Aethic Sovee sunscreen - helping to save coral reefs

Barbados beaches - clean and beautiful

Unless you can afford the Caribbean in January (and few of us can) then it'll be a while before you will even come close to thinking about sunscreen. But when you do and especially if you are going somewhere with a coral reef, it is worth checking our Sovee the world's first certified Marine Positive sunscreen from Aethic. This sunscreen is founded on the principle that skin and the natural environment are each incredibly valuable and deserve the best care. But what does this actually mean?

Aethic Sovee sunscreen

Most sunscreens, according to Professor Roberto Danovaro who published a scientific study in The National Geographic and The Times in 2008 on subject, kill coral. The ingredients in sunscreens can trigger dormant and deadly viruses in coral so you may be unwittingly contributing to the 40-50% of our coral reefs that have already been lost.

Aethic Sovee is formulated to include the best, most photostable sun-filters available alongside three organic moisturizers with Vitamin E as a skin anti-oxidant. It only uses food-grade perservatives and even the bottle is biodegradable. there is no nano particles, no alcohol, no titanium dioxide, no zinc oxide and no pertroleum emollients. So it's good for you and the environment too.

I have a tube and although the snow is still on the ground so I can't put it through it's paces, I can tell you it's quickly absorbed and smells gorgeous.

Part of the profits go to the coral nursery programme The Going Blue Foundation. Visit them and also check out Marine Positive for more information.

Aethic Sovee is available in spf 15, 25, 40 and is £40 for 150ml.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect

I have a summer holiday on the horizon so sent along to an afternoon with Lorraine Kelly who is a Garnier Ambre Solaire ambassador. She is passionate about keeping safe in the sun, never goes anywhere without a good dollop of suncream (factor 30) and a sun- hat. Maybe that's why at 52 she looks so amazing! She also has brought up her children to be highly sun aware too and we all have to take on board that skin-cancers are on the increase in the UK - even with our dreadful summers.

The main messages to take on board are -

• Make sure you use enough sun-cream - most of us don't and therefore aren't getting proper protection
• Although you can buy lower SPF creams and lotions, 30 is really the one to go for in hot climates
• Stay out of the mid-day sun (so take a very long and leisurely lunch somewhere in the shade)
• Replenish your suncream when you have been playing a sport or swimming
• Using after sun helps to moisturise your skin and avoid peeling

I love this Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect and can't wait to try it out on the beach soon. Like most people I am not a great colour when I go away and this is enriched with Monoi Oil so the fragrance is tropical and gorgeous. It conjures up the scent of frangipani and gardenia with coconut and seaweed - all far removed from many sun-tan lotions which don't smell particularly nice. this also has a real golden sheen - so even on pale skin you will look sparkly and shimmering in the sunshine.

It is available in 4 formats, SPF 10, £13.83, SPF 20 £16.03, SPF 30 £16.59. The Golden Touch Aftersun is £9.18. All prices are RRP. 

And here is another dreadful picture of me with Lorraine...

Holiday must-haves - Aveda hair suncare

Last night we got to hang out in P Diddy's favourite suite at the Soho Hotel and trial the latest hot products from Aveda who have been ethically producing pure flower and plant essence products for years.

They are an interesting company being the first beauty company to manufacture using 100% certified wind power where their wind energy purchase offsets all the electricity used by their primary manufacturing plant in Minnesota, USA. 90% of their essential oils and 89% of the raw herbal ingredients are certified organic too and they have even raised 11,000,000 US dollars for various environmental and social causes - even their packaging has the hightest possible post-consumer recycled content. So if this is a priority for you and you haven't come across their products before then you really should try them out as they are as good as they sound.

For holidays there is a 3-step Suncare system for your hair containing UV protection while cleansing and protecting from sun and salt damage for up to 16 hours which is impressive. It even smells of holidays containing neroli, ylang-ylang , cinnamon and green tea extract among other ingredients. The Aveda Suncare Hair and Body Cleanser means you don't have to pack separate products and is £14 for 250ml.

The Aveda Suncare Protective Hair Veil which can be sprayed on dry or damp hair is £17.50 for 100ml.

The Aveda Suncare After-Sun Hair Masque which can be left for as little as 2 mins (perfect on holiday when, let's face it we don't want to spend time on our hair) is £16.50 for 125ml.