In This Article
Benefits of wearing sunscreen in winter
Best facial sunscreen for winter
Best tinted SPF moisturiser for winter

Think sunscreen is just for summer? Here you’ll discover why winter SPF is the step you mustn’t miss in your skin care routine.
Benefits of wearing sunscreen in winter
The main benefits of wearing sunscreen in winter are:
- Prevention of sun-induced skin ageing
- Prevention of future pigmentation problems
- Protection against unexpected spells of sunshine
- Protection against photosensitivity
In UK winters the UV index is typically low enough that short UVB rays are unlikely to cause sunburn. However, it’s still a good idea to apply sunscreen in the winter because long UVA rays can still seep through clouds and cause longer term skin damage, including premature ageing and hyperpigmentation.
Another good reason to apply sunscreen in winter is that cold weather tends to leave skin dry and flaky. To combat this we exfoliate more often and this process brings young cells to the surface which are more vulnerable to sun damage and photosensitivity.
Applying a winter SPF moisturiser to dry skin will protect these young’s cells from sun damage while also hydrating dry skin and protecting against photosensitivity and premature ageing.
When to apply SPF in the winter
SPF skin care should always be the last stage of your winter skin care routine. If layering your skin care, layer lightly to preserve the effectiveness of your sun filters and allow 20 minutes for your skin to absorb your base layer products before applying your winter SPF.
Some skin care practices can leave skin photosensitive and if you use strong Retinols in your winter skin care routine or you exfoliate in the morning, make sure to apply a minimum of SPF15 winter facial sunscreen to protect against photosensitivity.
Best facial sunscreen for winter
Think of our Day Solution SP15 Moisturiser as your winter coat. A great way to keep skin snug and comfy in the winter, this moisture-retaining day cream blends humectant Glycerin with effective SPF15 sun filters and skin-protecting plant oils including Sunflower Oil and Hemp Seed Oil.
Known for their skin moisturising properties, these are a rich source of Omega-3&6 fatty acids and help to increases the natural moisture-retention capacity of the skin while soothing skin irritations aggravated by cold UK winter weather.
Choose this SPF15 winter day cream if cold weather has left your skin feeling dry, dull or flaky and you’ll find skin is noticeably more nourished, protected from premature ageing and that fine lines exacerbated by dryness begin to fade.
Best tinted SPF moisturiser for winter
If winter leaves your skin feeling dull, an SPF15 tinted moisturiser can restore a natural glow.
The ‘DD’ in our organic tinted moisturisers stands for Daily Defence and these lightweight, moisturiser/make-up hybrid day creams add clarity and evenness to the complexion.
Best high-factor winter sunscreen
If you prefer to apply high factor sunscreen in winter, our Scent Free Facial Sun Cream SPF30 can be worn on its own or applied as the last stage of your cold weather skin care routine.
Ideal for sensitive skin, it is unscented and absorbs quickly to provide effective broad-spectrum protection against UVA & UVB rays.

Scent Free Facial Sun Cream - SPF30 50ml
High factor, scent-free SPF30 facial sun cream for sensitive skin
£21.00
Best cold weather hand cream with SPF
It’s not just the skin on our face that can be vulnerable to winter sun damage. Protect your hands by keeping them covered and cosy in a warm pair of gloves and use an SPF30 hand cream when exposed to sunlight.
Our Edelweiss & Green Tea Hand Guard SPF30 features high-factor sun filters to help protect hands from sun damage such as age spots and skin sagging.

Edelweiss & Green Tea Hand Guard SPF30 50ml
Scent-free hand cream with SPF30 protection
£17.50
£8.75
Would you like advice choosing the best winter sunscreen for your skin? Our UK customer care team can help and can be contacted on 01403 740350.
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "Winter SPF: do you really need to use sunscreen in winter?". Please do not use an affiliate link.