“SPF is the one non-negotiable skincare step that everyone should be incorporating into their regime regardless of age, skin type or skin colour. No one is completely safe or protected against UVA/B damage without daily SPF use.
The sun emits harmful rays year-round, even on cloudy days. The UK’s climate, which is often cloudy, and damp might suggest less sun exposure, and therefore the attitude of wearing sunscreen frequently is overlooked, leading to cumulative UV damage over time.
There are two types of sun rays that can damage your skin in different ways. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn while UVA rays can lead to premature ageing and the development of skin cancer.
Not everyone realises that while we’re at low risk of sunburn in the UK most of the year, UVA rays are present year-round and are the main UV aggressor that we should be protecting our skin against daily, to help reduce accelerated fine lines and wrinkles (collagen depletion), protect against pigmentation/ sunspots, discoloration and heightened skin sensitivity.
The benefits of wearing SPF all year round is to prevent premature skin ageing (fine lines and wrinkles accelerated), protect against sunburn, protect against hyperpigmentation and skin sensitivity, reduce the risk of skin cancer and avoid redness and inflammation caused by UV rays."