Every dermatologist, every esthetician, every skincare expert in the world agrees on one thing: daily SPF is the single most important skincare step you can take. More important than any serum, any treatment, any night cream. Here's why — and how to do it properly.
Why SPF matters more than anything else
Up to 80% of visible skin ageing — fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, loss of elasticity — is caused by UV exposure. Not time. Not genetics. Sun damage. And the thing about UV radiation is that it doesn't require a sunny day to cause damage. UVA rays, the ones that cause ageing and pigmentation, penetrate through clouds and through glass. They're present year-round, every single day, regardless of the weather.
This means that if you're not wearing SPF every day, you're actively accelerating the ageing of your skin — even in Ireland, even in winter, even when you're sitting by a window.
What the different SPF numbers actually mean
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measures how long the product extends your skin's natural protection against UVB rays — the ones that cause burning. SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays. SPF 50 blocks about 98%. The difference sounds small but it's meaningful, especially for daily use and for people with fair skin.
For daily use, SPF 30 is the absolute minimum. SPF 50 is better. Higher than that and the practical benefit becomes marginal.
Important: SPF only measures UVB protection. Look for products labelled 'broad spectrum' or that show a UVA protection rating as well — this means the product protects against both types of UV radiation.
How to use SPF properly
Most people use far too little SPF to get the protection stated on the bottle. The clinical testing that determines SPF ratings is done at 2mg per cm² of skin — in practice, this means about a teaspoon for your face and neck, or roughly a shot glass worth for your whole body.
Apply SPF as the last step of your morning routine, after moisturiser and before makeup. Reapply every two hours if you're outdoors for extended periods. And remember — SPF in makeup foundation is not enough on its own. It's a supplement to, not a replacement for, a proper SPF product.
The best format for daily use
For daily urban use where sun exposure is incidental rather than prolonged, a lightweight SPF that sits comfortably under makeup or worn alone is ideal. Our Mineral Sun Protection Stick SPF50 is a broad-spectrum mineral SPF in a compact, non-greasy stick format — ideal for both initial application and reapplication throughout the day without disturbing makeup.