We get our sunscreen out during the summer months when the sun is strongest in the UK, but often neglect to protect our skin in autumn and winter as we believe the sun isn't strong enough to cause any damage.
However, UV rays from the sun are actually strong throughout the year and can even penetrate cloud cover, meaning sun damage can happen even in the colder months.
In addition to the risk of sun damage and premature ageing, not protecting your skin from the sun also increases your chance of developing skin cancer.
A new study from skin care brand Dermalogica has highlighted the importance of wearing SPF all year round, not just in the summer.
Should you wear sunscreen in winter?
Exposure to UV rays is the number one cause of prematurely aged skin, and applying SPF daily all year round is essential for healthy skin, according to Victoria Evans, education manager at Dermalogica.
Wearing sunscreen throughout the winter is not only super-important to protect your skin against UV damage, but also in ensuring powerful anti-ageing ingredients like retinoids, glycolic acid and other AHA products work effectively and don’t put your skin at risk.
Victoria explained that using anti-ageing products in the winter can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, increasing risk of burning and sun damage.
She added: "If you’re turning to these products during the colder months, you MUST wear SPF as you’ll still be open to UVA damage and your skin will be increasingly sensitive to UV rays when using them."
How much sunscreen should you apply in winter?
Ms Evans advises that we opt for a high or very high level of protection with SPF30 or SPF50 formulas to adequately protect our skin from UV rays.
She suggests applying "around ½ tsp of sunscreen to the face and neck as the last step in your morning regimen", adding that during winter months and if you're spending most of the day indoors, application of sunscreen in the mornings will be enough protection.
She also added that it's important to choose products that are comfortable for you rather than spending too much money on expensive products, saying: "Look for moisturisers with in-built SPF alongside actives to balance skin issues such as breakouts, sensitivity, and pigmentation for more targeted results."
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