Article: Why You Need SPF Every Day and What the Sun Actually Does to Your Skin
If you have ever wondered why you are always being reminded to wear your SPF and what UV exposure actually does to your skin, we have done the homework for you. Is daily sunscreen really necessary? What about when it is cloudy or you are indoors? How about all the times you just pop out to the shops, school pick up or a quick run? The answer is always yes. Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature ageing, pigmentation, uneven tone, texture changes and long term skin damage. So if you are using skincare for literally any reason, you are undoing all that work by not wearing SPF. Most of this damage happens quietly, long before you ever see a sunburn.
Here is what the sun actually does to your skin and why daily SPF is the simplest and most effective anti ageing habit you can build.
So maybe you remember your SPF sometimes, or you forget and hope your moisturiser with a tiny bit of protection is enough. Or maybe you are still not totally sure why you need to wear it every single day. We get it. So we broke it down.
UV light does not just give you a glow. It slips into your skin cells, makes itself at home and starts tiny fires that eventually turn into bigger ones. Not cute.
The sun sends out ultraviolet light, or UV rays, in different wavelengths and each one brings its own special kind of drama. The two we care about most are UVA and UVB because they are responsible for almost all the ageing, pigmentation and long term skin issues you spend your skincare budget trying to fix.
UVA rays head straight for your collagen. They penetrate into deep levels of the skin and once they get in they create free radicals. These free radicals break down your collagen, weaken your elastin and quietly age your skin while you think you are just sitting indoors, minding your business.
UVB is the dramatic one. It hits the surface of your skin and runs straight for your DNA, which is why your skin turns red and feels HOT. When the damage cannot be repaired properly, it leads to pigmentation, uneven tone and higher long term risk. UVB is the friend who insists everything is fine while accidentally setting something on fire.
Both UVA and UVB trigger oxidative stress. This is when your skin cells start panicking and messaging each other like a group chat that spirals way too fast. The result is dullness, rough texture and redness that comes out of absolutely nowhere.
Your skin barrier is basically your security gate. UV exposure weakens it by stripping away the lipids that keep everything balanced. When it is compromised, your skin becomes dry, sensitive and a little offended by everything. Not ideal.
Whilst some of this shows up immediately. It can take 5-10 years more the full brunt of sun exposure to show up. Sun damage accumulates, builds slowly from all the little daily moments in the sun that feel harmless. Over the years it settles in as fine lines, pigmentation, uneven texture and that general lack of bounce everyone blames on ageing when it is usually just UV damage being rude. Up to 90% of skin aging is actually due to UV exposure.
We're sorry if you made it this far and your starting to freak out. The good news is that it is never too late to start protecting your skin. Daily SPF will not turn back time, but it will stop things from getting worse and give your skin a chance to calm down, repair itself and actually benefit from the rest of your routine. Also remember to cover up, avoid sun during peak UV times (hello weather app) & reapply (like with our SPF 50+ Face Mist). Think of it as future proofing for skin. A tiny habit that makes a big difference, every single day. Your serums will work harder, your skin will look happier and you will finally stop undoing all the effort you are putting in. SPF is the simplest upgrade you can make and your skin will thank you for it, now and forever.
