Why sunscreen is the best anti-aging product (and why you should wear it all year)

Dermatologists, cosmetic doctors, and beauty industry professionals always insist on the importance of sunscreen. Many people know sunscreen is a must if you want to prevent getting skin cancer. But did you know that UV rays are the number one cause of the aging of the skin? Therefore, the best remedy for wrinkles is the use of a good sunblock. Using sunscreen when the sun is shining is pretty obvious, it is sun protection after all. However, the importance of using SPF in winter is less self-evident. This post breaks down the importance of SPF all year round.

The difference between UV-A and UV-B rays

On earth, we have two types of UV rays, namely UV-A and UV-B rays. Both are dangerous: they can both lead to skin cancer. There is, however, a difference. In short, UV-B rays cause you to tan and can burn your skin. UV-A rays mainly cause the aging of the skin, a large part of these rays even pass through clouds and windows. This is why you need to protect your skin all year round, whether you’re going to the beach or to the office. This applies to all skin tones. Dark skin does contain more melanin, which ensures that part of the radiation is blocked so that it causes less harm. However, this does not mean that the skin is fully protected, melanin offers mild natural protection.

Skincare and sun protection

There are certain ingredients in your daily skincare routine that make it extra important you use an SPF every day. Do you use skincare with retinol or acids? Then it is essential to protect the skin, these ingredients make the skin even more sensitive to the sun. Do you suffer from hyperpigmentation or age spots? The sun can cause them to become even darker, this can also be prevented by using sunblock. In fact, you could say that if you use skincare with active ingredients, it is actually a huge waste if you do not protect your skin from the sun. All your progress can be undone by the sun, which is of course a waste of your expensive skincare and treatments!

Applying sunscreen 101

To conclude, some practical advice. For optimal protection, you should reapply your sunscreen every two hours. If you are spending time in the sun, this is an absolute must. This is because the protection is reduced by direct exposure to sunlight. It is also crucial that you use enough product, often this is more than you think! After all, the level of protection decreases if you apply too thinly. On average, it is recommended to use 1.25 ml, which is about the size of a coin. Please note, this is an average, not everyone has the same surface to cover. As a rule of thumb, you should use a generous amount.

Now you might think that because your favorite foundation contains an SPF you are protected. Unfortunately, this is untrue, because the amount of foundation you use is probably not sufficient to reach advertised protection. Thus you should always use sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine. Don’t forget the neck, décolletage and your hands! This way you are protected from harmful sun rays, combat the aging of the skin and prevent further hyperpigmentation. Win-win situation right?