don’t know about you, but for me it can all be quite confusing. I mean they all claim to do different things and I go to read the information on the back of the product and it could just as well be Hebrew for the amount I understand it. One product that I have been using for the past couple of years is Nivea Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion (as well as the matching After Sun, but that’s a whole other opinion!). First though, I thought I would try and help all the other confused people out there with a brief explanation of what all the lingo on the backs of these bottle is trying to say!
~~~The sciency bit~~~~
One of the things you first come across is all the garble about UVA and UVB rays, I mean what on earth are they and are they harmful, which is worse? As it turns out both types of ultraviolet rays and are both very harmful to the skin and of all the rays that pass through the atmosphere these are the real skin ravagers.
UVA rays are present all year round and can get to your skin even when the clouds are out and you are behind glass ( I mean how many times just sitting in the car with sun shining in the window have you caught the sun much to your surprise!??). These rays pass through the deepest layer of the skin, the dermis and can cause irrepairable damage to the cells and fibres which support the skin and ultimately can cause accelerated aging and in the worst case scenario skin cancer.
UVB rays however are worse in the summer and especially in the middle of the day (why people are told to avoid the hottest hours of sun around midday to early afternoon). These rays hit the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin, colouring and burning your skin. It is stated by experts that skin that has burnt six time
s has twice as much chance of developing a fatal melanoma, I mean how scary is that? If you think that most people go on holiday each year and how many of us will have burnt more than 6 times, I know I have so far in my life.
Finally there are infrared rays which are always present, however the paler skin you have the more they effect you. They are also a warning against excessive sun exposure and provoke redness and increase the damaging effects of both UVA and UVB rays.
The next often confusing bit about sun tan lotion is the SPF, the Sun Protection factor. SPF gives an indication of how long you can stay out in the sun without burning. So, for example, a SPF 15 reduces the burning effect of the sun 15 fold, with only 15 percent of the sun’s burning energy getting through, compared to when you are not wearing any sun tan lotion. . Technically this means that it would take you 15 times longer to burn, however the experts warn that this is not an excuse to extend your time in the sun by 15 percent. As a rule they say that for people with skin that is sensitive to fair in moderate weather (UK, Northern Europe and Ireland) and Hot weather (Mediterannean and southern Europe) they should use SPF25 for the first 3 days and then SPF15 afterwards, in very hot weather such as in the tropics, Africa and Australia it should be SPF 35 for the first three days and then 25 afterwards. If you have skin that tans and tans easily then in Moderate weather you should wear SPF15 then SPF 8 after, in hot weather SPF15 the whole time and then finally in very hot locations SPF25 followed by SPF 15.
The experts recommend that you should use a product that offers a broad spectrum of these benefits and protection. For example, one that protects against UVA, UVB and infrared radiation. As a guide you can check on bottle for a star rating and bottles which carry a 4 star maximum sun protection rating are the best at fighting aging and the like. Also, you ha
ve to be aware that even if you bought a SPF25 and applied a fine layer of it to your skin you will not be getting the full benefits. You should always apply sun cream liberally before going into the sun 20 minutes before is recommended. Additionally you need to consider buying waterproof or water resistant sunscreens if you plan on spending a lot of time in the water.
So, the main thing to take from this is that no matter what skin type you have, sunscreen is always essential. Soaking up too many rays can at best be skin that looks older than your actual years or at worst skin cancer.
Even when you have figured out the sciency bit though there is still the massive task of deciding which product to buy. I found this a hard task and have to admit that I use 2 sun lotions quite loyally. I use Malibu because I absolutely love the smell of coconut and there is nothing better than laying there smelling of it. Then secondly I use Nivea because I always use a Nivea moisturiser and am quite brand loyal. Afterall, I use it every day with no problem so why shouldn’t it be just as good in a sun lotion.
~~~So, what’s so good about Nivea Sun Lotion????~~~~
There is a huge range of Nivea Sun products, you can get the whole range of SPF’s, special waterproof ones, sun sprays, sun creams, after sun products and a kids range. I use the Moisturising sun lotion and have done for the past few years. I use this as it has added moisturizers and so moisturizes and protects the skin leaving it smooth and supple. I also use the Nivea Firming Lotion daily and so just see it as a continuation of that.
