3 REASONS (AND MORE) WHY YOU NEED TO WEAR SPF IN THE WINTER

tinted sunscreen SPF

Why on earth am I talking about SPF in the middle of October, you may ask? I actually use a tinted sunscreen all year round  (because who doesn’t want a healthy glow) but it’s now, as we head into winter (and maybe if you’re lucky enough to be jetting off for some winter sun) that a tinted sunscreen really comes into its own.

We all know we need protection all year round (click here for some of my other favourites) – UVA rays are just as harmful as UVB, and recent research shows that even the blue light we expose our skin to by sitting in front of a computer screen, a phone or iPad screen all day can have detrimental effects on our skin health and skin’s appearance too.

sunscreen winter sun spf

Why you need to wear sunscreen in the winter

  • Did you know what 80% of the sun’s UVA (the ones that will speed up the skin’s ageing process) ray penetrate through the clouds, so even on a cloudy day, your skin is still needs to be protected
  • If you’re going skiing, it’s just as important to apply SPF as it is by the pool on your summer holiday – the snow has a 100% reflection factor, reflecting that sun right back onto you, and the higher the altitude, the higher the exposure those UV rays
  • The skin pigments cells can be stimulated even by low doses of ambient and infrared light, so even if you’re in the office all day, sitting at your desk in front of a computer or laptop screen, or you’re just at home scrolling on your smartphone, can be harmful to your skin.

So, although at first glance it may not seem season-appropriate, I thought I’d round up my three favourite tinted sunscreens.

sunscreen winter sun spf ultrasun spf30

No prizes for guessing the first one – it’s the one I swear by, the one I always recommend whenever I’m asked about sun protection and the one I’ve have now got my daughters using too. Ultrasun Tinted SPF Face SPF30 and SPF50 are my holy grail sunscreens. It’s everything in one bottle – anti-ageing skincare, full UVA and UVB protection and the perfect radiant, dewy tint for a healthy, radiant glow (I use it in the Honey shade). In fact when I go away on holiday, most days, this is the only thing I use after cleansing and using a hydrating toner. And I love the fact that once it’s on, it’s on. No reapplication needed during the day – it’s one of those lasts-all-day SPFs but it doesn’t feel heavy or cloggy on the skin. Which means that if you wear makeup over the SPF, you don’t have to reapply and risk moving your makeup during the day. Honestly, since I started using this many, many moons ago, I think it’s made my skin better than it ever was.

sunscreen winter sun spf josie maran argan

Sadly, the Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF47 used to be infinitely difficult to get hold of here in the U.K., but I managed to track one down after much effort (and expense)… all in the name of research, of course!

It’s not, as far as I know, an “apply once and forget about it” product so for a variety of reasons, this being the most important one, this will always and only ever be a second choice. The tint shade is a little lighter on first applying, but it blends beautifully and leaves a very dewy, radiant and luminous finish to the skin, more dewy than the Ultrasun one.

If it was available easily here in the UK,  I’d definitely use it more often. I often mix it into my Ultrasun or the perfect glowy finish on the skin.

Admittedly, the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream is not actually touted as a sunscreen, but this multi-tasking little tube offers SPF30 whilst also offering a huge range of skin benefits which I love! It’s actually a tinted moisturiser with more than enough coverage to be your daily foundation, it’s packed full of hydration and skin loving ingredients, gives buildable coverage (from sheer to medium) and it’s available in 16 shades so it always looks so natural. I have this in three different shades for the different times of the year, and I’ve been known to mix this in with other products, such a my moisturiser or another foundation because I love the radiant skin perfecting finish it gives.

So there you have it – my top three tinted facial SPFs. Of course, there are a fair few others that deserve a mention, such as the Rodial Skin Tint SPF20, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 or even the Heliocare range, but then we would be here forever.

I’d love to know which are your fave sunscreens – am I missing out on one I should be using? Tell me in the comments below.

xx

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9 Comments

  1. 19 October 2018 / 7:43 pm

    Spf year round is so important. I wish more brands made spf that don’t leave a grey cast.

    • 19 October 2018 / 8:22 pm

      I get no grey cast with both the Ultrasun or the Josie Maran – have you tried those?
      xx

  2. 19 October 2018 / 7:59 pm

    This is so true. SPF should be worn all year round! It’s worth investing in a good one x

  3. 19 October 2018 / 9:00 pm

    I use SPF all year round. I love Ultrasun but use The Body Shop one generally as my daily one. Xx

  4. 20 October 2018 / 12:00 am

    Ultrasun is such a cult brand for SPF. It’s my go-to all year round and has been for so many years.! I wear it everyday under my makeup. Mostly the untainted formula though. I’ve used the tinted before and loved it!

    Samantha x

    https://thebeautyspyglass.com

  5. 20 October 2018 / 1:26 pm

    I never really knew this, so I learnt something today, off to invest in my skin more x

  6. 20 October 2018 / 7:17 pm

    I bang on so much about SPF it’s jist sooooo important

  7. 15 November 2018 / 7:42 pm

    I believe so strongly in SPF. It’s shocking how many people don’t bother with it! My bestie and I were recently on a day trip and he told me he never used it on his face. I WAS HORRIFIED. He’s getting a vat of it for christmas lol

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