Amy Ford: The Founder Of Hello Sunday Shares Suncare Tips & Her Life In Beauty
Every day is sun day for Amy Ford, founder of Hello Sunday, who is on a mission to spread SPF awareness and encourage VAT to be excluded from suncare products.
A recent study exposed that 45% of British people wear SPF while they’re abroad, but it’s not part of their daily routine at home. More worryingly, is 1 in 10 people aren’t wearing sunscreen at all because it’s too expensive. Here, Amy helps to decipher how to protect our skin from the sun to the absolute max and reveals the sun rules we should all be following….
What inspired you to produce the Hello Sunday brand?
I’ve always worked in beauty and lived in Australia for eight years, so I was reminded daily of how the sun is the no.1 cause of skin ageing and damage. I didn’t even question SPF daily usage back then, it was so embedded into my routine.
When I came back to the UK, I realised that no one was using SPF unless they were going on vacation or outside on a sunny summer’s day. There was no education on the importance of all-year-round SPF, rain or shine, and the market offer was outdated – the formulas were still thick, sticky, and left a white cast. And so, Hello Sunday was born from my desire to wake up this sleeping industry by making SPF fun, easy and affordable so that it could seamlessly fit into everyday life and existing beauty routines.
Why is it important to wear SPF every day?
Regardless of the weather or scenario, wearing SPF every day should be a force of habit for everyone. Not only does daily use of sunscreen support skin health – UV exposure is one of the biggest causes of visible signs of ageing, like fine lines and wrinkles and contributes to inflammation, hyperpigmentation and photoaging – but protecting your skin from UV damage is crucial to avoid skin and health issues in the long term.
View this post on Instagram
Which suncare ingredients should darker skins avoid, if any?
As a rule of thumb, chemical sunscreens contain organic compounds that absorb UV rays and convert them into heat. They are generally more transparent on the skin and can blend more easily, so they can be a great option for darker skin. There are some exceptions, however, as some chemical sunscreens are powder form and can still create a white cast. One of the most common ones to look out for is Methylene bis-benzotriazole tetramethyl butylphenol.
Similarly, mineral sunscreens include zinc oxide or titanium dioxide which are white powders and therefore result in sunscreen looking chalky on darker skin.
And what about oily skins who want to avoid added grease?
You must look for the right UVA and UVB protection for oily skin: non-greasy, lightweight, with acne-friendly ingredients to control oil production and give your skin a matte-finish. It is important not to clog your pores. Choose products which are “non-comedogenic.” This means that products that have these labels — including cleansers, moisturisers, and makeup — won’t clog your pores or cause acne.
View this post on Instagram
Suncare and makeup often clash, any pointers how to keep makeup staying longer when wearing SPF?
If you intend to wear make-up over SPF, ideally look for a product designed for use with make-up (a primer) as the formulation will be designed to create the perfect base for layering. It’s also important not to overload the skin with too many serums/moisturisers prior to applying SPF and make-up as this can result in peeling.
Do tinted formulations really have the same protection as non-tinted suncare?
Yes! Stringent EU guidelines on SPF testing provide a minimum SPF factor result, which is declared on the packaging. The important thing to follow is the directions for usage, applying the correct amount of product equates to the level of SPF coverage, and whether it’s tinted or not makes zero difference to the SPF.
Is it best to layer, and if so, how?
You CAN layer SPF products, however, be aware that if you mix SPF factors (e.g., a 30 and a 50), the resulting coverage will be the lowest SPF used (i.e., 30 in this example).
Should we apply our SPF on top or under our makeup for maximum protection?
Always apply SPF as the last step in your skincare routine but before makeup.
And how much should we be using?
For the face, given it’s an area where skin is more sensitive, the recommended amount is two finger lengths, even if the product is tinted. The recommendation for the average adult’s body is 29 grams, equivalent to approximately two tablespoons.
What’s the best way to re-apply SPF, without ruining your makeup?
It’s important that the whole skin surface is protected with SPF, all year round, no matter the weather. Apply generously on dry skin, half an hour before sun exposure and as a last step of the skincare routine before makeup. Throughout the day, it is important to top up your SPF every two hours. For mess-free top-ups, you can’t go wrong with an SPF stick or mist.
Finally, what’s your personal suncare and beauty routine?
I must confess that I’m a bit lazy – in the morning after I wash my face, I apply the Hello Sunday ‘The Everyday One’ as it has Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and SPF all-in-one. It’s my first and only step before makeup. I keep my everyday makeup look simple, natural, and I try to enhance my blue eyes. I always have a mini eye shadow palette with me, so that if a formal event or dinner pop-ups in the calendar, I can easily change up my look. Then, in the evening, I always remove my makeup with Garnier Micellar Water and put on a recovery night cream, such as my Hello Sunday Glow Mask.
View this post on Instagram
The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.
