Why You Shouldn't Skip Your SPF During Winter Months

We know it’s tempting to skip your SPF in the winter with less sun-lit hours in the day. But here’s why your sunscreen belongs in your regular skincare routine well beyond the summer months.

Why is it important to wear sunscreen in the fall/winter months?

Even though UVB, the burning rays, lessen in the fall and winter, UVA which penetrates much deeper into skin making it the main cause of aging and more aggressive skin cancers, does not vary with the seasons. So we believe it's crucial to continue to wear sunscreen through all 12 months of the year. 

How does sun exposure damage our skin and how can we prevent it?

We’ve found that UVB rays give us sunburn within hours of exposure. But UVA damage doesn’t always show up immediately. Redness, loss of elasticity and hyperpigmentation caused by UVA shows up within days to weeks. But the damage the sun does to our collagen elastic fibers, resulting in wrinkling and sagging, shows up much later than the initial exposure. 

That’s why it’s important to apply at least SPF 30 every day. Our founder and board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, recommends choosing a sunscreen that also blocks out HEV blue light that dermatologists now recognize to be a damaging spectrum of light that is emitted both by the sun  and by our digital screens.  On a molecular level, studies show that HEV blue light can damage our collagen. For example in clinical testing we see that blue light can actually cause more redness, puffiness and hyperpigmentation in people who are susceptible to hyperpigmentation.* Our Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40 protects from UVA/UVB and HEV, making it a great year round choice.

Our award-winning SPF offers an advanced protection against all Four Factors: pollution, light, climate and irritants. Let’s talk about the key ingredients. 

  • Indian Ginseng (also known as Ashwagandha!) restores skin’s vitality and protects from blue light.

  • High percentages of zinc and other sun-blocking actives protect from UVA/UVB rays and soothes skin.

  • Hydrating peptides provide deep hydration and support natural collagen levels.

Simply put this sunscreen does it all — giving you the confidence to get out in the world or even feel protected indoors.

 

*Coats JG, Maktabi B, Abou-Dahech MS, Baki G. Blue Light Protection, Part I—Effects of blue light on the skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20:714–717. https://doi. org/10.1111/jocd.13837


 

 

Share the article