Traditionally suncream was just something many of us thought about in the summer, or when we were on holiday. Thick, oily creams were applied to stop our skin from burning in hot temperatures and that was about it – the bottles pushed to the back of the bathroom cupboard until the following year. 

But thanks to extensive scientific research and a greater awareness about the dangers of the sun, we now know that it should play a much more important role in our everyday beauty regime and the health of our skin. So if sunscreen isn’t part of your daily routine yet, here’s four top reasons that explain why that needs to change.

1. The skin is exposed to UV damage every single day – even when it’s grey and cold outside and sunshine seems like a distant memory. Surprisingly, UVA can even penetrate through glass and clothing leaving you at risk of skin damage even when indoors or travelling in a car. Applying a lightweight sunscreen every morning will help to give your skin the protection it needs.

2. If applying sunscreen every day seems excessive, consider this: 90% of premature skin ageing is due to the effect of the sun. In fact, photo-ageing is a direct result of cumulative sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life which causes a deterioration in important proteins such as collagen and elastin. The result? Premature ageing signs such as hyperpigmentation, dullness, wrinkles and sagging – all of which can be prevented or improved with daily sunscreen application. 

3. In the past, sunscreen had a bit of a reputation for being sticky and unpleasant to apply. But new formulations, such as La Roche-Posay’s Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF 50+, are as lightweight and invisible as a serum and work perfectly beneath makeup. Other innovative formulas like La Roche-Posay’s Invisible Anti-Shine Mist are the first of its kind to provide very high UVA and UVB protection in the lightness and freshness of a thermal spring water. It can even be applied over makeup if you need to top up throughout the day and give your skin a refresh.  

4. If potent treatments such as retinol and glycolic acid are part of your evening skincare routine, they should always be followed with a broad-spectrum sunscreen the next morning. This is because retinol accelerates the formation of new skin cells to replace old, damaged skin. This news skin is extra photo-sensitive and more susceptible to the effects of sunlight and UV damage so it needs to be protected every morning.