Do I need to wear SPF on my face everyday?

Healthy skin and SPF go hand in hand, why? Because SPF is essential for complete protection from the sun even in the mildest of climates.

We recommend SPF in every daily skincare routine we provide at SKINICIAN, seven days a week 365 day a year. As we approach the summer months we know most people consider adding this step to their skincare routine, thankfully we believe in multifunction skincare and all of our moisturisers already contain SPF 30! There are two things you shouldn’t compromise on: an SPF of at least 15, and broad-spectrum protection.

As well as the commonly known risks of skin cancer cause by UVA and UBV rays, the sun is also one of the leading factors that causes premature ageing on the skin. To give your skin the best chance of staying healthy and looking youthful for longer we advise upping your SPF game.

What is SPF?

SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’. SPF is a measure of how much protection products offer against harmful UVB rays. At SKINICIAN we provide SPF moisturisers for the face.

These are one of two different types of rays that are produced by sunlight, UVB and UVA rays.

Out of the two, UVB rays cause the most damage to our skin, including sunburn. These harmful UV rays play the greatest role in causing skin cancers, which include the deadly black mole form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

UVA rays can also contribute to skin cancer. However they are most commonly associated with premature ageing. They penetrate more deeply into the skin and can cause/ speed up wrinkle formation, dark spots of pigmentation and cause long lasting sun damage.

There are around 500 times more UVA rays in sunlight than UVB rays. So when you’re choosing a sunscreen, it needs to protect you from both. The longer you stay in the sun without sun protection, the greater your chances of burning.

The sun in the UK and Ireland is strongest from March to October, so while we advise its an all year round skin-vestment, if you're going to use it take extra care those months to avoid sun damage.

Regardless of your view on sun protection you should always check your skin for any changes to moles, skin tones or even texture. The A-E mole checker is used by many to keep track of their moles and identify any risks that need to be looked at by a professional.

A is for Asymmetry. Most melanomas are asymmetrical. Meaning if you draw a line down the middle of the area, the two halves don’t match, so it looks different from a round to oval and symmetrical common mole.

B is for Border. Melanoma borders tend to be uneven and may have jagged or notched edges, while common moles tend to have smoother, more even borders.

C is for Color. Multiple colours are a red flag when it comes to mole checking. While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colours red, white or blue may also appear.

D is for Diameter or Dark. While it’s ideal to detect a melanoma when it is small, it’s a warning sign if a lesion is the size of a pencil head (about 6 mm, or ¼ inch in diameter) or larger.

E is for Evolving. Any changes in size, shape, colour or elevation of a spot on your skin, or any new symptom in it, such as bleeding, itching or crusting, may be a warning sign of melanoma.

If you notice any changes in your skin or moles specifically please speak to your GP or consult a dermatologist.

Why wear SPF?

As an Irish brand we understand the frustration and desire to enjoy the sun when we see it but even in duller seasons these harmful UV rays are still present. SPF 30 is what we recommend to ensure you skin has the most protection.

Regardless of the strength of UV protection, if you sweat or get wet, you must remember to reapply.

What does SPF do to your skin?

An important question we get asked about our moisturisers is do they offer broad spectrum protection? The answer is YES. To put it simply SPF works by creating a barrier between your skin and the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. At SKINICIAN of SPF moisturisers have this function built in, meaning that all SKINICIAN moisturisers aim to shield the skin's barrier and serve up a host of skin-loving ingredients to ensure its nourishing your skin at the same time. The key is to find a moisturiser contains spf 30 or higher for complete protection from the sun's rays.

A common worry when it comes to skincare and SPF is; Will this moisturiser give my skin a white cast? The answer with our moisturisers is no. It's important to find the best spf moisturiser or best tinted moisturiser for your skin tone and skin concerns without any of the nasties.

SKINICIAN's SPF moisturisers are made with encapsulated SPF. The cause of the 'white cast' is the ingredient zinc oxide in mineral sunscreens as it reflects the light and gives you a white cast or opacification. This is a nightmare for make up wearers who want to wear SPF under their make up or those getting photographed regularly. With SKINICIAN smart formula SPF is encapsulated and this chemical approach leaves behind no chalky white cast.

Which SPF moisturiser should I use?

SPF moisturisers protect the skin in a number of ways some of which we have mentioned above. Depending on your skin type and skin concerns we have the perfect product to provide sun protection while accommodating various skin types. Each daily moisturiser contains spf 30 for daily protection.

Wether you have oily skin, acne prone skin, sensitive skin or dry skin it is essential to use a moisturiser that compliments your routine. Thankfully with SKINICIAN's multifunctional approach there is no need to use a separate facial sunscreen with broad spectrum spf our moisturisers with SPF have you covered.

SPF for oily skin

Perfect for oily, breakout-prone skin. We advise choosing our Purifying Day Moisturiser, this is a lightweight protective moisturiser designed to regulate oil production and control shine for a mattified complexion. Broad spectrum SPF 30 and Vitamin E protects the skin from harmful UV rays while Glycerin and Shea Butter leave your skin soft and hydrated. Vitamin E is a great ingredient that acts as an antioxidant, helps skin stay hydrated, keeps skin soft and also protects skin against environmental damage (won't clog pores).

SPF for sensitive, dry skin

SKINICIAN's Revitalising Day Moisturiser is perfect for normal, dry, sensitive skin. This is a Triple Action Advanced Moisturiser packed with nutrients to protect and hydrate even the most sensitive skin. This perfect brightening day moisturiser spf contains clinically proven Pentavitin™, Botanical B Glucans and Aloe Vera to hydrate, soothe and protect from daily environmental damage.  This hydrating formula is ideal for skin types such as dry, sensitive or combination skin. The product boosts the best skincare ingredients for dry skin while providing spf protection. This moisturiser contains broad spectrum spf and ingredients designed treat uneven skin tones.

Sun protection is key for those with sensitive skin, sun damage slows the rate at which skin cells turn over or replace themselves this can cause/ worsen dull, dry skin. The Revitalising moisturiser provides protection against harmful rays while keeping skin hydrated.

SPF for combination skin

For those with combination skin we recommend sticking to a lightweight SPF moisturiser that will provide protection without flooding your skin with too much heavy product and clog your pores, while also providing moisture where it’s needed. SKINICIAN's moisturisers all have a hydrating formulas that are uniquely tailored for a range of skin concerns, if you're still unsure reach out to the SKINICIAN customer service team for help and advise.

Any of our moisturisers with spf will be suitable for combination skin. If your skin leans more on the dry side we recommend Revitalising, if you have frequent breakouts or skin appears more oily (oily skin) then opt for our Purifying Day Moisturiser spf 30.

SPF for dull or ageing skin

If you suffer with dull skin and are looking for a daily moisturiser to brighten and lift your skin SKINICIAN's Advanced Time Delay Day Cream. This daily moisturiser with spf 30 is a must have for those who are concerned with ageing / dull skin. This product not only contains spf 30 which protects skin it contains actives to lift and tighten ageing skin. It's essential to find the best spf moisturisers that don't leave behind a white cast especially for those with darker skin tones.

This product is packed full of clinically proven ingredients like Regenacell™ which rnergizes the skin by boosting cellular energy, cell metabolism and oxygen uptake to fight the signs of ageing and maximise skin luminosity: Proven to increase cellular ATP (energy) by 65%.

Some other amazing ingredients to mention in this spf moisturiser are vitamin E to protect against free radicals, HydraAdvance which is clinically proven to increase hydration for up to 30 hours and Hyaluronic Acid which binds and retains 1000x its own weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient to boost skin hydration. This facial moisturizing lotion spf 30 ensures your skin is safe from the sun and skin gets a youthful boost each application.

The lightweight lotion style moisturiser leaves skin glowing and is the perfect everyday moisturiser for mature skin.

All SKINICIAN moisturisers adhere to our no nasties approach to skincare. Our moisturisers are free from parabens, harsh chemicals, alcohol, sulphates, palm oil, mineral oil. 

Retinol and SPF: Why do you need wear SPF after using Retinol?

Retinol skincare products make skin more sensitive to harmful UV rays. This is why applying a daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher during the day is essential when introducing and using Retinol into any skincare routine.

If you've recently invested in your skincare and started using Retinol in your routine to target the signs of ageing, you'll want to protect this investment. Staying out of the sun or protecting your skin from harmful rays is the first step but with Retinol serums you can undo some of the previous damage and reverse/ lessen the signs of ageing.  

Within the Ageless System our Overnight Retinol Powerbalm products are recommended for night-time use only. Using Retinol in your skincare routine increases your skins sensitivity to sun exposure. This is why we recommend using an SPF 30 throughout the day to help reduce sensitivity and to protect your skin from pre-mature ageing. As we have mentioned all SKINICIAN moisturisers have SPF 30 chemically added for your convenience. 

Even if you apply retinol at night, it’s absolutely critical to apply SPF in the morning. Not only does wearing sunscreen help maintain the efficacy of your topical retinoids, but it also provides much-needed protection from the sun. 

The two ways to help reduce the signs of ageing and to protect your skin are to 1) apply Retinol products in the evening and to 2) wear lots of sunscreen during the day.