HOW DOES SPF WORK?

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, contains ingredients that either absorb or reflect UV rays to stop them from burning or damaging your skin. Chemical-based SPF absorbs UV rays, while physical or mineral-based SPF creates a barrier on your skin’s surface to reflect UV away.

You nearly always see a number next to SPF. The SPF number indicates how long the sun’s radiation would take to redden your skin versus how long without sun cream. With SPF 15, it would take you 15 times longer to burn. With SPF 30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn, and so on.

WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR SUN CREAM EVERY DAY

You might think you only need to wear sun cream on sunny days or on holiday, but that’s not the case. There are plenty of reasons why you should wear SPF daily, from anti-ageing benefits to reducing your risk of harmful diseases.

1. PROTECTS YOUR SKIN FROM UV RAYS

Even on cloudy days, your skin is still susceptible to damage from UV rays. The sun naturally emits different kinds of ultraviolet radiation. Our eyes can’t detect UV radiation, but our skin can feel and react to it on the surface and below. UVA and UVB are the two kinds of radiation associated with sun damage – UVA rays can cause premature wrinkles, while UVB rays can cause sunburn and skin cancer.

2. REDUCES RISK OF HARMFUL DISEASES

UVB rays don’t penetrate deep into the skin, but they can bring about cell changes that cause skin cancers, including melanoma. Wear SPF to protect your skin from UVB damage and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

3. PREVENTS SKIN AGEING

Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature ageing, like wrinkles and age spots. The sun’s UV rays also break down a protein in your skin called collagen, which is responsible for giving your skin that firm, youthful look and feel.

4. HELPS MAINTAIN AN EVEN SKIN TONE

Sun damage can cause skin discolouration and hyperpigmentation. Wearing SPF every day can help your skin maintain an even tone and minimise signs of skin texture.

5. STRENGTHENS YOUR SKIN BARRIER

Spending time in the sun can cause drying and dehydration in your skin, even if you manage to avoid sunburn. If you already have an effective skincare routine and a healthy diet, chances are you’re looking after your skin barrier very well. Without SPF, you could be undoing all your good work!

6. PROVIDES PROTECTION WHEN USING ACIDIC SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Sun cream is a must-have item if you regularly use acidic skincare products. Exfoliants like AHAs and anti-ageing retinoids make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, so remember to apply SPF the day after using these products.

7. OFFERS A HIGHER LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAN MOISTURISER

Even if your moisturiser contains SPF, it probably doesn’t safeguard against UVA and UVB rays. When SPF is present in moisturiser, it’s usually in a watered-down form that doesn’t protect your skin as effectively as sun cream.

8. REDUCES IRRITATION FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Sensitive skin struggles to stay resilient against environmental factors like sun exposure. Sun damage can also weaken your skin barrier, which further increases sensitivity. If you have sensitive skin, you should wear at least SPF 30 on your face every day.

HOW TO APPLY SPF ON YOUR FACE

Apply SPF to your face at the end of your skincare routine, on top of your moisturiser. You need enough product to cover two of your fingers, and you should focus on massaging it around your face to protect all areas.   Before applying your SPF, you might want to wait a few minutes for your moisturiser to soak in so that it can properly absorb into your skin. If you want to wear makeup, wait for your SPF to absorb fully before applying your primer or foundation.