The Comprehensive Guide to Indoor Sun Care
Due to heightened restrictions, many of us are now working from home and spending more time indoors with our loved ones, and this has certainly impacted our beauty regimes.
Although some of us may find ourselves skipping out on certain steps and using some products a lot less frequently, there are still a few non-negotiables that you can’t take out from your daily routines– and we know sun care is one of those you’re guilty of glossing over when you’re working from home.
Why do I need to do sun care when I’m indoors?
It is natural, but also highly dangerous, to assume that staying indoors = no sun exposure and therefore no need to engage in the usual sun protection practices.
UV radiation that affects the skin is composed of UVA and UVB. UVB rays are the main culprit behind sunburn; on the other hand, UVA rays, with their longer wavelength, are responsible for much of the damage associated with photoaging. While glass windows do filter out UVB rays, UVA rays can still penetrate through windows. In fact, UVA rays are much more damaging to the skin than UVB rays: regular UVA exposure results in the breakdown of collagen and elastin, in turn creating skin that is wrinkled and leathery!
Here’s more bad news: UVA and UVB rays from the sun are not the only types of radiation that could be damaging your skin. Blue light, which comes from sun exposure and digital devices like computers and cell phones, has been found to contribute to signs of photoaging, including hyperpigmentation and breakdown of collagen. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2010 also found that exposing skin to the amount of blue light we get from the sun caused more pigment, redness, and swelling than when the same person’s skin was exposed to comparable levels of UVA rays.
You may think that it is probably okay to skip out on sun care once in a while – a few days indoors without sunscreen wouldn’t hurt, right? Unfortunately, UV damage is cumulative, meaning that the more you’re exposed to it, the more your skin is at risk, so there shouldn’t be a single day that you shouldn’t be doing proper sun care!
What kind of sun care should I be doing at home?
Now we know that sun care is still an essential step in our daily routines, the next important step is understand how we should be doing it at home.
Note that being indoors may reduce your UV exposure, but it does not mean you are are totally protected from head to toe. Experts still recommend applying sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin, especially the face, neck, and chest. If you’re not keen on having sunscreen smudge on your furniture, or simply find it too much of a hassle to reapply, consider supplementing your sun care regime with oral supplements like Heliocare 360º Capsule. This oral supplement, formulated with Fernblock®+ and other ingredients like prebiotics, cystine, vitamins B3, C & E, prevents visible photoaging signs such as hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and loss of skin firmness.
You may also have heard of the golden rule of reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you’re out in the sun, as sweat and oil may wear off your sunscreen after a couple of hours.
As a general rule of thumb, Johns Hopkins medical experts advise reapplying sunscreen every two hours. That said, if you’re indoors and away from windows, the need to reapply is less necessary.
What should I look out for in my sunscreen?
To ensure that you are getting maximum UV protection, you should look out for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers not just UVA and UVB rays, but also blue light.
The problem is that not all sunscreens do offer protection against blue light – the key is to look out for those formulated with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. According to a clinical trial published in the British Journal of Dermatology, researchers found that sunscreens containing microfine titanium dioxide offered significantly higher protection against both UVA and blue light compared to the other SPFs in the trial.
Heliocare 360° Gel Oil-free SPF 50 is a great option to consider – it is formulated with titanium dioxide for a high level of UV protection, and is able to prevent damage from 4 types of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, blue light, and infrared). Its anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and sebum controlling technology keeps your skin feeling comfortable throughout the work day while keeping acne at bay.
If you’re constantly on Zoom calls and need a tinted sunscreen that can give you the necessary sun protection while helping you look Zoom-ready, check out the new Heliocare 360º Pigment Solution Fluid SPF 50+. This is an ultra-light sunscreen with antipollution and depigmenting systems help to prevent and correct hyperpigmentation and sunspots, while containing nude pigments to create a more even skin tone upon application!
Ready to find a Heliocare product to protect yourself against UV radiation at home but don’t know what’s best? Feel free to drop us an email at enquiry@heliocare.com.sg!
Purchasing Heliocare from unauthorised sources could lead to health risk and complications. Buy only from authorised clinics, websites, and stores. If you’re unsure of the authenticity of your Heliocare products, please contact us and we’ll be happy to advise.