It’s cold yes, but it’s also very sunny.
If you’re in London you’ll know what I mean. While temperatures have plummeted to the minuses and practically every new site proclaiming the imminentness of snow, it’s still been fairly bright and sunny. So much so that I’ve been wearing sunglasses pretty much every single day this week.
Want to know what else I’ve been wearing? (Well I actually always wear this but still…) Sunscreen! Yes, that creamy white stuff reserved for holidays with a beach and a sun burning so hot you feel like a human barbecue. However, like a puppy, sunscreen should be for life not just for those “special occasions”. Sunscreen should be used every day, all year round, summer, winter, autumn, spring, even when it’s grey and gloomy outside.
Why you should be wearing sunscreen
Sunscreen helps protect your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays (UVA UVB UVC) that can sometimes result in skin cancer. Sunscreen also helps fight against signs of premature ageing like wrinkles, crows feet; as well as hyperpigmentation and discolouration. For optimum protection, experts advise you wear a sunscreen with a high SPF factor (30 or higher).
Who needs to wear sunscreen?
More importantly – and I know I say this ALL the time – but everyone should be wearing sunscreen. Yes, even dark-skinned people. Because contrary to what most people think, black people can also get damage from the sun. Did you know that more black people die of melanoma than people with lighter skin?
What sunscreen do I use?
I’m currently using the Garnier Ambre Solaire Protection Lotion. This is the last step in my morning skincare routine before I start applying makeup (my foundation also has some SPF as does my moisturiser). Even though it’s only SPF30, I’ve found this is one of the few sunscreens I can wear on my face without looking weird. It’s not greasy or thick and it doesn’t leave me looking ghostly and ashy. I’m already on my second tube and love it so much. The only thing I would change would be making it SPF50.
And one last thing, you still need sunscreen even if your moisturiser/makeup is labelled with an SPF factor. Studies have shown that users do not apply nearly as much product to warrant the actual factor listed, so it’s not sufficient enough to protect your skin from the sun. Obviously, it’s a bonus if your moisturiser or makeup has some SPF (my moisturiser and foundation are both SPF15), but you shouldn’t solely rely on these.
Sunscreen may not a major part of your skincare routine during the winter months, but when the sun is out it’s super important to make sure that you’re protected.
alice
xo
