Cream with SPF filter We should use it daily, even on cloudy days and when indoors, from sunrise to sunset. Sun protection is the foundation of skin care. Daily use of high-quality sunscreen should be an essential part of home skincare for the face and body; it helps maintain a youthful, firm appearance, delays the formation of wrinkles, protects against discoloration, and also protects against the development of skin cancers and precancerous conditions. In this article, we'll answer in detail why using sunscreen is so important, what the difference is between UVA and UVB radiation, which sunscreen to choose, and what the difference is between SPF 30 and 50.
Key information:
Daily sunscreen is the simplest way to prevent photoaging, sunburn, discoloration, and the risk of skin lesions. This explains why SPF is important regardless of the season – UVA rays penetrate car and office windows, largely responsible for loss of firmness and uneven skin tone.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection, minimum SPF 30, for everyday use, and for an anti-aging routine. SPF 50 is more practical. It's not just the ingredients that matter, but also the method of application. In our inter-treatment care routine, daily protection plays a key role. SPF 50 Restart cream – a lightweight SPF 50 PA++++ formula with soothing extracts of centella, aloe, and cucumber. We expand on the theory behind how filters work in our guide, where you'll find all about SPF.
Daily protection limits the effects of photoaging, which develops gradually and almost imperceptibly. Regularity works more effectively than occasionally reaching for a filter. In 2013, Australian researchers, following a long-term observation of over 900 people, showed that daily use of the cream significantly slowed down the rate of skin aging.
It's important to understand what SPF 50 doesn't do. A sunscreen with SPF 50 is the practical minimum for an anti-aging routine, although a higher number doesn't extend the reapplication period—it gives you more margin if you apply too little. It also doesn't block 100% of radiation, so full protection requires a combination of a sunscreen, shade, and sunglasses. Consistent sun protection is also a pillar of prevention. sun discoloration.
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the level designation UVB protection. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection. SPF 30-50 is a high sun protection (products with this level of protection block UVB radiation at approximately 96-98%), and SPF50+ is a very high photoprotection. However, no SPF product protects against UVB radiation in 100%. This is due, among other things, to the fact that sunscreens wear off the skin due to water, sweat, and clothing, and also to the fact that certain filters can "absorb" a certain dose of radiation before their effectiveness decreases. That's why it's so important to reapply them every 2-3 hours.
UVB radiation is responsible for tan, sunburn and the formation of some skin cancers. It is blocked by windows and clouds, and its intensity is highest on sunny days, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This radiation acts mainly at the epidermal level.
UVA radiation works more insidiously. It does not cause redness or burns like UVB, it penetrates through windows and clouds, its intensity is similar from sunrise to sunset, and its action is largely responsible for photoaging of the skin (wrinkles, accelerated degradation of collagen and elastin), melasma, the formation of discoloration, and intensifies vascular changes. UVA radiation penetrates the dermis and its dose accumulates throughout life.
Considering how harmful UVA radiation is to our skin, protection should also include this element. To protect yourself from this type of radiation, you should use products that indicate on the packaging that they protect against UVA (they have the UVA symbol in a circle, the UVB-UVA marking or the PA marking with three or four pluses or broad spectrum).
Start with quantity, as this determines effectiveness. Apply about 1/4 teaspoon, or 1.5g, to the face and neck—significantly more than most people would apply instinctively. Apply the sunscreen evenly to dry skin, taking your time—rubbing it in vigorously will weaken the layer.
Most frequently missed areas during application:
It's best to apply a chemical (organic) sunscreen about 15 minutes before sun exposure. SPF cream should be applied after moisturizer and before makeup.
The morning routine is simple: skincare first, then sunscreen as the final step in skincare, and finally makeup. In practice, it involves cleansing the skin, applying a serum if necessary, then moisturizing cream, and then sunscreen—which completes the skincare routine by creating an even layer on the surface.
Give each layer a moment to absorb. Do not mix the sunscreen with your cream or foundation in your hand – this combination dilutes the protective film. the order of applying cosmetics we develop separately.