Nivea Sun products come in bright blue bottles for the sun lotion and a lighter grey/blue for the after sun lotion. You can buy it in a number of sizes as well, which is good when you want to buy a couple of different SPF as you don’t have to splash out on huge bottles. Also, on the other hand it means there are bottles bi
g enough to deal with the whole family. I bought a 200ml bottle last summer for £5.99 and a 400ml bottle for £9.99. Yes, this is expensive, but that is the sun lotion market, you pay for protection and even more for the brand names. However, even the supermarket and own branded products like Tesco and Boots are only a £1 or so cheaper, so for me I would rather go with what I know. There are 5 levels of protection, basic (SPF2-5), Medium (SPF 6-10), High (SPF 11-15), Intensive (SPF 16-20) and Sun Block (SPF 21-30+). For the purpose of this opinion I am referring to the the High Protection SPF 11-15 which I often use as I have skin that tans very easily. It has 4 UVA stars which is very good and contains both a UVA and UVB filter system. It is also water resistant, however, one must be aware that water proof and water resistant are two very different things and so after a dip in the pool or sea you need to apply more cream if it is just resistant. It may offer some protection whilst in the water, but once out you run the risk of being unprotected. In addition this product contains Vitamin E to protect against sun damage caused by free radicals. Finally, as if that wasn’t enough it is pH neutral and so is formulated to be in tune with your body. Overall, as you can see I found the package to be well formulated and offering all the properties I wanted in a lotion.
Yet, what is the reality of the product, how does it perform in real life?
The bottle has a screw off lid, which can be a pain as you can lose the lid in the sand, however, it saves the lid getting all gunged up with lotion. The bottle itself is squeezy and the cream comes out of the little hole very easily. It is a creamy white liquid and smells very similar to most Nivea products it has to be said. Ok, it doesn’t get me as excited as the coconutty smell of my Malibu lotion, but I don’t dislike it. What does matter is that it absorbs easily in to the skin and leaves it fe
eling all soft and nice, yet not at all greasy. As the cream is quite light you aren’t left with any unsightly residue on the skin.
The most important information I guess is how it performs over time and in the sun. As I said I am quite lucky in that my skin doesn’t burn easily and that I tan quickly. So, I have been impressed at how good Nivea Sun cream was at keeping me free from redness and burns. However, I do have to admit to a horrible incidence last summer when I was so overjoyed at seeing some sun (can’t you tell I live in England!!) that I stayed outside from 8am to 6pm. Yes, getting burnt and peeling after day one was my own fault in that case and not the product. When used with care this product certainly kept my skin well and it also kept it feeling really soft. It was working 2 fold, saving my skin and making it look beautiful and full of moisture.
As far as choosing a sun lotions go, it isn’t an easy or particularly interesting task, but it is an essential one. Thus, my advice would be to give Nivea Sun products a try as the range is pretty comprehensive and there is something for every member of the family with every skin type.
Some final tips…….
Seeing as I am dishing out advice on safe tanning, I thought I would end with a few bits of information that I have picked up over the years and that some of you may not know, they are useful though!!
~ Remember that you don’t have to feel hot to burn. Rays can penetrate, glass, water, sand, clouds and thin clothing.
~ Do not mix SPF numbers. Using a SPF 10 and SPF 15 does not mean that you have a total SPF of 25.
~ Remember that your hands are one of the first places to show signs of aging. Thus, always make sure they are covered in cream and protected.
~ Remember your hair as well. Hair can fry too. Use a spray with a SPF or wear a hat.
~Don’t forget to cover your nipples i
n cream if going topless, it is amazing how many people forget that and believe me sun burnt nipples are pretty painful!!!
~ Don’t fall asleep in the sun.
~ Finally, remember not to use sun cream which is more than 2 or 3 years old as it can lose it’s strength and the formulation may separate causing a skin irritation. It may be expensive stuff, but how much is your skin and health really worth to you?
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