The Importance of SPF Year-Round:

Essential Protection for Healthy, Glowing Skin

In This Article →

When we think of sunscreen, it’s easy to imagine long days at the beach, lounging by the pool, or hot summer afternoons. However, one of the most common misconceptions about sunscreen is that it’s only necessary during sunny months or outdoor activities. The reality? Sunscreen is a year-round essential, even for people with deeper skin tones, to protect against premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin damage.

In this article, we’ll dive into why daily sunscreen use is critical, explore how SPF helps treat and prevent common skin concerns, and address common questions and concerns we've gotten from people who want the benefits of sun protection and looking for the right sunscreen for their skincare routine.

Protecting Against UVA and UVB Light Rays

Let’s start by reviewing the different types of light you want to protect against. When choosing a sunscreen, it’s essential to select one labeled “broad-spectrum”. This ensures protection from both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, the two types of ultraviolet light that damage your skin – although in different ways.

UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburn, and they primarily affect the top layers of the skin. These rays are more intense in the summer and can vary in strength depending on the time of day and season. Sunburns from UVB light exposure may seem like an immediate threat and get most of our attention when we want to protect our skin from sun damage. But, the cumulative effects of this damage can lead to more serious concerns, such as an increased risk of skin cancer and the development of hyperpigmentation, where dark spots form on the skin in response to UV injury.

On the other hand, UVA rays penetrate much deeper into the skin, affecting the dermis—the layer that gives skin its structure and elasticity. UVA exposure is a major contributor to photoaging, which leads to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of skin firmness. Unlike UVB rays, which you can feel as a burning sensation, UVA rays cause silent damage, breaking down collagen and elastin over time. This process weakens the skin’s support system, resulting in sagging and premature aging. Even more concerning, UVA rays are equally strong year-round, whether it's sunny or cloudy, summer or winter. While UVB rays can decrease in intensity during the colder months, UVA rays remain constant, meaning they can still cause damage to your skin—even when the sun feels less intense and you don’t feel the UVA light.

Why SPF Matters Year-Round - Yes, Even in Winter and Even for Darker Tones

Many people mistakenly believe sunscreen is only necessary during summer or when spending extended time outdoors. However, UV radiation from the sun is ever-present, making sunscreen a daily necessity, regardless of the season. For those with deep skin tones, which naturally provide more protection against both UVA and UVB light, there is a common misconception that sunscreen is less important. While darker skin tones are more resistant to sunburns, dark skin is still vulnerable to UVA light damage, which accelerates aging and causes hyperpigmentation and loss of skin tone. This makes daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen—which protects against both UVA and UVB rays—essential all year long for all skin types and tones.

Even during winter or on cloudy days, the sun’s UV rays penetrate the skin, causing damage that is often invisible at first but accumulates over time. People with melanin-rich skin may feel that because their skin doesn’t burn easily, they can skip sunscreen during colder months or when it’s overcast. But while UVB rays (which cause sunburns) are weaker in the winter, UVA rays remain constant year-round, causing deeper, more lasting damage. Without protection, this damage can manifest as dark spots, fine lines, and other visible signs of aging over time.

Sun damage may not be as immediately visible, but the long-term effects are significant. UVA light rays, which penetrate deep into the skin, break down collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles, sagging, and uneven skin tone. And because people with deeper skin tones are particularly prone to developing hyperpigmentation from damaging sun exposure, they may experience difficult to treat skin changes later in life that are more common with inconsistent use of sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen daily in every season helps prevent these concerns, so you can keep your skin smooth and even.

If you enjoy being outside in the winter, that is not the time to ease up on sun protection. Snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays, intensifying your exposure. Whether you're outside in the snow or running errands on an overcast day, your skin is still at risk. Additionally, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate clouds, making sunscreen necessary even when the sun isn't shining brightly. This often-overlooked exposure adds up, resulting in premature aging that can accelerate without year-round protection.

While the intensity of UVB light may drop in the winter, the deeper, invisible effects of UVA light continues year-round, which is why a broad-spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVA and UVB rays is essential year-round. Whether you're out in the summer sun or walking through a snowy winter landscape, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen helps keep your skin healthy, radiant, and protected.

The Top 3 Benefits of Daily Sunscreen for Healthy Skin

PREVENTS PREMATURE AGING

Broad-spectrum, sunscreen protects your skin from UVA rays, which penetrate deep into the skin and cause photoaging—leading to marks, fine lines, and loss of elasticity. Daily sunscreen use is the single most effective way to slow down these early signs of aging. By blocking UV rays that break down collagen and elastin, SPF helps maintain the skin’s firmness, elasticity and an even tone.

