Think you’ve got your winter skin care routine at the ready?
Cream cleanser? Check!
Hydrating night cream? Check!
Super-duper cracked-lip-resistant balm? Check!
Sunscreen? Err….
Yep. That’s the one you’re forgetting. Just because you may not be hitting the beach in winter doesn’t mean you should be slacking off on the sun protection.
Why should I wear sunscreen in winter?
According to the Skin Cancer Council Australia, one in 19 Australians is expected to be diagnosed with melanoma before the age of 85. Australia is home to some of the strongest UVA and UVB rays, which can be harmful to the skin, even in winter. The International Dermal Institute discovered that those who wear sunscreen daily, even in winter, had 24 per cent fewer Actinic Kerasotes (the most common precancerous skin lesion) than people who applied it once in a while.
I wear a SPF moisturiser on my face, is this enough?
You’re not wearing a bikini, so why bother putting it all over your body, right? WRONG! According to the Skin & Cancer Foundation, a white cotton shirt only has the SPF protection of about 7. So even if your skin isn’t showing, it doesn’t mean the UVA and UVB rays aren’t reaching it. In addition to this, even if you can’t see or feel the sun, it doesn’t mean your skin isn’t being damaged. Cooler weather, cloud cover and overcast days bring no refuge to the skin. Scientists are discovering that certain types of cloud cover can make UVA radiation worse.*
But I hate the heavy feeling of sunscreen!
Don’t we all? There’s nothing worse than spending 20 minutes of your morning routine trying to rub a thick white cream into your skin. Luckily, there are some lightweight option that are great for winter and even some that will double as a moisturiser, protecting your skin while leaving it looking young, healthy and smooth.
1. Cancer Council SPF 30 Body Moisturiser
2. Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 30+
3. Natio Ageless Daily Moisturiser UV Protection SPF 30+
4. DermaVeen Protect Daily Body Moisturiser SPF30+
5. NIVEA Sun Light Feel Every Day Sun Lotion SPF30+
*Schade, Nils H; Macke, Andreas; Sandmann, H.; Stick, C. Enhanced solar global irradiance during cloudy sky conditions, 2007
Do you wear sunscreen in winter? Did you know that UVA and UVB rays could still be harmful in the cooler months?
