"Wear SPF every day! - is it a cult?

[RobinEllacotStrike]

I see this all over MN and elsewhere - women declaring that its vital to wear a high factor SPF EVERY day.

Today its late October, high storm with ferocious wind and rain,why on earth would anyone put SPF on? Even if I was going outside, it would be for a tiny amount of time. The iphone tells me the UV index is 1. Please tell me what benefit wearing an SPF today would give anyone?

I wear SPF in summer on my face but only if/when I'm going outdoors. I'm not anti SPF - and the range of SPF available for the face is fabulous, but I am much more of an "apply as needed" type. I think about my day, the time of year etc.

Applying SPF in winter, on days with low UV ratings when you're likely to be indoors most of the day seems ridiculous. Unless I was to spend a sunny winter day outdoors hiking, I won't apply SPF until spring now and I think this is sensible.

What do people think they are achieving applying SPF through a British winter? Why the advice to wear high SPF layer on your face every day religiously?

I have used spf 30 or 50 every day rain or shine since my mid 20s. I'm 71 now and have good skin. Unfortunately I didn't always put it on my hands and they have age spots. Why would you object to use it? It takes seconds every morning.

On a really overcast day like today, solar panels apparently get about 25% of the energy that they usually get.

Extrapolate that to your skin, and you're getting about 25% of the aging effects on your skin that you would on a really bright sunny day. Yes it's a lot less, but it still has a cumulative effect over time.

I'm not saying you should wear sun cream every single day, (I'd be somewhat hypocritical to, I put it on about 3 times a year), but doing so will definitely have a beneficial effect to your skin over time.

I’ve also had skin cancer on my face and was told to use factor 50 sunscreen all year round on top of my moisturiser. It is habit now.

Agreed.

I can spend all day at the beach when the sun is out. It would be very foolish not to wear suncream and a hat.

Today I will move from house to car, probably with a hood on. Whereas the solar panels will still be out absorbing 25% all day.

Also passes from iPads ,comply screens etc, so yes, necessary every single day of the year even if you never go out. I am nearly 80 have been using high spf for years and have no dark spots, and very few lines.

UVA rays are present all year round and can penetrate clouds and glass.

They are also the most ageing rays. So yes I use SPF 50 on my face all year round. I go outside loads to walk my dog. If you’re indoors and away from a window (though I understand computer screens also emit some rays) then fine not to bother.

I just put it on automatically.

I am protecting my skin from ageing factors as much as possible.

Standard SPF products don't protect us against screen/blue light rays

Ah yes I was wondering this - some creams do have that filter but you need to specific ones. I am not in front of a screen much so don’t bother and just use my SPF 50 (needs a high UVA rating ñ).

yes especially as it goes on once in the morning and likely under makeup. By the time you are out for your lunchtime walk there is no protection offered.

I reapply during the day but have the benefit of working from home.

Also use tretinoin so need to protect my skin. Outside for at least two hours every day.

You don't need to be out in the sun to be absorbing the UV rays. If you're in the house and it's light enough not to have the lights on, then thats still the suns light you're being bathed in. It may not be as bright as outside, but it's still having an effect.

Why wouldn't I? I use it every single day, i never get caught out without it if i expect to be in all day and end up leaving the house. I never forget because its habit. Im 49 ad have used it everyday for the last 17 years. My skin is noticeably better than people the same age that haven't done so

It really does make a difference.

One of my mothers friends has red hair and avoided the sun/used spf daily even in the winter when it was avaialble.

She has never used botox or had any procedures done, but she looks at least 20 years younger than her peers.

I started using spf 50 every day in my 20's (very pale skin). I am 40 now and have one fine line under my eyes when I'm laughing/smiling.

I’ve worn factor 50 sunscreen every day since I was 20-odd (now 50). I’m a very fair skinned, moley person and want to protect against skin cancer. I’m also vain and want to protect against premature ageing!

I do think a lot of the health & beauty advice we receive these days is made-up guff perpetuated by the industries that will benefit, but not in this case.

Its not compulsory, though. Just sensible advice you can ignore if you like - much like most people make up their own minds about what they eat, how much alcohol they drink, how frequently they exercise etc.

I do use it in the Summer, but honestly, I haven't yet found a combined moisturiser SPF that isn't horribly sticky. I used to only wear 15, recently gone up to 30 because of the hype, but anything with 50 in it is frankly unusable. I don't wear make up, so no extra clag either.

I just wear a standard moisturiser in the Winter. Honestly, yes, I probably will show signs of ageing, but so what? My grandmothers all had fab skin in their 80/90/100's, and they only ever used cold cream or equivalent, and not indoorsy types either, one was a farmer, and one lived in Italy.

As an aside, SPF50 hasn't been around for that long, those of us oldies only had access to SPF 6 or 8 when we were kids. Then came 15/30 in the 80's and 90's, SPF50 only from 2012.

Same. Started at 22 and I’m now 49.

I wear the Vitamin E SPF 15 from Superdrug over the winter and higher factor SPF the rest of the year.

But today I put a serum on and didn't bother with anything else when I went out.

Exactly

I don’t use it in winter either. I think if you’re outdoors a lot, then you might need it. But I’m never really outdoors a lot in winter.

I read something about people absorbing it from sitting next to windows but honestly, I think they’re just trying to sell more of it.

i’ve got through so much of it this year - extraordinary. I don’t think I’ve ever actually run out of SPF in the summer before !

Quite relieved not to have to use it at the moment.

I wear SPF 30 - 50 in spring and summer. My skin and eyes are easily irritated with lots of additional skincare ingredients. If I wore it everyday when it's cold in winter I'm sure I would end up a dry, red faced mess! My skin seems to tolerate SPF better when it's warmer in summer than when it's cold winds and snowing.

I use an SPF as a moisturiser. I was diagnosed with melanoma 18 months ago as someone who generally avoids the sun anyway and so I’m much more careful now. As others have said you don’t need to be outside to be affected by UVA as it passes through windows etc.

I don't get it either OP. I wear spf in summer if I'm going to be outdoors a lot. I don't bother the rest of the time. I was a young child in the 1970s and spf just wasn't a thing where I'm from.
I'm now mid 50s and don't look noticibly older than any other mid 50s person 🤷‍♀️