Sunscreen in Winter? Most Definitely Yes!

If you’re easing up on applying sunscreen in winter, you may want to think again. Cooler weather doesn’t mean you can’t damage your skin and you absolutely need sun protection during the winter.

Here are 3 reasons why you should wear sunscreen all-year round:

1. The sun’s harmful rays are just as strong and damaging despite what your thermometer says. Although UVB rays aren’t as prevalent during the winter months, UVA rays – those responsible for aging skin – are abundant year-round. UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB rays. They not only contribute to wrinkles but also increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

2.UV radiation can be particularly problematic when there is snow and ice, which reflect UV rays, increasing their intensity by 80-90 per cent. Additionally, intensity increases with higher elevation making the sun stress in winter in mountains comparable to a summer day at the beach! This is why skin is very prone to sunburn when skiing. Even on a cloudy day, the UV intensity might be enough to cause skin damage so don’t forego the sunscreen.

3.This last one isn’t scary; it’s just cool. A 2013 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that test subjects who used sunscreen daily decreased the speed of the skin’s aging process by 24% compared to the group that did not. This isn’t surprising since most skin care experts know that the sun’s UV rays are responsible for more than 80% of skin aging. If the health benefits of sunscreen aren’t enough to motivate you to wear SPF, let its anti-aging properties persuade you!

Some people prefer to avoid the sun all together but still enjoy having a bit of a “tan”. If this sounds like you, consider using a self-tanner like La Roche Posay Autohelios, which imparts an even and healthy looking glow without the side effects associated with the sun.

If you’re a regular with us, you’ll know that we’ve been having some issues with keeping customer favorites in stock but we are working hard to ensure we have enough to meet demand. A new shipment has just arrived and more is coming. If you don’t see what you want, please check back as new stock arrives weekly and we will update inventory on a regular basis. Here’s what’s avaiable again now: