Seriously, am I meant to be wearing suntan lotion every day?

[AutumnalEquinox]

It seems that I am doing something really wrong here, because I am not wearing SPF every day. I've tried to find one that is light, and in the past I have had face creams and foundations with SPF 15 in them, but I just can't seem to tolerate getting up in the morning and slapping on sun tan lotion under my makeup before I go out in the winter. It would break me out in greasy spots.

Am I doomed? I am wearing toner, serum, and moisturiser, but not putting a layer of SPF on. I know it is about UV rays I can't see, but I don't have many wrinkles or sun damage as I've had my skin analysed tested.

I've been using a moisturiser with SPF for 2 yrs now following a cancer diagnosis and my consultant advising me to consider it.
I was a 'nah,why bother ' before my chat with consultant

I'm using Paula's Choice. I gave dry skin and I cannot tell it is SPF, if feels light and isn't sticky or visible.
The little dark pigment patches on my face have gone and my skin looks better (but I am a slave to cleanse/tone/exfoliate or serum and moisturise each night now).

I used that too. It's great when it's in Boots 3 for 2! Lasts ages for a little bottle and I don't use it sparingly.

https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/enGB/anthelios-anti-shine-tinted-spf50/LRPP_906.html#tab=description

This one is unlikely to break you out and is light enough to wear everyday. It's tinted too so unless you have other skin concerns, then there is no need for foundation on top.

Aldi Lacura +SPF 30. No greasiness or shine, no smell. I even mix in a bit of foundation sometimes to make a tinted moisturiser.

I have been using SPF moisturiser for many decades. Jowls like a bloodhound, but no wrinkles.

The UV that your skin gets in winter without SPF will eventually result in increased visible skin ageing, more so than what it would be if you didn't use SPF. So you will eventually have more lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, sunspots, suffer from more solar keratosis, solar comedones and even potentially skin cancers than if you used a good sunscreen daily.

Having said all that it may or may not bother you, it may or may not be significant most of the damage will be from exposure on sunny summer days. SPF 15 in foundations and your average moisturiser won't offer you much protection at all on days when the sun is strong as you will not be applying enough and SPF is not cumulative so a moisturiser with SPF25 plus a foundation of SPF 15 doesn't equal SPF 40 and in fact the SPF provided by both those products can be degraded by the layering over of different products.

You don't have to wear spf everyday in winter if you don't want to but it will impact on your skin long term. You probably should be wearing a good Sunscreen daily in summer of SPF 50 or above (with UVA & UVB protection), use about half a teaspoon for your face and neck and reapply during the day.

I've been using Bondi Sands daily moisturising Face SpF50+ and it's really nice. Fragrance free and water resistant.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BP874BMZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I recently found this - I got burnt few weeks ago in September as it was unexpectedly very sunny and I was outside way longer than expected.

It's great it's clear doesn't leave residue on skin and I don't react to and it doesn't affect makeup application - honestly wish I found it years ago.

Actually not sure that link will work.

L'Oréal Revitalift Clinical SPF50+ Invisible Fluid, Moisturising Antioxidant Replenishes Uneven Skin Tones providing UV Protection

Yep. They took me from a level of 9 to 66 so hardly ineffective
I take the max dose daily as I can't get enough vitamin D without burning

@StoneColdAlibi

‘hyperpigmentation’
thank you, that’s the word I was looking for! 😂

I use he Better You Vitamin D spray in the autumn/winter. Levels tested at over 100 in Jan last year so yes they are effective and necessary throughout winter.

According to cancer research you only need to use sunscreen factor 15 when the UV strength is over 3
, approximately mid march to mid October.
I'm using tret and my prescription says to use at least factor 30.

The problem is that most people apply a fraction of what they really need, so SPF 15 actually works out as SPF 3 in practice.

I've been using for more than 30 years a light mosturiser with SPF 50. In Spain I used Eucerin 50+ and in Australia, Sunsense SPF 50 which is also very light.

Sunscreen is probably the best thing you can do for your face. If you have sensitive skin prone to break out when you put heavy creams, check your cancer council in the UK to find an ultra light face cream with a good sunscreen factor. We often pay big money with brands when there is something cheaper, and way better, available.

Out of interest, for those that apply SPF50 as part of their skincare and make up routine, how do you top it up every two hours during the day?

I only apply SPF50 when I know I’m going to be in the sun for longer than ten mins, so on a walk, gardening, at the playground etc. I also wear a hat to protect my scalp from burning when it’s burning weather, so this also provides facial shade. However, if I’m doing the 5 min walk to the station/shops or just sitting at my computer working away from a window, I don’t apply it, even as part of skincare/makeup, as the protection from those products is surely so minimal, compared to proper SPF applied in sufficient amounts?

Basically, how do you maintain that level of protection to prevent damage from UVA and UVB rays?

To add, I use the Garnier UV fluid and keep it in my handbag so I can apply and wear throughout the day when I’m outside. It doesn’t break me out or cause my eyes to water, and it’s relatively cheap and easy to buy (which is the most likely thing to encourage consistent use!).

Men get awful skin damage as well but they have a huge advantage over us women - they shave every day. By shaving they get rid of dead skin cells which stimulates collagen production.

I'm in my 60s but I have great skin (and I smoked until my 40s). I have a very simple skin care routine, shower, wash face with a skin cleanser without additives, Cetaphil, and dry my face really roughly with the towel until it's pink. You will get rid of dead skin cells very cheaply.

I don't top up if I'm working. I put it in the morning and that's it. For a normal day of work, mostly spent indoors, it's more than enough. If I'm on holidays and on the sun most of the day, I never wear make up and always have a small bottle in the bag to reapply as needed.

Most face ultra light moisturisers with SPF 50 come in a little container.

I wear one every day, factor 50. Need to buy one that doesn’t have a sticky feeling after. Bondi sands or La Roche Posay.

I do. I'm also an aesthetics practitioner and I bang on about it all day long.
It's so important.

Skin cancers. Ageing. And don't forget rhe neck!

I use a cc cream with spf 50 so it's just one step.

If it makes you feel any better, I live in the Caribbean and I don't wear it regularly, only when I'm at the beach or on the boat.

But daily when I'm going into my office? Nope.

If I do wear it, I swear by Biore watery essence spf 50. Soaks into skin, it's not a lotion and make up goes on beautifully over it. Also don't bother reapplying.

You're not doomed. If you're outside most of the day then yes you should probably use it during spring/summer months, but religiously through winter? No

I don't go out of my way to wear SPF unless I'm going to be actively out in the sun for ages.

I prefer long sleeves and a hat/staying in the shade to putting stuff on my face.

I work from home so just top it up around lunchtime or when I take the dog out/reapply when going out for a run. I don’t wear foundation though so easier for me to slap some more on.

Boots often have facial spf in their £10 Tuesday deals. The rule I go by is to 'use SPF unless you need a torch to see'!

I use Boots or Aldi children's sensitive factor 50 on my face under CC cream or foundation. It's really cheap and has no scent or smell. It doesn't give me spots. Obviously it's not the most luxurious product but it seems to work.