Benefits of Sunscreen in Winter

Sunscreens are an important part of our daily lives. Be it indoors or outdoors, it is important to always apply sunscreen. Why? There are many benefits of sunscreens. Not only in summer but in the winter season as well, sunscreen should be an integral part of your skincare regime. In winter, we feel that the sun rays are soothing and it is important for the skin to bathe in the sun shower. But it is not so! Yes, you must take soak in the sunshine and warmth, but with precaution. And by precaution, we mean; applying sunscreen. Sunscreens not only shield and protect your skin but also help in making your skin look young and healthy. Sun rays often take a toll on our skin resulting in patchy, uneven skin tone. This further results in pigmentation, blemishes, fine lines, and many other signs of ageing. But not anymore! Sunscreen is there to protect us from those harmful sun rays. And in winters, it is essential as well. We know that you are thinking that the winter heat must be absorbed by the body to relieve us from the common cold, fever, etc. We understand that in winters you love spending time outside. And this is the main reason why our skin needs protection. When we are outdoors, our skin comes directly in contact with the sun. That is why, rather than helping our skin and body, it further damages them. Read on this guide to know more about the benefits of wearing sunscreen in winters.

Benefits of Sunscreen on Face

Sunscreen is an important thing to be included in our skincare regime. Be it summer or winter, it is essential to wear sunscreen. Below are the benefits of applying sunscreen in winters.

1. Protects from the Harmful UV Rays
   Our skin has a higher risk of getting affected by the harmful rays of the sun. Sun is the direct source of Vitamin D that our body needs. But we must not put our healthy skin at risk. Thus, for protecting our skin from the harmful rays of the sun, it is essential to apply sunscreen to block the sun rays from reaching our skin and triggering various skin disorders.
2. Premature Aging
   The sun rays on our face cause many signs of aging like blemishes, pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, etc., that make us look much older than our actual age. Applying sunscreen can definitely help in this situation. The shield created by the sunscreen prevents the development of early signs of ageing. Many studies have revealed that people who used sunscreen had 45%* lesser chances of developing signs of ageing as compared to the people who did not use sunscreen.
3. Risk of skin diseases
   Sunscreens help in lowering the risk of skin-related diseases as it acts as a shield and block all harmful UVA and UVB rays from entering your skin.
4. Lowers blotchiness
   When you apply sunscreen on your face, it subsequently lowers blotches on your face. Sun rays can irritate your skin and can also lead to the eruption of red veins. That is why sunscreen is necessary to prevent the onset of acne and other skin disorders associated with the harmful rays of the sun.
5. Prevents Sunburns
   In winters too, your skin can be prone to sunburn. Sunburn weakens your skin and makes your skin subject to bruises and dark patches. Sunburns can further lead our skin to experience sensations of peeling, swelling, redness, itching, etc. The blisters on our skin can escalate to a whole different level and can lead to skin cancer. So, apply sunscreen to your face and keep your skin safe!
6. Prevents Tanning
   One of the major benefits of using a sunscreen every day is to prevent tanning. There is a fine line between sunbathing and tan. If you are being tanned by the harsh ultraviolet rays of the un, then your skin is definitely at risk. Therefore, you must use sunscreen with at leastatleast SPF 30. Make sure you reapply the sunscreen after every two hours, specifically if you have sensitive skin. Applying sunscreen must be made a regular habit to prevent many skin issues.
7. Improves Overall Skin Health
   Applying sunscreen every day can improve our overall skin health to a large extent. The essential proteins present in our skin like collagen, keratin, elastin, etc., are protected by sunscreen. These proteins keep our skin smooth and healthy. Thus, make sure that your sunscreen has titanium oxide for protecting these skin proteins and endowing several other benefits.

So, these are the benefits of sunscreen that you must know in order to make it a regular habit. No matter whether you are indoors or outdoors, sunscreen is of utmost importance. Well, according to several dermatologists, using sunscreen in winters is essential. So, let us look at the possible reasons that dermatologists claim for applying sunscreen in winters as well.

Reasons for Using Sunscreen in Winter

During summer, layering sunscreen makes perfect sense. But what about winter? Winter is everyone’s favorite season – the season of snow. And we are sure you do not want to ruin your skin in this perfect weather. This is the reason why sunscreen during winter becomes necessary. So, let us have a look at them.

1. Snow makes UV Rays Intensified
   During winter, snow is an inevitable part. Snow increases the intensity of the sun’s rays and this puts our skin at the risk of having various skin diseases. Thus, if you are planning to be outdoors skiing and sledging, it is essential to apply sunscreen. Make sure you apply SPF 50 to shield your skin completely.
2. Low Moisture levels affect the Skin
   Low moisture levels are prevalent during winter. This makes our skin drier and sensitive. Winters means less humidity and increased wind speeds that constantly strip the moisture from our skin. Dryness in our skin leads to wrinkles, fine lines, etc., thereby, making our skin more likely to crack and expose itself to infections. Thus, using sunscreen with natural ingredients can help in restoring your skin’s natural moisture and help in keeping it healthy.
3. Ozone is the Thinnest
   In winters, the ozone layer is the thinnest. This results in UV rays reaching the earth faster and affecting our skin. The ozone layer absorbs the UV rays of the sun and penetrates through our skin, thereby making it patchy and tanned. This can be solved by applying sunscreen. Applying sunscreen can lower this possibility and makes our skin supple and healthy.
4. Indoor Lights are Damaging
   Even if you plan to stay indoors, your skin can still be affected. New studies have shown that the light from computers, TVs, cell phone screens, and lamps can add to your skin damage. Daily application of sunscreen protects your skin from the exposure caused by the indoor lights as well.
5. Wearing off of Sunscreen in Winter
   Dermatologists claim that sunscreen wears off more quickly in winters than in summers. For instance, going sunbathing or swimming in winters, removes the sunscreen from our skin while making our skin more prone to damage. Wind, snow, sleet, etc., weaken the sunscreen. That is why in winters, sunscreen must be applied after every 2-3 hours.
6. The Prevalent Risk of Skin Cancer
   It is considered that UV rays are not harsh in winter. Well, this is a myth. Sun Rays in winter are the same as those in summer. In winter, our skin gets prone to sun damage, age spots, and multiple skin cancers. UV rays penetrate deeper into the skin and that is why you must apply sunscreen.
7. Cumulative Skin Exposures
   Many dermatologists believe that sun rays exposed for a long period of time have cumulative effects on the skin. The more time you are in the sun, the more your skin is exposed to melanoma – a deadly type of skin cancer. Thus, to protect our skin from cumulative exposure to the sun, it is extremely important to apply sunscreen.
8. Sun is Closer in Winter
   If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you are much closer to the sun than anyone on this planet. There is a drop in temperature in the Northern Hemisphere during winters. Even though the temperature is down, the sun is still in action. You are directly in contact with the sun rays and even in dropping temperatures, you need sunscreen. So, do not forget to apply sunscreen in winters as well.

So, these are the top reasons as to why you must use sunscreen in winters as well. Dermatologists claim that sunscreen is a protective layer on your skin that keeps your skin healthy and supple. So, apart from these reasons, do you know that sunscreens can also be made at home? We bet you didn’t. So, let us walk you the way as to how you can make sunscreen at home.

Sunscreen at Home

Sunscreen is a health and wellness product that primarily protects our face from the harmful rays of the sun. Well, there are a lot of sunscreens available outside, but sunscreens can also be made at home. With the right amount of natural ingredients, you can not only protect your skin from the sun’s rays but also keep it healthy. Let us look at homemade recipes for making sunscreen.

1. Aloe Vera + Coconut Oil Sunscreen
   Aloe Vera is an active ingredient with which you can make an effective sunscreen. It is proven to treat and prevent sunburns on your skin. The recipe mentioned below needs to be reapplied because it isn’t waterproof.
    - Combine 1/4th cup of Coconut Oil and two tablespoons of Zinc Oxide with Aloe Vera gel.
    - Further, add 25-30 drops of Walnut oil and SPF boost along with Shea Butter. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Keep the ingredients heated.
    - After they are blended, let it cool for some time and then you can apply it to your face. [To make this sunscreen, you can also add beeswax as a moisturizer.]
2. Sunscreen Spray
   In order to make a sunscreen spray, combine the ingredients mentioned above. Once the mixture has been cooled completely, you must add:
    - Aloe Vera Gel and Almond Oil which have SPF properties of their own.
    - This will make the mixture have the consistency of the spray.
    - Store the mixture in a glass spray bottle and keep it refrigerated for the best results.
3. Sunscreen for Oily Skin
   If you have oily skin, applying sunscreen seems to be a weird idea. Well, oily skin also needs protection.
    - Take up any essential oil and mix it with Aloe Vera Gel, Zinc Oxide, and Shea Butter.
    - Essential oils correct the sebum production in your skin, thereby preventing it from getting greasy.

So, these are the top sunscreens that you can make at home and protect your skin from sun damage. Well, we have seen homemade recipes for sunscreens. But now, it’s time to look at the products offered by TheAyurvedaCo.

Best Sunscreen for Face – Our Top Recommendations

1. Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ with Eladi, Triphala & Hemp Seed
   Protect and hydrate your skin with TAC’s weightless sunscreen. Enriched with Eladi, Triphala, and Hemp Seed, this sunscreen nourishes and protects your skin from UV rays. It boosts collagen production in your skin and replenishes it with several antioxidants. Thus, this sunscreen is best for everyday use.
   
2. Beet Lip Cheek Tint & Eladi Triphala SPF 50 Sunscreen
   This skin fortifying combo with skin-enriching sunscreen and lip hydration lip balm protects your skin and lips from tanning. Sunscreen is best to cover all your skin troubles while hydrating your lips intensely. The sunscreen has a matte finish and is best for every weather. Try out this amazing combo now!

So, these are some of the best sunscreens available online. Sunscreens are a protective shield that protects our skin while making it soft and supple. You can either make homemade sunscreens or buy them from TheAyurvedaCo. Hurry! Buy them now!