The first snowfall is always the prettiest, isn't it? I live in Toronto, and for many Canadians, we woke up to a bright sunny day and probably over a foot of fluffy white snow on Christmas morning in 2020.
It was a beautiful and surprisingly warm day. But don’t you guys notice that it is extra bright out when there’s snow on the ground? It’s very blinding!
Truth is, snow is very reflective. It can reflect as much as 80 to 90% of UV radiation, even on a cloudy day. “UV intensity increases by 10% every 1,000-foot increase in elevation” … think going up a ski hill or snowboarding (Don’t Shelve the Sunblock, 2008). We can further compare this to the reflectiveness of sand from a dry beach, which reflects about 15% of UV, whereas seafoam reflects about 25% (WHO, 2016).
I want to address the misconception about sunburn. Most people think it comes from the heat coming from the sun. In reality, sunburn occurs due to overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. On earth, we get it by 2 types of ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB. When it is winter, it is common that people barely touch their sunscreen. Windburns (sunburns in the winter) are generally mild compared to sunburns. But, it is very possible to occur.
When it snows, this means you can be exposed to double the dose of UV:
directly from the sun
bouncing off snow-covered surfaces
Simply put, it is just as important to wear sunscreen in the winter (probably more of it).
Which SPF should you use?
Honestly, go for SPF 30 and make sure it says “broad-spectrum”. SPF, sun protection factor, is a scale that rates a product based on the amount of UVB exposure needed to give UVB-protected skin a sunburn.
The difference between the SPFs is so minimal:
SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB
Let’s normalize wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and SPF-based products during the wintertime as much as we do in the summer.
Currently, I am still experimenting with different sunscreens. Preferably, I choose mineral (physical) sunscreens over chemical sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens contain the ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which provide physical UV protection. The higher the percentage of each ingredient, the better UV protection. The only issue with physical sunscreens is that they tend to leave a white cast on darker skins.
At the time I am writing this blog post, I am using these 3 SPF products:
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen (get it here)
Broad-spectrum
Matte finish
Buttery soft & pore minimizing
Titanium Dioxide 5.3%
Zinc Oxide 2.4%
Slight whitecast (good for fair to light-medium skin)
Badger Balm SPF 35 Face Stick (get it here)
Broad-spectrum
Zinc Oxide 22.5%
Water and Sweat resistant
Appears clear on the skin
Best for dry skin (otherwise, use for hands and neck)
Made without synthetic fragrance
Natural cocoa aroma (so calming)
IT Cosmetics Illumination Full Coverage CC Cream SPF 50 (also comes in matte and natural coverage)
Broad-spectrum
Contains collagen, peptides, niacin, and antioxidants
Titanium dioxide 9.0%
Zinc Oxide 6.3%
Can choose your right shade, so no need to worry about the whitecast
✨ BONUS ✨
Yes, I consider sunglasses as skincare and great sun protection.
Here is one of my favourite sunnies I got from Wear Me Pro. She’s called Audrey 😎
She provides 100% UVA\\/UVB Protection.
References
Don't Shelve the Sunblock - Sunburn Risk Can be Even Greater in Winter. (2008, October 22). Biotech Week, 2926. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A187241565/AONE?u=humber&sid=AONE&xid=1f362360
Link, D. G. (2017). Safe Sun Sense. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(10), 719–720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.08.008
WHO. (2016, March 9). Radiation: Ultraviolet (uv) radiation. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/radiation-ultraviolet-(uv).
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