Is SPF really needed every day?

Dermatologists differ on this. An Australian study (Hughes 2013) found less skin ageing among people who applied sunscreen daily; Dutch dermatologists say it is mainly needed from UV index 3 upwards. Het Huidfonds considers a day cream with a UVA filter enough for most people to start the day with. The Day Cream was measured on the cream itself: SPF 30.5 on average (ISO 24444).

What your routine does

Cleansing and moisturising do not protect against UV; for that you need SPF. The Day Cream SPF 30 was measured on the cream itself: 30.5 on average with ten test subjects (ISO 24444), and the UVA protection is 73% of the UVB value (ISO 24443). Without oxybenzone, with filters the manufacturer states are reef-friendly.

What you notice

One article says: apply every day, including in winter. The other says: only when the sun is really out.

Below are both sides, with who says what.

Where it can come from

Apply every day. In Nambour, Australia, researchers followed 903 adults under 55. The group applying sunscreen daily showed no measurable increase in skin ageing after 4.5 years, and had 24% less ageing than the group that applied it whenever they chose (Hughes 2013). Caveat: Queensland has far more sun than the Netherlands.

From UV index 3. Dermatologist Marjolein Leenarts (Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis) says at Zilveren Kruis about applying daily: "No. That is mainly needed once the UV index is 3 or higher." Radar (AVROTROS) wrote with dermatologist Marianne Crijns (AVL) and KWF: "you do not need to apply sunscreen 365 days a year". In winter the UV index in the Netherlands is often below 1.

In between. Leenarts does recommend a day cream with SPF: "Then you have 2-in-1 straight away." Het Huidfonds considers a day cream with a UVA filter enough for most people to start the day with. After 2 hours you are no longer sufficiently protected, according to Het Huidfonds.

This is a day cream, not a sunscreen for a day outdoors. If you stay in the sun for a long time, use a sunscreen and reapply.

The routine

Essentials Kit The whole routine in 30 ml: cleanser, day cream and night cream, to try.

View the Essentials Kit Answer 3 questions

Bronnen

Hughes et al., Ann Intern Med 2013: sunscreen and skin ageing (source)
Zilveren Kruis: sunscreen every day? (dermatologist Marjolein Leenarts) — Dutch-language source (source)
Radar (AVROTROS), 25 March 2022: apply sunscreen every day? — Dutch-language source (source)
Huidfonds: myths and facts about your skin — Dutch-language source (source)
Thuisarts: A spot on your skin — Dutch-language source(source)