Sunscreen and makeup work well together if you follow the correct order. Apply sunscreen over your skincare routine, wait for it to absorb, and only then reach for foundation. Rushing ends up rolling the product – a classic paradox where the sooner you leave, the longer it takes to retouch.
A foundation with SPF is a nice addition, but it doesn't replace a proper sunscreen, as it's often applied too little and unevenly. In 2019, researchers from Liverpool revealed this in photos taken under UV light. Faces covered with SPF moisturizer had significantly more missed areas around the eyes than those protected with regular sunscreen. Therefore, always use a sunscreen as a primer. For discoloration, it's worth using tinted products or those with iron oxides, as they provide protection from visible light.
If we want to effectively protect our skin from the sun – SPF30 is the absolute minimum, which protects against UVB radiation at approximately 96%. However, it is recommended that a face cream with a sunscreen provide SPF50+ protection and guarantee protection against UVA radiation. It is also worth considering protection against visible light and infrared. It is also very important to remember to reapply face cream with a sunscreen every 2-3 hours.
W creams with a filter we can find two types of filters – mineral filters (organic) and chemical (inorganic).
Mineral filters remain on the skin's surface, reflecting (although there are reports that they also partially absorb) UV radiation. The "strength" of their action directly depends on the amount of product applied, they are easily washable and often leave a white color on the skin, they work immediately after applying the appropriate volume of the product.
Chemical filters They absorb mainly UVB radiation (to a lesser extent UVA), which causes their effectiveness to decrease over time because the chemical filter molecules degrade – the faster the more radiation they absorb. Chemical filters they have no color and are considered more "aesthetic". However, they should be apply 15-20 minutes before exposure to radiation.
More and more often, products are being created that contain a combination of mineral and chemical filters, and this solution seems to be optimal to fully benefit from the advantages of both types of filters.
Face creams with filter It should also be used under makeup – even if individual makeup products (BB creams or powders) offer some level of sun protection. This is because the amount of makeup applied to the face is often too small to provide adequate sun protection, and few products will provide the required level of SPF 30 or higher.
Cream volume, that we apply translates into the level of photoprotection. Typically, it is the volume that fits along the length of the index and middle fingers a given person on one part of the body, for example, the face with ears. Reputable cosmetics manufacturers usually remind about this on packaging or label with appropriate illustrations.
SPF and retinol are not alternatives, but rather complementary. Retinoids are applied in the evening and sunscreen in the morning – a logical division of roles: retinol supports the repair of sun-damaged skin, while sunscreen limits further damage.
During retinol treatment, sun protection is particularly important., because the purpose of the routine is to reduce photodamage. This doesn't mean that retinol shouldn't be used in the summer – it just means that a consistent sunscreen during the day becomes a partner in your evening care routine. In the Radical line, the evening element is retinyl serum with retinyl retinoate, a stable retinol derivative with lower irritation potential.
Effective sun protection comes down to a few habits: the right amount of product, sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine, reapplying throughout the day, and staying consistent year-round. Only proper use transforms the number on the packaging into real protection. Also, check out:, what are the best SPF filters. For between-treatment care, we recommend our Restart SPF 50. Check out our daily sunscreen and incorporate sun protection into your morning routine!
Yes, because UVA radiation penetrates through window glass and is the main cause of photoaging of the skin.
Research confirms that regular use of sunscreen does not cause vitamin D deficiency in healthy people.
Do not mix the filter with other products, as this dilutes its structure and drastically reduces the declared level of protection.
Chemical filters need about 15-20 minutes to fully "settle" on the skin and create a stable protective barrier.
Yes, mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) are usually better tolerated by sensitive skin, prone to allergies, and by children.
Lightweight formulas based on chemical filters, like our Restart SPF 50, absorb quickly and don't leave a white cast or sticky residue on the skin.
Opened SPF cream should be used according to the expiration date and shelf life after opening indicated on the packaging, and after this time it is difficult to rely on the declared protection.
Foundation with a sunscreen only provides additional support, as it is usually applied too little and unevenly to achieve the protection declared on the packaging.
It is worth touching up the filter on your makeup during the day, most conveniently with a stick, compact or cream applied with a sponge, so as not to disturb the previous layers.
Footnotes:
Read also:
