Why you need to wear sunscreen everyday

Protecting your skin should be a daily habit, just like washing your face or getting dressed. That’s because the effects of UV rays on our skin have been well-studied and are proven to cause premature ageing, as well as more harmful side effects such as sunburn and increasing the risk of skin cancer. The solution? Sunscreen. Here’s why making an SPF a part of your daily routine is vital for maintaining healthy, youthful skin while preventing long-term skin damage at the same time. 

1. Sunscreen blocks UV rays…

…and exposure to UV rays cause skin damage. There are two types of UV light – UVB and UVA. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and can cause of inflammation and sunburn as they most often affect the outermost layer of skin. In contrast, UVA rays have longer wavelengths, which allows them to penetrate the skin more deeply. UVA rays can even pass through glass, so sitting by a window won’t keep your skin completely safe from sun damage. Prolonged exposure to both UVA and UVB rays damages skin cells by disrupting their normal function and structure. By absorbing UV light or reflecting and scattering it away from the skin (depending on the type of ingredient used), sunscreen acts as a protective shield.

2. It slows down visible skin ageing

Studies have shown that 80 percent of the skin changes we link to ageing are actually the result of cumulative sun damage from UV rays. While sunscreen won’t stop the natural ageing process, there are studies that show that if you start using sunscreen early and consistently in your skincare routine it can dramatically slow down the visible effects of sun damage including a degradation of collagen and elastin, pigmentation, fine lines and skin laxity.

4. It boosts collagen production for longer (if you start wearing it early enough)

Collagen and elastin are the building blocks of skin. They’re proteins (made up of amino acids) that give skin its structure, keeping it smooth, supple and bouncy. UVA rays breakdown these proteins, leading to the thinning of skin, fine lines and even deeper wrinkles as the skin loses its elasticity. We naturally lose collagen and elastin as we age however UVA rays significantly accelerate this process, also known as photoaging. Sunscreen, at its simplest, protects the collagen you have in your skin and the earlier you start wearing it, the less collagen you’ll lose from photoaging over time.

5. The new-gen SPF formulas repair skin while protecting it.

Suncare as skincare is the newest advancement where sunscreens are being formulated with skincare ingredients to do more for skin health than simply protect. Here at Sarah Chapman we have always championed this comprehensive approach to SPF with our advanced Skin Insurance formulas. They including hydrating, antioxidant, and anti-aging components alongside broad-spectrum sun protection and skin-brightening and perfecting technology.

Once you have it on, what’s the best way to remove SPF?

Sunscreen is notorioursly hard to remove from pores because of the nature of its job – to stay on skin as a shield. At the same time, sun-stressed skin is more fragile so when removing your SPF and makeup at the end of the day it’s important to look for a gentle cleanser that won’t strip skin of its natural oils or cause any extra irritation or inflammation. Our balm-to-oil Ultimate Cleanse works with your skin’s natural oil production to remove SPF and any debris accumulated uring the day from your pores without leaving skin tight or dry.

Sarah’s Tip: The best way to cleanse your skin is to melt the product between your fingertips and smooth it evenly over the face. Using a firm pressure with your fingertips and knuckles, massage the product with vigour, spending a good minute or two to really increase blood flow to the skin.  

What you need to look for in an SPF

Not all sunscreens are created equal. Make sure you choose one that ticks all the boxes below for reliable coverage and protection.

• Broad-spectrum protection

If a formula is labelled as having broad-spectrum protection this ensures it will protect against both UVB and UVA rays.

• Blue light protection

With our collective use of digital devices, it’s more important than ever to shield skin from the damaging effects of infrared and blue light. Studies have shown that the blue HEV (High Energy Visible) light emitted by our digital devices can generate the same skin damage as UV rays. Our Skin Insurance formulas contain Celligent®, which provides protection against blue light, as well as enabling rapid repair from UV-related cellular and DNA damage. They also include Elix-irTM , which targets signs of infrared induced skin aging.

• Antioxidants

Antioxidants are crucial in SPF formulas because they enhance sun protection by neutralizing free radicals and shielding against the harmful effects of UV rays that SPF alone might not fully block. They also help repair existing sun damage and strengthen the skin's natural defences. Our Skin Insurance sunscreens are formulated with multi-advanced antioxidants including Phytosome-V which come from marine plankton and defend and support the skin’s DNA repair processes.  

• Lightweight texture

When applying your sunscreen daily, it’s key to find a formula that you'll look forward to applying every morning.  Our Skin Insurance range was designed to have lightweight textures that leave no white cast or pilin and include optical-diffusing technology to subtly enhance the skin. They all work beautifully to subtly enhance your complexion on both make-up and make-up free days.

3 of the best SPFs for 2025

Whether you’re jet-setting abroad, holidaying in the city or lounging at the beach or by the pool, there’s a sunscreen format that works for you. Our Skinesis Skin Insurance formulas include all of the essentials to look for when choosing a good SPF.

 Skin Insurance SPF 30 Tinted 

An advanced tinted daily protection great for a city break or daily routine that defends, treats and hydrates in a lightweight, sinks-into-skin texture.

Skin Insurance SPF50+ Invisible 

An active packed silky formula that boasts our highest level of skin protection in an invisible format that applies seamlessly under makeup with ease.

Skin Insurance SPF50+ Tinted

This advanced formula delivers all the sun and skin benefits of our SPF50+ format with an added soft glam tint for a healthy, natural-looking glow.