Of all the steps in a skincare routine, SPF is perhaps the most underestimated – and at the same time one of the most important. Many people only reach for sunscreen at the beach or during a heatwave, and leave it in the cupboard the rest of the year. A shame, because it is precisely daily use that makes the biggest difference in the long run to how your skin looks and feels. In this article we explain why, and how to build SPF into your routine smartly without it becoming a chore.
UVA and UVB: two kinds of radiation, two kinds of damage
Sunlight contains two types of UV radiation that reach your skin. UVB is the radiation that makes your skin burn: you feel and see that straight away. UVA works more quietly but more deeply – it penetrates further into the skin and is the main culprit behind premature skin ageing: fine lines, loss of firmness and pigmentation spots.
The treacherous thing about UVA is that you don't notice it. This radiation is present all year round, passes through cloud and even through window glass. If you work or drive a lot next to a window, your skin also receives UVA indoors – without you ever seeing a sunburn.
What daily protection gives you
Of all the external factors that visibly age the skin, UV exposure is widely regarded as the biggest. Daily sun protection is therefore the best-supported and at the same time cheapest 'anti-ageing treatment' there is: it helps you stay ahead of fine lines, pigmentation spots and an uneven skin tone instead of having to tackle them afterwards.
Extra important: do you use active products (such as fruit acids or retinol) or have you just had a skin-improving treatment? Then your skin is temporarily more sensitive to sunlight, and SPF is not advice but a requirement. Without protection the sun can even partly undo the effect of your treatment – think new pigmentation spots on skin that has just become even.
The biggest misconceptions about SPF
There are stubborn misconceptions about sun protection that cause people to unintentionally protect themselves too little:
“My day cream already has SPF 15, that's enough” – the amount of day cream you apply is usually much smaller than the amount the SPF value is based on, so the real protection is considerably lower
“With a tanned skin I don't need SPF” – a darker skin type burns less quickly, but is not immune to UV damage and pigment shifts
“It's cloudy, so I can skip it” – a large part of UV radiation simply passes through the clouds
“Applying once in the morning is enough for the whole day” – on a day indoors that's reasonable, but outdoors the protection wears off after a few hours and you need to reapply
How do you choose a good SPF?
For daily use, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least factor 30 is generally recommended, protecting against both UVA and UVB. At least as important as the number is the texture: choose a formula you like wearing under your day cream or make-up. The SPF you actually use every day protects better than the 'perfect' bottle that sits unused in the cupboard.
For oily or blemish-prone skin there are light, oil-free formulas that don't leave a shine; for dry skin, creamy versions that hydrate at the same time. Not sure what suits your skin? Ask us at your next appointment – we're happy to recommend an SPF that suits your skin type.
How to make it a habit
The key to daily SPF is to make it part of something you already do. Put the bottle next to your toothbrush or day cream, apply it as the last step of your morning routine as standard, and that's it. After two weeks you no longer think about it – and your skin quietly benefits every day.
Make SPF a fixed part of your morning routine, all year round – it's the simplest step with the biggest long-term effect. Feel free to ask us for an SPF that suits your skin type, for example during a free intake or your next treatment.
