For years, I only ever touched sunscreen in June, July, and August. Beach days, pool sessions, and scorching sun. The rest of the year, the bottle stayed tucked away at the back of the cupboard, waiting for its moment.
Nobody told me I was doing it wrong.
The day I changed my mind
It happened during a dermatology consultation. The doctor took a photo with a UV light camera – one of those that reveals the sun damage the naked eye can't see. What appeared on the screen looked nothing like what I saw in the mirror every morning.
Sunspots that hadn't surfaced yet. Damage accumulated from years of unprotected exposure. All that time thinking summer was enough.
It wasn't.
What nobody tells you about UV radiation
The problem is that there are two types of ultraviolet radiation, and they don’t behave the same way.
UVB rays are the ones that burn. They turn you red at the beach; they're the ones that hurt. These do vary with the seasons – there are fewer in winter.
But UVA rays are another story. They are present 365 days a year, clouds or no clouds. They penetrate through window glass. They reach you just as much in December as they do in July. And they are responsible for premature ageing – the ones that break down collagen, cause dark spots, and reduce firmness over time.
The damage doesn't hurt. You don't see it instantly. It builds up silently over years, and by the time it shows, there’s no turning back.
What if I spend the day at home or in the office?
That was my next question.
If I'm not out in the sun, if I work indoors, if the day is completely overcast – do I really need sunscreen?
The dermatologist’s answer was simple: if your space has windows with natural light, you have UVA exposure. It’s not the same as an afternoon on the beach, but it is constant. And if you also use retinol, vitamin C, or any active ingredient that makes the skin more sensitive – sunscreen is non-negotiable.
The shift in my routine
Since that check-up, sunscreen has been the final step of my morning routine. Every single day. In winter, when it rains, and even when I’m working from home.
The trick was finding one that didn't feel like an extra layer – a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that leaves no white cast or greasy shine. Something that simply integrates as just another step.
365 days. No excuses.
Summer isn't the only time your skin needs protection. It's just the time we notice it most.
The radiation that ages us doesn't take a break in September. And neither should we.