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Why Should You Wear Everyday Sunscreen
Unravelling the Mystery of Everyday Sunscreen
UVA vs UVB: How the Sun Can Damage Our Skin
Choosing the Best Everyday Sunscreen for Your Face
Why Should You Wear Everyday Sunscreen
An Invisible Threat
The skin is exposed to UV rays every single day – even when it’s grey and cloudy, and sunshine seems like a distant memory. UVA can even penetrate through glass, leaving you at risk of exposure even when indoors or travelling in a car. That’s why applying a lightweight sunscreen every morning will help to give your skin the protection it needs.
Preventing Premature Ageing
If applying sunscreen every day seems laborious, consider that most premature skin ageing is caused by the sun. In fact, photo-ageing is a direct result of cumulative sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life, which causes a deterioration in important proteins such as collagen and elastin. The result? Premature ageing signs such as the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dullness, and wrinkles – all of which can be protected against or improved with daily sunscreen application.
Innovative New Formulas
In the past, sunscreen had a reputation for being sticky and unpleasant to apply. But new formulations, such as La Roche-Posay’s Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF 50+, are lightweight and leave no white cast, working perfectly beneath makeup. Other innovative formulas like La Roche-Posay’s Invisible Anti-Shine Mist provide very high UVA and UVB protection in a light, fresh mist. It can even be applied over makeup if you need to top up throughout the day.
An Essential Partner to Your Skincare
If potent active ingredients such as retinol and glycolic acid are part of your skincare routine, they should always be followed with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. This is because some ingredients can make the skin photo-sensitive, sensitive to sunlight or UV, which can increase the chances of sunburn. These ingredients are often recommended to use in your evening skincare routine, in which case they should always be followed with a broad-spectrum sunscreen the following morning.
Unravelling the Mystery of Everyday Sunscreen
While the skin is at its most vulnerable when the UV is highest, the risk of skin damage is a year-round concern. Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Hiva explains: “It’s really important to use sunscreen every day, even in winter months, because ultraviolet, which is an invisible radiation, is present all year round, even in the winter months. Because we know ultraviolet can cause problems with skin cancer and skin ageing, it’s really important to incorporate sunscreen use into your daily regime so it becomes routine.”
UVA damage is also one of the main causes behind a phenomenon called photoaging, a term used to describe the signs of ageing that gradually develop on the skin. According to Dr. Hiva, UVA rays are responsible for “the changes we see with skin ageing – pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines etc.” While photoaging is an inevitable process, those who spend a lot of time outdoors and/or don't use sunscreen, and therefore have greater exposure to UV rays, tend to develop these effects earlier and with more intensity.
So, what happens when UV penetrates the skin and how does it cause ageing? Photoaging is the result of cells being damaged by UV and unbalanced levels of elastin. The skin responds by sending metalloproteinases to repair the skin, but the result is an uneven finish, with depleted levels of collagen. Melanin – not just the pigment that gives you a tan, but the skin's defence against sunburn – can also build up in specific places, causing what are known as age or liver spots.
UVA vs UVB: How the Sun Can Damage Our Skin
"Ultraviolet or UV comes from the sun and there's two types - ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B." explains Dr. Hiva. Damage to our skin is caused by the radiation hitting our cells and causing mutations in their makeup, or DNA.
"Ultraviolet B causes sunburn and skin cancer whilst Ultraviolet A penetrates deeper into the skin and causes the changes we see with skin ageing, so it's really important to protect against both."
Preventing Skin Damage with Everyday Sunscreen
If you find yourself becoming complacent about applying your daily, broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen, it can be helpful to be reminded of the facts. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, studies show that regular daily use of sunscreen, when used as directed, can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent, and can also lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent.
Applying sunscreen each day is also important for everyone, including all skin tones and types, children, and babies over the age of six months. Infants below this age should be kept out of direct sunlight as their skin is incredibly sensitive.
Dermatologists also recommend wearing a daily SPF of 30 or higher for the most effective protection. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor – a term used to provide an idea of how long it would take for the sun to redden your skin compared to if you weren’t wearing sunscreen at all.
The SPF is an indicator of UVB protection only, so always protect against UVA with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, such as La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios formulas.
Choosing the Best Everyday Sunscreen for Your Face
There are a few factors to think about when choosing an everyday sunscreen. First of all, consider what area of the body it’s for. If it’s for your face, neck and chest, a facial sunscreen will often have a more lightweight texture than one formulated for the body. Many facial sunscreens are also formulated with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated as well as protected. You can also choose a sunscreen that addresses your specific skin type and concerns such as Anthelios Age Correct to target ageing signs and dark spots, or Anthelios UVMUNE 400 Fluid that contains a tint for extra coverage.
If you do a lot of exercise or outdoor sports, you should also look for a sweat-resistant sunscreen that will keep you protected as you perspire, such as Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid. Likewise, a water-resistant sunscreen is essential for swimmers and days at the beach or pool. Finally, you should consider the daily SPF of your sunscreen. SPF15 is considered a minimum for short intervals in the sun, but an SPF30 or higher is recommended by dermatologists for when spending longer periods of time outdoors or near a glass window – such as on a plane or in a car. Don’t forget, no matter the SPF of your sunscreen, you’ll need to re-apply it every two to three hours. If you sweat or go for a swim, you’ll need to re-apply more frequently and immediately after getting out of the water.
Dermatologist Recommended Suncare: Anthelios
Recognising that everybody’s skin is different, La Roche-Posay’s sunscreen range is formulated for all skin types and skin tones. Anthelios sunscreens also protects against both UVB and UVA rays, which is why you'll find the "broad-spectrum" label on its products.
It’s also Dr Hiva’s recommended sunscreen range: “La Roche-Posay as a brand is heavily involved with dermatologists to develop and design their sunscreens," explains Dr Hiva. “They have a broad selection of products with excellent UV protection for all skin types – something for everyone. From children to adults. From tints within their sunscreen to a variety of invisible textures, enabling you to pick the perfect product for your skin type”. “I recommend my patients wear Anthelios daily, rain or shine.”
Strong daily sunscreen habits should be seen as a non-negotiable and can make a huge difference to your skin – in how it looks and by preventing sun damage. It should always be the final step in your skincare routine, applied after your usual serum and moisturiser. Once you’ve found the right formula for you, your everyday sunscreen will feel just as enjoyable as the rest of your beauty or grooming products.
Find the perfect UV protection for your daily routine, with the right sunscreen, and learn more about sun safety, here.
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