I used to stress about this too, but nuance matters here!
Sitting right in direct sunlight next to a huge window for an 8-hour workday? Yes, definitely wear SPF, because UVA penetrates glass.
But sitting a few meters away from the window, in a room with blinds, or during months when the UV index outside is 0–1? You really don't need it. Indoors, UV radiation drops exponentially with distance. Save your sunscreen (and your skin barrier from extra cleansing) unless you're actually basking in window light all day!
I absolutely agree and do the same thing. Im disabled and spend a lot of my time indoors or even on bed rest away from natural sunlight so on those days I usually don’t put sunscreen on. But if I know ill be near the sun, I make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen and on long days out I’ll double up with a hat
@Sora Absolutely! AESTURA and HERA sunscreens are some of my absolute favorites too — definitely holy grail territory for me. 😂💙 Which AESTURA sunscreen is your favorite, and which one from HERA? I’m curious if we ended up loving the same ones!
@Veky
So if I’m wearing makeup, which is rare, I like the Hera lavender sunscreen or the pink one. Otherwise Hera sun defense is my go to.
For the Aestura one I’m using a mini I got from Amore Mall and it has vitamin C but I don’t remember the name. What are your favs?
@Sora Same! 😂 If I’m wearing makeup, the HERA Lavender and Tone-Up Peach are my favorites too — although sometimes with those I feel like I don’t even need makeup afterward.
I usually use the Multi Defense and mix it by doing one finger of Multi Defense + one finger of either Tone-Up Peach or Lavender. I find the tinted ones much easier to blend that way and I still get that really pretty tone-up effect.
If I had to choose my favorite HERA sunscreen overall, though, it would probably be the Fresh one, and then Lavender as a very close second. 💜
AESTURA… ugh, that’s much harder 😂 I genuinely love all three. If you forced me to pick, maybe the Hydro Barrier one, especially when my skin is freaking out and can’t tolerate anything. But the Tone-Up is SO good too, and I love the Vitamin C one as well — which I think is probably the mini you have!
Honestly, asking me to choose my favorite AESTURA sunscreen feels like asking me to choose my favorite child 😭😂
@Mariacasino@Mimie I hadn't considered the impact to the skin barrier with extra cleaning. Very interesting! I've tended to wear sunscreen on my face year round for a couple of reasons. One, I'm as pale as the underbelly of a fish. I've gotten sunburned at sunset before and the light at work is extremely bright -- bright enough to keep plants alive without a window in sight. Sitting next to a lamp can heat up my skin too, which is bad news with rosacea.
On days when I may not be able to tolerate makeup, I can usually tolerate a zinc-based mineral sunscreen to help keep out pollutants and give my skin that extra bit of zinc nutrition and a little blurring/oil control for my t-zone. I also feel like the extra coating on the skin helps with the harsh, cold wind in the winter. I personally skip a hot shower every other day for barrier protection than skip sunscreen (unless I'm in rosacea jail...then I wear hats).
I've also been doing it wrong. Now I'm gonna start thinking about wearing it if I won't be working by the window all day. I won't wear sunscreen when I'm having a lazy day by the couch binge watching 😂.
@Mimie There are 6-10 hours sunscreens out there you just have to Google them, next summer I am going to purchase one for sure its a hassle to be at work and apply or remember to apply if you’re at home doing house work. Some of our memories aren’t that good anymore 😅
@Mimie@Paul I keep a sun cushion in my work bag for my face and a sun stick for my arms, neck, etc. I find it easier to remember and to actually reapply if I don't have to get sunscreen on my hands and rub it in. The trick is finding a cushion that doesn't leave a white cast...
@Paul Not necessarily. It's referring more to the product format. I find that they tend to leave a bit more of a white or brightening effect, but I haven't read anything in the branding that they are explicitly that way for cosmetic purposes like a foundation base. But maybe you're on to something and it's a cultural "for granted" thing that I'm not picking up on.
@hazelmoss I feel like we have VERY similar relationships with the sun and sunscreen. 😂 I wear SPF 365 days a year too, and I basically don’t go anywhere without it.
My skin is extremely sun-sensitive and I’ve even had what seems like sun-allergy/photosensitivity reactions before. I once ended up with an actual blistering burn on my face, and it wasn’t even one of those insanely hot days. Ever since then I’ve been very serious about sun protection. My skin also tends to turn red and actually burn/sting from sun exposure rather than just tanning normally, so sunscreen is non-negotiable for me.
And SPF isn’t even where I stop. 😂 If the sun is strong, I’m the person with the hat, long sleeves And an umbrella. Using an umbrella for sun protection isn’t particularly common where I live, so people either look at me like I’m slightly insane or assume I’m a tourist. 🤣 Meanwhile I’m just underneath it thinking, you do not understand what happens to this face if I don’t do this. 🦞☂️
I completely agree with you about winter too! I actually like having that extra layer on my skin when it’s cold and windy, and there’s still UV exposure in winter, especially with reflected light. So for me sunscreen has almost become part UV protection, part extra physical shield between my ridiculously reactive skin and the outside world. 😂
At the same time, I don’t think someone without this level of sun sensitivity needs to become terrified of every tiny bit of daylight or obsessively reapply sunscreen every two hours while sitting indoors. I’m very much in the “daily SPF is a good habit” camp, even when it isn’t obviously sunny, but actual exposure matters too. If someone is indoors away from windows with minimal UV exposure, that’s very different from spending hours outside in direct sun.
