It’s a fact that in a cool country like Britain there are more cases of skin cancer than in blazing Australia. Clearly a reliable sun cream is now essential wherever you are. Here are a few ideas :

Lancome Soleil DNA Guard contains “white willow flower to create a protective shield, jasmine flower and African mango extract to nourish”.

Experts say, it’s absorbed easily, leaving skin soft. However, it didn’t stand up to water and needed to be reapplied after swimming.

Recommended retail price, US$35. The UK price varies around £18.

The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream is said to “promote safe tanning. Red, white and green tea protect and shea butter hydrates”.

Experts say, it’s easily absorbed and didn’t leave a chalky residue like other organic creams. I had to reapply every few hours.

Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Oil Protective “The microfine sparkles enhance your natural tan”.

Experts say, the “shimmer” got onto everything, so is not very practical. The low SPF (strength of protection) meant it was more suitable for the end of a holiday.

Clearly, you have to choose your sunscreen product very carefully.

It’s definitely too early in the season to spend a day at the beach or in the tanning booth (not good for your skin, either) and probably a bit early for self-tanning products unless you’re gearing up your color for a special event or a cruise. With no base color your trusty bronzer may not look as healthy and blended as you’d like. Plus, your skin is still recovering from winter’s harsh weather (even this spring is cooler than usual).

How about a moisturizer, sunscreen and skin tint all in one? Sephora’s Tinted Moisturizer is sheer with just a hint of color. It leaves a satin finish to your skin, so you never see or feel anything heavy or caky. On top of that it nourishes your skin with Vitamins A, C and E. The perfect foundation for the transition into spring. Comes in 5 shades from light to deep and bronze.

The newest trend in comsetics is mineral make-up. Consisting of inorganic minerals and pigments found in nature,such as zinc oxides, mica, titanium dioxide and ultramarine pigments, these products are advertised as better for your skin than regular make-up. From powders to eyeshadow, there is a great variety of these natural mineral products being marketed.

These products promise to eliminate allergic reactions and breakouts and be safe for all skin types. For selection and always with price in mind, I recommend Physicians Formula or Neutrogena’s line of mineral makeup products. Physicians Formula has multiple products and I particularly liked their Solar Powder bronzer with sunscreen. Neutrogena is a name we know we can trust and their line of Mineral Sheers includes foundation powder and eyeshadow with a little shimmer. Best of all, both are available at drugstore prices.

Dark circles under your eyes make you look tired and unhealthy, worst of all, they draw attention away from the eyes themselves. Revlon has two great ways to banish those dark circles and brighten those eyes.

Revlon Skinlights® Illusion Wand adds a bit of tint and shimmer to reflect light away from those dark shadows which also helps to conceal fine lines. It applies with a brush tip. Skinlights® comes in three shades and contains SPF 12 UVA/UVB protection.

If you want to firm undereye skin as well as conceal, then try Revlon’s Age Defying Concealer with Botafirm IIIâ„¢. It promises to diminish the look of lines and wrinkles while hiding those dark undereye shadows. Banish dark circles and fine lines and wrinkles all at once.