Protecting your skin with a daily sunscreen – winter or summer, whatever the weather – has never been more important. We should all be wearing SPF every single day. Over-exposure to the sun and UV (ultraviolet) radiation can cause all sorts of damage to your skin, from premature ageing to different forms of skin cancer. Look for broad spectrum formulations that protect against both UVA and UVA rays, with an SPF of at least 30. As we spend more and more time in front of our various screens, it’s also worth being aware of the skincare products that can help to protect your skin against the effects of blue light.
Also known as High Energy Visible Light (HEVL), this is emitted by smartphones, desktops, laptops, tablets, fluorescent and LED lighting. Some brands, such as Ultrasun and Heliocare, incorporate additional blue light protection within their sunscreens. Antioxidants also play a key protective role. These are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that help to protect the skin from oxidative damage caused by free radicals and/or environmental aggressors such as pollution, blue light and UV radiation. Incorporate a wide range (but especially Vitamins C and E) into your daily diet, and also apply them topically via antioxidant skincare formulations.