It’s hardly a surprise that as winter sets in, putting on sunscreen starts to feel optional. As the mornings grow colder, the sun’s rays soften, and our days become more rushed, dousing ourselves and our little ones with sunscreen frequently becomes the first casualty. When summer rolls around, sun protection is high on our priority lists but during winter it just doesn’t feel as important.
What most mums don’t realise is that during winter, your skin (and your children’s skin for that matter) is still at risk of damage from the sun’s UV rays. Errands, school runs, park visits, sports games, and even just walking from the car to your destination all count. All of these things contribute to sun exposure. And while the sun may not feel as strong during winter, it’s impact on skin over time still lurks behind the scenes.
So that’s why we want to talk about it. Not to make your life more complicated or add to your mental checklist of tasks to be remembered but to make life easier.
Let’s make winter sunscreen easier to understand.
How to Choose the Right Sunscreen for Winter
For daily SPF use however, it often comes down to comfort. Korean sunscreen has become very popular over the years for its lightweight, hydrating textures. This lighter feel means they blend seamlessly into your winter skincare routine, perfect for busy mornings around Eastern Sydney.
Of course, SPF doesn’t take a holiday during winter. For everyday protection, make sure your sunscreen is at least SPF 30. Why? Our skin is exposed to UVA rays year-round. Whether the sun is shining bright or it’s gloomy out, UVA rays penetrate the skin and cause long-term damage like premature ageing, pigmentation and breakdown of the skin.
The daily sunscreen wearers among parents usually point out that their most loved formulas are the light, non-greasy, and skin-friendly ones. This is especially helpful when you have to apply it not only to you but the kids as well and in the shortest amount of time possible before running out the door. The easier it is and feels to apply, the more likely you won’t skip it.
Winter UV Rays Don’t Take a Break
To keep things simple here, there are two kinds of UV rays you’ll want to know about. UVB is the culprit behind sunburns, hitting harder in the summer and changing more throughout the year. UVA rays are much more consistent, they make up the majority of our sun exposure year-round, and they penetrate deeper into your skin. Because of this, they’re responsible for premature ageing, pigmentation and wrinkles.
What most people don’t know is that when you’re not burning, UVA rays are still affecting your skin beneath the surface. You might not notice or feel your skin changing during exposure, but the damage will compound day-after-day with repeated exposure.
Sunscreen on a cloudy day? Yes. Cloudy days, cool mornings and gloomy winters can throw people off, making them feel like sunburn isn’t possible. Up to 80% of UV rays can pass through clouds though. Even if it’s not “sunny” out, your skin can still be affected by UV rays you won’t necessarily notice or feel.
School Runs, Playgrounds, and Everyday Exposure Add Up
While most of us mums wouldn’t say we’re “out in the sun” constantly, upon reflection, that’s pretty much the case. Granted, it’s not long stretches spent in the sun. It might be waiting at the school gate for a quick chat, walking the kids back to the car, or hanging around the playground while they beg for “just one more turn.”
Even at the weekend it’s catching up with friends for half an hour at sport, popping into the park, a stroll down to your local coffee shop. None of these snippets feel like you’re purposely sitting in the sun, hence why we forget to slap on the sunscreen. After all it’s not like you’re planning that type of exposure.
Well your skin doesn’t know the difference between incidental or intentional sun exposure. Those few minutes add up. And when they’re added up day after day they become the forgotten exposure.
The Vitamin D Myth That Keeps Mums Confused
Sunscreen always seems to be one of those parenting topics that mums tend to stress and overthink. We are bombarded with how crucial vitamin D is for helping our kids’ immunity, bone strength, and overall health. But we’ve also spent our childhood and teen years being told to slather on the SPF or we’ll damage our skin. You feel compelled to choose between the two.
One thing that causes so much confusion is hearing that sunscreen literally “blocks” vitamin D from being absorbed. Well, that’s not entirely true. Sure, your body does make vitamin D when your skin is bare in the sun, but you don’t need to bake in it for ages to get enough. Your body is actually very effective at creating what it needs from short bursts of sun here and there.
Moderation is key. Those small increments of sunshine your child receives throughout the day are enough to provide vitamin D benefits, if you are consistent. You’re not necessarily protecting them from that day’s sun damage with sunscreen. You’re protecting them from sun damage over the course of months and years.
With that being said, the general consensus is you don’t need to ditch sunscreen to allow your kids’ bodies to produce vitamin D. You also don’t need to feel bad about heading to the playground if you made sure to put sunscreen on first. There are other ways to get vitamin D, like through diet and supplements if need be. Find what works with your lifestyle and stick to that routine.
Why Kids’ Skin Needs Extra Protection (Even in Winter)
Winter can feel like a reprieve if you’re already sick of arguing with kids about sunscreen. But while they may be inside more, children’s skin doesn’t really get a break from environmental aggressors. With its thinner, more sensitive texture, a child’s skin deserves a bit of extra pampering, even during colder months.
Plus, unlike some of the other side effects of too much sun exposure, damage from UV rays is cumulative. What’s more, the sun damage children experience can begin at a very young age, often undetected. The daily walk to school, time outside at recess, weekend yard games. All that fun outdoors adds up to long-term sun exposure before kids are old enough to really start seeing (or showing) sun damage.
The good news is that establishing good habits now can also prevent sun damage from starting early. Kids will thank you later when applying sunscreen becomes second nature. You can skip days here and there if need be, but find some way to make it easy and routine.
How to Make Sunscreen Part of Your Winter Routine
The simplest approach to remembering sunscreen during winter may be to stop thinking about it as this extra step you have to add to your routine and instead make it part of something you already do. Consider it part of your regular skincare, applying it after moisturiser or using it in place of one if you choose a moisturising SPF. Many sunscreens these days can be worn as your base makeup so you get that fresh-faced glow without piling on multiple products.
If skin care isn’t your jam keep it simple. Swipe it on over your face, ears, and neck in one even layer. It will only take you about a minute if you store it with your other everyday items. For kids try putting it on while they’re dressing or right before shoes get tied. It quickly becomes part of their routine instead of one more step at the end when you’re trying to hustle out the door.
Make sure you have sunscreen somewhere other than the bathroom. Keep one in your purse, car, and throw one in your kids’ lunch bags. With all the runny noses and melting snow, you never know when you’ll unexpectedly be outside during this season. and if it’s accessible you’re more likely to use it.
Small Habit, Big Protection: What Consistency Really Does
Skin damage from the sun doesn’t typically happen during one long day at the beach. Rather, it’s little by little, those five minutes in the car this morning or run to the store. Cumulative damage is what most people refer to when they talk about sun damage. It happens gradually over time and you usually don’t see the results until later on in life as discolouration, wrinkles, or uneven skin texture.
That’s why sun protection is important in the winter too! It’s about taking the proactive steps to help prevent skin damage (for yourself and for your kids) instead of playing catch-up. What we’re after isn’t perfection, but rather regularity. Those brief daily applications are key to helping your skin fend off the consequences of prolonged sun exposure throughout your life.
When you consider it that way, applying sunscreen shifts from being a summer-specific task to just another simple element of your daily skincare.
It’s much easier to prevent skin damage than it is to fix it.