REDUCES HYPERPIGMENTATION

Regular exposure to UV rays can cause an increase in melanin production, leading to dark spots, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation, especially in melanin-rich skin. Wearing sunscreen every day helps prevent these spots from forming or worsening and over time, consistent sunscreen use helps help fade existing dark spots as the skin’s natural repair processes work without further damage.

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION

Sunscreen is vital in protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, which are linked to sunburns and skin damage that increase your risk of developing skin cancer over time. A broad-spectrum sunscreen shields your skin from DNA damage to reduce your skin cancer risk.

How Blue Light Affects Skin

While UV rays are the most well-known culprits of skin damage, another threat that is gaining attention is Blue Light, also known as High-Energy Visible (HEV) light. Blue light is emitted not just by the sun, but also by the devices we use every day—smart phones, computers, and even energy-efficient lighting. While cold weather may drive us indoors, it also drives us to the devices that expose us to blue light and is why you need to use sunscreen year-round, even when staying indoors.

Blue Light and Melanated Skin

Research has shown that blue light penetrates the skin more deeply than UV light. And for people with deeper skin tones, studies have found that blue light can actually cause hyperpigmentation, exacerbating the development ofdark spots and uneven skin tone.

Sunscreen Protection from Blue Light

The good news? Many mineral sunscreens are designed to protect against blue light damage. Mineral-based formulas containing key ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxides provide broad-spectrum protection, shielding your skin from both harmful UV rays along with high-energy blue light. Iron oxides, in particular, are highly effective at blocking blue light, making them essential for those who spend long hours in front of screens. Additionally, iron oxides play a crucial role in adding tints to sunscreens, helping to neutralize the white cast that is often associated with mineral sunscreens, especially for people with darker skin tones. This makes them perfect for daily wear, providing protection while improving appearance.

So, to answer the question, sunscreen isn't just for summer—it's a year-round essential to protect your skin from damage, no matter the season. When it comes to sunscreen, here are the key takeaways:

UVA and UVB Protection: Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA rays, which cause deep skin damage and aging, and UVB rays, which are responsible for sunburns. UVA rays are present year-round, even in winter and on cloudy days.
Blue Light Protection: Mineral sunscreens containing iron oxides can also protect against blue light from our phone and computer screens, which can exacerbate hyperpigmentation, especially in melanin-rich skin.
Melanated Skin Needs Protection: While deeper skin tones offer some natural protection, we are still vulnerable to UVA damage, which leads to premature aging and more susceptible to indoor blue light damage, which causes hyperpigmentation. Daily sunscreen use is essential for all skin tones.
Reduces Hyperpigmentation: Sunscreen minimizes the formation of dark spots and uneven skin tone by preventing UV-induced melanin production. Over time, sunscreen helps fade dark spots by giving skin a chance to heal without further damage.
Prevents Premature Aging: Daily sunscreen helps block the UVA rays that break down collagen and elastin. Using sunscreen helps prevent dark marks, fine lines, and sagging.
Skin Cancer Prevention: Consistent sunscreen use reduces the risk of DNA damage from UV rays, lowering the risk of skin cancer over time.

Make sunscreen a daily part of your skincare routine, year-round, to keep your skin protected, healthy, and radiant!

Announcing the Return of Our Daily Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen!

Now that you understand the importance of wearing sunscreen year-round, we’re thrilled to announce that after months of being sold out, our best-selling Daily Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 40 is back in stock! This fragrance-free, lightweight, tinted and mineral-based formula provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA, UVB, and blue light, making it essential for daily use—indoors or out, in warm and cold weather.

Specially formulated and tinted with iron oxides, our moisturizer with SPF blends seamlessly into all skin types – including darker tones-- without leaving a white cast. Plus, it’s made with vitamin C and hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and green tea, to nourish your skin for a smooth, glowing finish. Whether you’re concerned about hyperpigmentation, preventing premature aging, or just seeking all-day hydration, this product is your perfect year-round skincare solution.

Your skin deserves the best in protection and radiance!

SHOP TODAY

Announcing the Return of Our Daily Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen!

Your skin deserves the best in protection and radiance!

SHOP TODAY

AbsoluteJOI Skincare

by Dr. Anne

AbsoluteJOI is a physician-founded skin care brand with a science-based approach to the needs of people over 35 with all skin types and tones. Developed by physician researcher, Dr. Anne Beal, our products are formulated and tested for sensitive skin, while addressing dyspigmentation, the first sign of aging for many people. Our philosophy is not to focus on anti-aging, but to celebrate all ages and stages and to help our customers age beautifully, while celebrating the confidence and wisdom they’ve gained with time.

Each product combines natural and clinically effective ingredients for healthy skin. We use NO parabens, phthalates, sulphates, or skin bleach. And we use no perfumes or dyes to offer pure and clean products good for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

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