By Eleanor Douglas-Meyers
Brought to you by Woolworths Walmer Park Beauty
Let’s be honest. Most of us stop thinking about sunscreen the second the temperature drops below “beach weather”.
I know I do.
Winter is usually when I’m focused on surviving dry skin, drinking alarming amounts of tea and pretending that because it’s cloudy, the sun has simply agreed to leave me alone until September.
Unfortunately, that’s not how sunscreen works.
So when Woolworths Beauty at Walmer Park gave me the opportunity to test the Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray and Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Oil, I decided to see if they could convince me to keep up my SPF habit through winter.
Spoiler, they did.
Why You Still Need SPF in Winter
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean UV rays disappear. While we might not be spending entire days at the beach, we’re still exposed to the sun during school runs, coffee dates, errands and everyday life.
Winter sun damage is still sun damage.
The challenge is finding a sunscreen you actually want to wear.
The Body Spray That Made Me Stop Making Excuses
The Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray was the surprise favourite for me.
A quick spray covers a surprisingly large area, which means application takes seconds rather than feeling like an admin task. The formula feels light, absorbs quickly and smells incredible.
And when I say incredible, I mean the kind of scent that makes people ask what perfume you’re wearing.
One of my favourite features is the lock-top design.
If you’ve ever opened your handbag only to discover that one of your beauty products has emptied itself onto everything you own, you’ll understand why this matters.
Not that I’d know anything about that.
The Body Oil That Saved My Winter Skin
The Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Oil arrived just as my skin entered its annual winter rebellion.
You know that stage where your legs somehow look both dry and ashy no matter how much moisturiser you’ve used?
That stage.
The oil adds SPF protection while also helping skin look hydrated and healthy. It leaves behind a subtle glow without making you look like you’ve been attacked by a craft glitter project.
After a few days of using it, I messaged a friend and told her my skin didn’t look quite as reptilian anymore.
She questioned whether “less reptilian” was an appropriate way to review a beauty product.
I stand by my words.
The Sol de Janeiro Difference
Both products feature Sol de Janeiro’s signature Rio Radiance scent, which feels like a little reminder that summer still exists somewhere.
The combination of effective SPF protection, gorgeous fragrance and skin-loving formulas makes them feel more like beauty products that happen to contain sunscreen rather than sunscreen you’re forcing yourself to wear.
That’s an important distinction.
Because the best sunscreen is ultimately the one you’ll actually use.
Worth It?
For me, yes.
The Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Spray retails for approximately R795, while the Rio Radiance SPF 50 Body Oil retails for approximately R940 at Woolworths Beauty stores, including Walmer Park.
The body spray is perfect for everyday use, while the body oil has earned a permanent place in my winter beauty routine.
If you’re looking for an SPF that doesn’t feel like a chore and gives dry winter skin a little extra help, this duo is worth a look.
And if your skin currently resembles that of a small desert lizard, the body oil might just become your new best friend too.
Because at the end of the day, it’s Sol de Janeiro. You’ll get your SPF, your hydration and the added bonus of smelling like a tropical cocktail during hot chocolate weather.
Honestly, that’s a combination I can get behind.
The products featured in this review were provided to Eleanor Douglas-Meyers for testing purposes. Opinions expressed are her own.
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