Sunscreen 365 – Why sun protection is important all year round

Summer holidays over, sun hat and other sun gear put away in the closet again? Think again.
Sunscreen isn't a seasonal trend or a must-have just for summer. It's your best anti-aging and skin insurance, 365 days a year.

UVA vs. UVB – the invisible adversaries of your skin
Let's start from the very beginning. Many people think you only get sun damage in the sun.
High summer at the beach. Wrong. UV radiation is present all year round, even on sunny days.
Rainy autumn days or when you sit in the office all day. Because the sun
It emits different types of radiation. Two of them are particularly harmful to our skin.
decisive:

• UVA rays are the insidious long-term damagers. You don't feel them, but they
  They penetrate deep into your skin, destroy collagen, and thus accelerate the
  Skin aging. The result: wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin. And yes, UVA rays also penetrate windows, so even in the car or at your desk, these rays get through.
• UVB rays are more intense, more direct, and are responsible for that annoying sunburn.
  Sunburn is essentially an acute inflammatory reaction of your skin: The sun's rays penetrate the upper layers of skin, damaging your skin cells and triggering a defense response. The visible redness, the heat, and sometimes peeling of the skin are signs that your body wants to rid itself of the damaged cells and form new, healthy skin. If this happens repeatedly, this process significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.

The annoying thing is that even on a cloudy day, the majority of UV radiation can still be transmitted.
reach your skin. Clouds are therefore not a free pass.

What happens without sunscreen?
In short: nothing you want.

• Premature skin aging: UV rays destroy the elastic fibers in your skin.
  Skin. It loses elasticity, wrinkles and fine lines appear.
• Pigment spots and uneven skin tone: UVA rays are the main culprits.
  Overproduction of melanin, which can lead to patchy areas and an irregular skin appearance, especially with increasing age.
• Increased risk of skin cancer: UV rays damage the DNA in your skin cells.
  and are the most important risk factor for skin cancer, which is the most common worldwide
  diagnosed type of cancer.

And if you're thinking that a tanning bed would be a good alternative, unfortunately not. Tanning beds often expose your skin to even stronger UV radiation than the midday sun at the equator. For your skin, it's like fast food on repeat – perhaps tempting in the short term, but in the long run just as harmful as any sunbathing.

Sunscreen as the heart of your skincare routine
Many invest in expensive serums and anti-aging ingredients. All great, but without...
Sunscreens almost completely lose their effectiveness. UV rays can not only directly damage the skin, but also break down the active ingredients before they can take effect. Therefore, sunscreen should definitely be the most important step in your morning routine.
If you want to give your skin extra protection, antioxidants like vitamin C can help.
They neutralize free radicals and strengthen the skin. But the most important step remains:
Sunscreen. In the evening, remember to remove sunscreen just as thoroughly as makeup to prevent your pores from becoming clogged.
Important: If you are using active ingredients such as retinol, AHA or BHA acids,
Sunscreen is doubly essential. Because these ingredients make the skin even more sensitive to UV rays.

The teaspoon rule – How much sun protection does your skin need?
One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to sun protection is using the right amount, or rather, the wrong amount. Did you know that you need about a whole teaspoon of sunscreen for your face alone to achieve the stated sun protection factor (SPF)? If you apply less, the protection for your skin drops drastically.
If you don't want to mistake your sunscreen for your yogurt on the spoon in the morning, there's a simple trick: the two-finger rule. Simply squeeze a strip of sunscreen onto your index and middle fingers and then spread it evenly over your face and neck.

What exactly is SPF?
SPF stands for sun protection factor and indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun.
You can do it without getting sunburned, rather than without protection. For example: If you
Normally, you would be reddened after 10 minutes, but an SPF 25 extends this period to about 25 minutes.
Of course, this also depends on your skin, the UV index, and other factors. But this gives you a good indication of how much protection your sunscreen actually offers. And that's precisely why it makes sense to reapply your sunscreen several times a day.

Mineral, chemical, huh?
When it comes to sun protection, the selection can quickly become overwhelming: countless
Brands, filter types, SPF levels, and formulations. It's easy to lose track.
Therefore, we'll keep it short and sweet: Sunscreens can basically be divided into two categories.
Divide into categories: those with mineral and those with chemical sun filters.

Mineral filters
Who doesn't know him? The bright white tourist on the beach. That's the classic one.
Mineral sunscreen that has reliably protected young and old for decades.

• Active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
• They lie on the skin and reflect UV rays.
• Ideal for sensitive skin or during pregnancy
• They can sometimes leave a (light) white film, the so-called
  Whitecast

Chemical filters
Chemical filters are relatively new to the market and their approval varies greatly.
depending on the country. That's why you sometimes hear bizarre rumors like "banned ingredients" in
Sunscreens. These often contain filters that simply aren't yet approved in all countries. Korea, for example, is a pioneer in this area and is constantly developing new filters, while countries like the USA are more hesitant to approve new cosmetic ingredients.

• They absorb UV rays and convert them into heat.
• Light, elegant textures – perfect under makeup
• Often the better choice for medium to dark skin tones, as no whitecast occurs.

Which type of sunscreen is right for you is like many other things.
Testing skincare products. Generally speaking, chemical filters are often...
They are formulated more elegantly and don't simply sit on the skin's surface. However, they can cause itching or irritation in sensitive individuals, especially around the eyes.
trigger. Mineral filters are sometimes a bit more visible, but usually very good.
Well-tolerated and ideal for sensitive skin. Your skin knows its needs best. Find the sunscreen that feels most comfortable for you. Because only when you feel good will you use it every day.

Tinted sunscreens
Many skincare products now contain a certain sun protection factor.
Tinted products are a great addition here, because the color pigments they contain can also block sun rays – essentially double protection.

• They combine UV protection with pigments that even out the skin tone.
• May contain mineral or chemical filters
• Ideal if you want to replace makeup or have a natural glow.

For those who don't want to layer ten products in the morning, an all-round product like THE BEAUTY BALM SPF 25 is the perfect solution.

He combines:
• UVA & UVB protection
• Light tint that adapts to the skin tone
• Moisture & anti-aging ingredients
• Coverage to conceal redness and minor imperfections