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It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed sunscreens. Mainly because I hadn’t been anywhere warm for nearly four years. To properly evaluate sun protection, you need a good amount of hot weather to really get a feel for a product’s texture and effectiveness. Testing a facial sunscreen is straightforward – even on a cloudy UK day, you can apply it and see if it feels chalky, greasy, or if it works well under makeup. But for body sunscreens, you need a warm setting because no one wants to apply a sticky SPF lotion when they aren’t lounging in a sunny beach setting.
I find a week of reliable sunshine essential for thoroughly testing body sunscreens, which I got at the Domes of Elounda resort in Crete. Fortunately, we had a week of continuous sunshine. The temperature was around twenty-one degrees, not overly hot, but our sun-trapping stone patio felt much warmer. It felt like lounging in a pizza oven for a couple of hours!
I brought six sunscreens with me, and although all were impressive, the new Vichy Ideal Soleil Tan Enhancing Protective Solar Water stood out. It felt luxurious on my skin – like a dry oil – and was incredibly easy to apply, almost like spraying on water. Despite initial skepticism about sunscreen mists and sprays, I found the Vichy Protective Solar Water SPF30 as effective as a lotion. However, I did reapply it more frequently due to my mistrust of sprays or because it was so easy and refreshing.
This sunscreen is enhanced with beta-carotene, which supposedly promotes a better tan. At first, I thought it might contain self-tanning ingredients. But after a few days, I realized it was the antioxidants promoting a more even and golden tan.
Tanning can be a touchy subject now, but for me, it happens naturally with sun exposure, even with sunscreen. If I strictly followed sun safety, I would advocate for no sun exposure ever, but that would be hypocritical. There’s nothing as restorative for me as a week in the sun. The vitamin D boost is invigorating, and the beautiful light lifts my spirits immensely. I always wear sunscreen, limit my sun time, and ensure my kids are well-protected too, but the sun feels wonderful on my skin – I should probably live somewhere sunnier.
Putting aside sun safety discussions, Vichy’s Solar Water is fantastic. It’s easy to apply, leaves a silky finish, offers broad UVA and UVB protection with SPF30, doesn’t stain clothing, and has a pleasant scent. Priced at £19, or cheaper on some sites, it feels more expensive than it is and makes you want to reapply it.
Lastly, a quick mention of my swimsuit: it’s a Miraclesuit with great tummy control, like swimwear Spanx. It’s comfortable, even though I opted for a slightly larger size. Even with a recent stomach bug, it was a great purchase!