When people ask what single product will make the biggest difference to their skin, our answer is always the same: a broad-spectrum SPF, worn every day.
Daylight ages skin, even in the UK
UVA rays, which reach us all year round and pass through clouds and windows, break down the collagen and elastin that keep skin firm. Over time this shows up as fine lines, loss of firmness, rough texture and uneven pigmentation. Much of what we think of as “ageing” is actually cumulative daylight damage.
It protects your other products too
If you are using vitamin C, retinol or a brightening treatment, SPF is what lets them work. Retinoids and exfoliating acids make skin more sensitive to the sun, and pigmentation can return within days of unprotected exposure.
Choosing a sunscreen you will actually wear
The best SPF is the one you are happy to use every morning. We like Obagi Sun Shield SPF50 because it is a mineral formula with a light tint, so it doubles as a skin-evening base. Choose the warm tint for golden, olive or deeper skin, or the cool tint for fair skin with pink undertones.
How to apply it properly
- Make it the last step of your morning routine, after moisturiser.
- Use enough: roughly half a teaspoon for the face and neck.
- Reapply every two hours when you are outdoors, and after swimming or sweating.
- Do not forget the ears, neck and backs of the hands.
- Protect your lips too, with Lip Therapy SPF30.
Pair your SPF with vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night, and you have the foundations of a routine that genuinely slows the visible signs of ageing. See our anti-ageing routine to put it all together.
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