Why You Still Need to Wear Sunscreen This Winter

Wed, 4 July 2012 11:12AM

Don’t laugh. I know this is a tough one, especially with barely any sun around to factor into the argument, let alone protect yourself from.

Especially now, while an umbrella is a permanent part of our winter weather ensemble.

Convincing you to wear an SPF is akin to luring coffee drinkers to dunk a tea bag or two, or – heaven forbid – lipstick wearers to go with gloss for a day.

But hands up who has the slightest slither of interest in their skin?

I know, the sun has splitski, the clouds are thicker than three bricks and rain is falling over itself to make puddles in your path. But are you sitting by a window today, driving a car sometime this afternoon or exercising anytime outdoors today?

Well, even though summer sun has a much stronger UV index and burns the skin faster, given any chance to stick its neck out the winter sun will have a good hard crack at damaging your skin.

Australia’s higher than average UV index does not take a mid-year holiday – especially in the northern states – so it is just as important to maintain your sun protection regime 365 days a year.

You don’t have to go too hardcore though. SPF is a measurement of protection from the suns rays, which contribute to sunburn, so the 30+ you use in December, may not be needed today. But, at least 15+ are advised, at the very least.

I’m an urban girl, so I get my SPF on within my BB Cream and I also have one hiding somewhere in my hand cream, but it’s a no-brainer for those hitting the slopes this winter that you need more protection. If you are out in the snow, the atmosphere is thinner and the snow reflects the sun’s rays, so don’t forget to apply sunscreen under your nose, eyes, chin and on the ears.

Don’t take my word for it? Just try arguing with these big guns in beauty:

• MAC Cosmetics Select SPF 15 Foundation, $48, MAC Cosmetics
• La Prairie Cellular Lip Treatment SPF 15, $70, from department stores
• Clinique Almost Bronzer SPF 15, $59, Clinique
• Olay Complete UV Protection Moisture Lotion SPF Sensitive, $14.69, from supermarkets
• Invisible Zinc Staying Powder, $38, from David Jones

Primpettes, are you still using your SPF products during winter?

What about when you hit the ski slopes – do you lather on the sunscreen?

Got a favourite SPF product? Please do share.

ecb x

Posted by: ecb

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Tags: clinique, invisible zinc, la prairie, MAC Cosmetics, olay, spf, sunscreen, winter, winter skin