When it comes to SPF, there are many reasons to wear it. But sadly when it comes to the morning skincare routine, this essential step often feels the most skippable.
Recently I put on my Instagram Stories a poll asking whether people wear SPF everyday, not including the small amounts often found in makeup such as foundation. And I was very pleased with the result. Out of about 70 people, 86% said they do wear SPF everyday with only 14% saying they didn’t. The reasons not to ranged from skin concerns such as a fear of breaking out, to laziness – which I think we are all guilty of from time to time. However I believe the benefits outweigh the cons.
3 reasons why you should wear SPF daily
The main reason to wear SPF is for protection of course. It’s important to keep your skin protected from the sun, not only to prevent burning but also reducing the risk of skin cancer. In the past this acted as a reason for me not to bother with sun protection. I’ve never experienced sunburn so it wasn’t something I was concerned about, however a study (linked here) recently found although people of colour are less likely to suffer from skin cancer, they are more likely to die from it due to a delay in detection and thus being diagnosed at a later stage. It is therefore extremely important to not take this for granted.
Wrinkles. When it comes to wrinkles, I believe prevention is better than cure. And the best thing for this is SPF. Specifically UVA protection as these are the rays that can cause premature ageing. Honestly, this is usually the main motivator for when I apply SPF every morning, and I’ll be thanking myself later down the line.
And finally pigmentation. Pigmentation can be caused by acne scarring but also sun damage. This can be treated with things like acids – glycolic, azeleic – or retinols. Which is all well and good but from experience this is a lengthy process and similar to wrinkles I think it’s definitely worthwhile trying to avoid pigmentation as best as you can in the first place. And how can we do that? SPF baby!
It is important to wear SPF everyday as although it may not be sunny outside, the UV rays can still pass through the clouds. Some can even pass through windows so it’s worth wearing SPF even when you stay indoors
So what about some recommendations?
Beauty Pie Ultralight
This has an SPF of 25 which is quite low, and generally I think it’s best to aim for 30 or above so I tend to only wear this when I’m in the house. But this has such a dreamy, juicy formula. It sinks in really well leaving skin feeling hydrated whilst leaving behind a really beautiful glow. Beauty Pie have said they will be releasing an SPF 50 this month so I am very excited to try that and hope it will be as dreamy as this one. But again this is great for indoor days.
Glossier Invisible Shield
This has an SPF of 30 and a light water gel texture. It is pretty much invisible which makes it a great option for darker skin tones. Again this gives a great glow to the skin, perfect for underneath makeup. It has a weightless texture and a nice orangey scent which I love, however if your skin is sensitive to essential oils you may not like this one.
Ambre Solaire Ultra-Light Sensitive Face Fluid
This has an SPF of 50+ and has a very light, liquid texture. It feels slightly heavier on the skin than the previous two SPFs however, it’s not uncomfortable and feels worth it for the extra protection. Interestingly, this has a matt finish which I think makes a nice change and would probably work really well on oily skin. This is also, obviously, designed for sensitive skin so it is very gentle. At £7 I think it’s definitely worth a try if you can get your hands on it! It is very often sold out online!
Brands formulate these products specifically for the skin on your face so in theory they are unlikely to make you break out. But to further guarantee this, ensure you remove your SPF properly at the end of the day by double cleansing.
Please comment below your favourite SPFs as I’m always on the hunt for the perfect all rounder!
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