'The ABCDE': 5 things to look for when choosing a sunscreen for sensitive skin.

Pale, porcelain doll, you name it, I’ve heard it.

And being quite fair-skinned, let’s just say sunscreen and I have developed an intimate relationship.

Throw sensitive skin into the mix, though, and things get a little more complicated. Skin that reacts to specific products or ingredients gets irritated easily and needs a little extra TLC. It’s frustrating, but it’s life for plenty of us.

Now, I love the heat and being outdoors, but with my fair and sensitive-skinned family in tow, is living always easy come summertime? Not so much.

We think of summer. We think of outings to the beach or visits to the pool for a quick dip on a warm afternoon. Then there are lazy afternoons at a barbecue or in the park with friends and family. And the best part – no more winter layering!

But with summer also comes the responsibility of taking care of our skin. For those of us with skin that gets easily irritated or burned, it helps to look for gentle, natural ingredients when choosing which sunscreen to use.

We’ve come up with a simple checklist, if you will. Now, hear me out. Before you cry ‘not another thing to remember!’, this one couldn’t be easier. In fact, I plan on outsourcing it to my three-year-old. #mumgoals

ABCDE.

That’s it. Simple as that. A super helpful way for you to make a great sunscreen choice for sensitive skin. (See what I mean about its outsourcing capabilities?)

Just use this easy checklist for making sure any new sunscreen is up to the task of keeping your skin reaction-free.

Play along with me.

A: Now, that’s for aloe vera. You know, that lovely soothing plant that calms reactive skin. Mmm, my skin is feeling all relaxed just thinking about it.

B: This stands for broad-spectrum SPF, which protects us from both UVA and UVB rays. That’s a no-brainer. It’s important to know that while UVB rays only penetrate the outer layers of your skin to cause  damage like sunburn, UVA rays get much deeper and can cause more significant damage. That’s why you and your family need protection against both.

C: Ah, chamomile. It’s relaxing in your tea, and it’s relaxing on your skin. Chamomile understands what it’s like to feel a little bit sensitive and just knows how to make it all better. It’s like a lullaby for your skin. Or a little foot rub. Nice…

D: Directions for use. I need to know when to apply (20 minutes before going into the sun), how long my sunscreen will last, when I should reapply (every two hours or if I’m sweating or swimming), if it’s water-resistant and all the essential stuff. Because it’s not just me I’m looking after, it’s the sensitive skin of my little one, too. I’d hate to get that one wrong.

E: Vitamin E. As well as being a great moisturiser, Vitamin E’s superpowers include helping to protect and repair skin by keeping it hydrated. The result? It’s less vulnerable to sun damage. That’s a win in my book.

One sunscreen that ticks all these boxes is NIVEA SUN Sensitive Protect SPF50 Sunscreen Lotion.

This non-greasy product goes above and beyond, providing broad-spectrum sun protection while, you guessed it, being kind to sensitive skin.

It has all the "ABCDE" elements. It's also free of perfumes and colourants, and is 100 per cent compliant with the Hawaii Reef Bill - meaning it doesn't contain the UV filters oxybenzone and octinoxate’.

So, that leaves only one choice - the size - the 200ml bottle or 100ml tube? I’ll take one of each - one for the beach bag, one for the kitchen bench.

With a sunscreen like this that's tailored to sensitive skin, going out in the sun in summer - or any season for that matter - shouldn't be an extra worry.

Maybe the living can be easy after all?

Tell us your best tips for dealing with sensitive skin in the summer months below.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. SUNSCREENS ARE ONLY ONE PART OF SUN PROTECTION. PROLONGED HIGH-RISK SUN EXPOSURE SHOULD BE AVOIDED. FREQUENT RE-APPLICATION OR USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIRECTIONS IS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION