Are you wearing sunscreen indoors? If the thought has never crossed your mind, or it’s a hard no, this article is for you. Keep your skin protected and future-proofed by adding sunscreen to your daily skincare regime even on days when you’re staying indoors. Read on to find out why it’s so important to wear sunscreen on the reg.
5 Reasons to Wear Sunscreen Indoors
Think you’re completely protected from UV rays while staying indoors? Unfortunately, unless you’re in a pitch black windowless room, those pesky rays can reach you. It’s indirect sunlight but you’re still at risk from some of the harmful side effects of sun exposure if you’re not wearing face sunscreen.
1) You’re At Risk From Sun Exposure When the UV Index is 3 or Higher
It’s advised to wear sun protection whenever the UV index is 3 or higher. It’s important to note that the UV index can change during the day, so unless you’re regularly checking this, a day that starts with a low UV index could quickly reach over 3 by the middle of the day. For this reason, we recommend wearing sunscreen every day or making sure you check the UV index rating daily. If you’re planning on ducking out of the house at all, even if you’re spending most of the day indoors, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got some sun protection on.
2) Window Glass Doesn’t Block All UVA Rays
This is the big one – windows (including car windows) block UVB rays, but only block some of the UVA rays. So, even though you’re indoors you’re still getting some sun exposure! ‘UVA/UVB-what?’ we hear you ask. Let’s do a little recap on the differences.
UV is made up of both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are the ones mainly responsible for causing premature aging and present themselves as fine lines and wrinkles. However, it’s important to note they may also play a role in causing skin cancer. On the other hand, UVB rays are the really dangerous ones that cause the skin to burn and lead to skin cancers. Make sure you always choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides protection against both UV rays.
3) Keep Premature Ageing At Bay
Whether you’re working indoors all day or driving your car, unfortunately, UVA rays can penetrate through windows. If you want to keep your skin looking fresh as a daisy for longer, then the best thing you can do is reach for the sunscreen bottle. Applying in the morning in line with your current skincare regime is the best way to minimize incidental exposure.
4) Protect Skin If You Wear Skincare That Increases Sensitivity to the Sun
Are you using skincare actives? If you’re a retinol girl, or love some AHAs and/or hydroquinone, then these ingredients can actually make your skin a little more sensitive to the sun and more likely to burn. For that reason, it’s incredibly important to make sure you’re protected with a good, reliable SPF50+ face sunscreen to make sure you don’t undo all the goodness your skincare regime is doing with a pesky sunburn.
5) If You Have an Increased Risk of Skin Cancer
It’s obvious but worth mentioning that if you have a family history or an increased risk of skin cancer (pale beauties), then you absolutely need to be taking sun precautions. Wearing a daily facial sunscreen is a great habit to get into even if you’re not in direct sunlight – it’ll become second nature so that you wear it on the days when you are outdoors without thinking twice.
Best Face Sunscreen in 2022
Need some help picking a great facial sunscreen to wear indoors and outdoors? Here’s a roundup of a few faves.
1) Lean Screen SPF 50+
If you’re looking for a great facial sunscreen that won’t cause you to breakout, try this zinc sunscreen from Ultra Violette. It’s a fragrance-free formula so it won’t cause any issues if you’ve got sensitive or reactive skin either. The matte finish is great for wearing makeup over the top or going bare-faced too. Bonus points for offering protection from blue light while you’re working indoors!
2) Supreme Screen SPF 50+
If you prefer a chemical sunscreen formula and don’t like a matte finish, then try Supreme Screen from Ultra Violette. It’s a hydrating, high SPF formula with a clean scent that triples up as a moisturizer, sunscreen, and primer all-in-one. (However, I personally stay clear of chemicals on my skin, and recommend you do the same whenever possible!)
Motivated to start wearing sunscreen indoors on the reg? Keep your complexion in tiptop shape and protect the health of your skin every day by adding in this easy product to your skincare regime.
