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The Glow Guide to Sunscreen: Protect Your Glow Year-Round

The Glow Guide to Sunscreen: Protect Your Glow Year-Round

We talk about sunscreen a lot – and for good reason. It’s the single most important step in your skincare routine, and one of the simplest ways to protect your long-term skin health and glow. You are simply wasting your money, time and effort on other products or treatments if you are not protecting your skin – and many people do their best but don’t actually apply SPF in the right quantities or often enough, meaning they are not actually protected.

Why Sunscreen Isn’t Just for Summer

UV radiation is a major driver of:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles

  • Hyperpigmentation (including melasma)

  • Loss of collagen and elasticity

  • Skin cancers

And it doesn’t go away when the sun hides. Up to 80% of UV rays still reach the skin on cloudy days, and UVA (the ageing kind) penetrates through glass. That means you’re exposed during your morning commute, at your desk, and even sitting by the window with a coffee.

Visible and blue light—like that from your phone or computer—can also worsen melasma and pigmentation in deeper skin tones. It’s time to make SPF as routine as brushing your teeth.

Have you seen this truck driver, where one side of his face was more exposed to UV rays while driving for almost 30 years?

via CBS news

But There Is SPF In My Moisturiser, Is That Enough?

No, unfortunately not! You really want an SPF that is pretending to be a moisturiser, rather than a moisturiser pretending to be an SPF. The same goes for makeup – there are plenty of tinted sunscreens out there that can also give a bit of coverage but you never want to rely on your makeup to provide the most basic insurance your skin requires.

One main reason for this? The amount that you apply on your skin. When SPFs are tested in a lab, there is a very specific amount of product used to achieve the level of protection on the bottle – this usually equates to two full finger lengths of product. When it comes to your moisturiser with SPF15,  particularly if you are not absolutely coating yourself in it, you are probably ending up with a protection level of maybe 7…and this will typically last for  about 2 hours before it requires reapplication.

SPF protection is not cumulative, so if your moisturiser has SPF15 (7!) and you makeup has SPF30 (which in reality may be giving far lower protection unless you are caking yourself in Estee Lauder Double Wear), you’re only getting the debatable SPF30 (15?!). There are many different types of SPFs out there, hydrating ones, matte and oil free ones that behave as a good base for makeup, and ones that don’t leave a white cast, so really swapping in a standalone SPF instead of a moisturiser or finding one that works with your routine is definitely possible.

Mineral vs Chemical SPF: What’s the Difference?

Mineral (Physical) Sunscreens

  • Contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide

  • Sit on the skin and reflect UV rays

  • Ideal for sensitive skin or post-treatment skin

  • May leave a white cast (though newer formulas have improved)

Chemical Sunscreens

  • Contain filters like avobenzone, oxybenzone or octisalate

  • Absorb UV and convert it into heat

  • Lightweight and often invisible

  • May not suit very sensitive or reactive skin types

Tinted Sunscreens

A super additional option to layer on top if you suffer from melasma, want to touch up during the day or just feel like more of a glow! The iron oxide contained in tinted sunscreens (iron oxide is pigmented) protects from blue and visible light – wavelengths that can contribute to aging and rosacea but most definitely trigger melasma.

The best SPF? The one you’ll actually wear every day. We stock a curated range of elegant formulas suited for all skin types, tones, and lifestyles – there is one that suits you out there!

SPF Myths We Still Hear All the Time

“I’m inside all day—I don’t need SPF.”
→ UV still reaches through windows, and visible light affects pigmentation.

“I have darker skin, so I don’t burn.”
→ While melanin offers some protection, it doesn’t block all UV damage. Melanin-rich skin is more prone to uneven tone and post-inflammatory pigmentation.

“I use SPF 50+, so I’m protected all day.”
→ No sunscreen is bulletproof. Reapplication every 2 hours (especially when outdoors) is essential.

How to Apply (Properly!)

  • Use 2 full fingers’ worth of product for face and neck

  • Don’t forget ears, chest, hands, and hairline

  • Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure

  • Reapply every 2 hours or immediately after sweating/swimming

Your Glow, Protected

Choosing the right SPF can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t need to be. Whether you need help finding a formula that works under makeup, won’t sting your eyes, or suits post-laser skin, we’re here to guide you.

Book a skin consultation with our team and we’ll match you with the perfect protection for your glow—because sunscreen isn’t just skincare, it’s self-care in a bottle. 
Book your consultation here and take the guesswork out of your glow.