Do You Still Need To Wear Sunscreen In Winter?

The Short Answer… YES!

Don't underestimate the Winter sun! Sunscreen works by protecting your skin from both UVA and UVB rays that exist year-round. Rain, hail or shine, those pesky UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and glass to cause damage to your complexion. The short answer is yes, you should be wearing sunscreen even in Winter. The long answer is that there are many reasons why you should be reaching for the SPF during this season, so here are just a few of the ways sunscreen protects your skin during the cooler months.

Winter Sunshine

The sun is not only one of the biggest causes of premature skin ageing, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer. Because UVA rays can penetrate our skin, it makes total sense that they can penetrate through heavy cloud cover too! While the intensity of UVB rays can fluctuate depending on the season, the UVA rays that cause ageing and skin cancer are just as strong 365 days of the year (that includes Winter!). So if you're serious about looking after your skin and staying healthy, a high-level SPF like the ASAP Moisturising Daily Defence SPF50+ will be your Winter bestie. It's super hydrating too so it will help to reduce any Winter-skin dryness.

Anti-Ageing Benefits

Your skin doesn't just age in the summertime, so why should you put away the sunscreen! Think of sunscreen as the best (and most affordable) anti-ageing product in your skincare routine. When you're wearing it every day, you're not just avoiding a nasty sunburn. Sunscreen protects your skin's natural collagen and elastin from breaking down, which is what leads to fine lines and unwanted wrinkles. Hyperpigmentation and photo-ageing that come about from too much sun can be easily minimised by using a good quality sunscreen such as the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, packed full of antioxidants and collagen-producing actives.

Blue Light Protection

On a cold Winter’s night, nothing feels better than staying in with a good movie or catching up on some YouTube. But the blue light coming from screens we all use every day can cause skin damage in the long run too. Different from traditional UV rays, blue light penetrates your skin and contributes to photo-ageing by disrupting your skin cells natural rhythm. This is just another reason why you should be wearing sunscreen year-round, as a trusty SPF like the Mineral Protect SPF50 Sunscreen from Endota Spa can help protect your skin from long-term blue light damage.

Sensitive Skin

Some of our favourite skincare products can leave our complexion even more vulnerable to sun damage. Ingredients such as AHAs, BHAs and retinol make our skin more sensitive to the sun during the day, even if you apply those products before you go to bed. So if you love using a chemical exfoliant or swear by your retinol, using sunscreen such as the Medik8 Physical Sunscreen SPF50 during wintertime is an absolute must to avoid any burning or skin damage, without clogging your pores. After all, we're using these products to improve our skin's health, not damage it even more!

All About Reapplication

This may surprise you, but the Winter weather can actually make your sunscreen less effective than it is during Summer! Strong winds can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your favourite SPF, and so can harsh conditions such as snowfall. Don't think that one layer of sunscreen in the morning will keep you protected all day, you'll need to reapply on the go. Make sure to buy a sunscreen such as the Hunter Lab SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen which is super easy to apply and leave in your handbag for reapplication.

While the sun may not feel as strong during Winter, UVA rays are still around and ready to cause some damage! UVA rays can catch you off guard during the cooler months and UVB rays are easily reflected off bright surfaces such as ice and snow. So if you've got a Winter escape planned, don't forget to pack your SPF!