I’m probably more cautious than the average person because I’ve had enough unpleasant experiences with sun exposure that my brain has basically learned SUN = POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. 😂 But when your skin has repeatedly punished you for underestimating the sun, you learn very quickly to bring the SPF, hat, sleeves and apparently the entire portable shade department with you. 🤣☀️🦞
@hazelmoss Honestly, at this point being vampires might be the most reasonable explanation. 🤣🧛♀️ The sun gives us rashes, we avoid direct sunlight, and I’m out here carrying my own portable shade everywhere I go. The evidence is getting a little too convincing. 😂☂️
At least we’re very well-moisturized vampires with excellent sunscreen collections. 😭
Comments (24)
I used to stress about this too, but nuance matters here! Sitting right in direct sunlight next to a huge window for an 8-hour workday? Yes, definitely wear SPF, because UVA penetrates glass. But sitting a few meters away from the window, in a room with blinds, or during months when the UV index outside is 0–1? You really don't need it. Indoors, UV radiation drops exponentially with distance. Save your sunscreen (and your skin barrier from extra cleansing) unless you're actually basking in window light all day!
Thanks @Mariacasino this is really helpful ☺️
I absolutely agree and do the same thing. Im disabled and spend a lot of my time indoors or even on bed rest away from natural sunlight so on those days I usually don’t put sunscreen on. But if I know ill be near the sun, I make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen and on long days out I’ll double up with a hat
@Sora we just need to invest in a good sunscreen
@Mimie absolutely! So far I like the Aestura and Hera sun screens
@Sora thanks, I'll try them out
@Sora Absolutely! AESTURA and HERA sunscreens are some of my absolute favorites too — definitely holy grail territory for me. 😂💙 Which AESTURA sunscreen is your favorite, and which one from HERA? I’m curious if we ended up loving the same ones!
@Veky So if I’m wearing makeup, which is rare, I like the Hera lavender sunscreen or the pink one. Otherwise Hera sun defense is my go to. For the Aestura one I’m using a mini I got from Amore Mall and it has vitamin C but I don’t remember the name. What are your favs?
@Sora Same! 😂 If I’m wearing makeup, the HERA Lavender and Tone-Up Peach are my favorites too — although sometimes with those I feel like I don’t even need makeup afterward. I usually use the Multi Defense and mix it by doing one finger of Multi Defense + one finger of either Tone-Up Peach or Lavender. I find the tinted ones much easier to blend that way and I still get that really pretty tone-up effect. If I had to choose my favorite HERA sunscreen overall, though, it would probably be the Fresh one, and then Lavender as a very close second. 💜 AESTURA… ugh, that’s much harder 😂 I genuinely love all three. If you forced me to pick, maybe the Hydro Barrier one, especially when my skin is freaking out and can’t tolerate anything. But the Tone-Up is SO good too, and I love the Vitamin C one as well — which I think is probably the mini you have! Honestly, asking me to choose my favorite AESTURA sunscreen feels like asking me to choose my favorite child 😭😂
@Mariacasino @Mimie I hadn't considered the impact to the skin barrier with extra cleaning. Very interesting! I've tended to wear sunscreen on my face year round for a couple of reasons. One, I'm as pale as the underbelly of a fish. I've gotten sunburned at sunset before and the light at work is extremely bright -- bright enough to keep plants alive without a window in sight. Sitting next to a lamp can heat up my skin too, which is bad news with rosacea. On days when I may not be able to tolerate makeup, I can usually tolerate a zinc-based mineral sunscreen to help keep out pollutants and give my skin that extra bit of zinc nutrition and a little blurring/oil control for my t-zone. I also feel like the extra coating on the skin helps with the harsh, cold wind in the winter. I personally skip a hot shower every other day for barrier protection than skip sunscreen (unless I'm in rosacea jail...then I wear hats).
I've also been doing it wrong. Now I'm gonna start thinking about wearing it if I won't be working by the window all day. I won't wear sunscreen when I'm having a lazy day by the couch binge watching 😂.
@Mimie 😆 Hey, a lazy day on the couch with no sunscreen sounds just fine! The UV exposure from screens has been overhyped, I hear.
@Mimie There are 6-10 hours sunscreens out there you just have to Google them, next summer I am going to purchase one for sure its a hassle to be at work and apply or remember to apply if you’re at home doing house work. Some of our memories aren’t that good anymore 😅
@hazelmoss yep!
@Paul 😂 yea it's easily forgettable. But I need to invest in a good one. And see my options
@Mimie @Paul I keep a sun cushion in my work bag for my face and a sun stick for my arms, neck, etc. I find it easier to remember and to actually reapply if I don't have to get sunscreen on my hands and rub it in. The trick is finding a cushion that doesn't leave a white cast...
@hazelmoss Oh I never thought about that honestly, a cushion is make-up?
@Paul Not necessarily. It's referring more to the product format. I find that they tend to leave a bit more of a white or brightening effect, but I haven't read anything in the branding that they are explicitly that way for cosmetic purposes like a foundation base. But maybe you're on to something and it's a cultural "for granted" thing that I'm not picking up on.
@hazelmoss you're becoming my favourite person 😂
@Mimie 🎉 😝
This comment was deleted.
@hazelmoss I feel like we have VERY similar relationships with the sun and sunscreen. 😂 I wear SPF 365 days a year too, and I basically don’t go anywhere without it. My skin is extremely sun-sensitive and I’ve even had what seems like sun-allergy/photosensitivity reactions before. I once ended up with an actual blistering burn on my face, and it wasn’t even one of those insanely hot days. Ever since then I’ve been very serious about sun protection. My skin also tends to turn red and actually burn/sting from sun exposure rather than just tanning normally, so sunscreen is non-negotiable for me. And SPF isn’t even where I stop. 😂 If the sun is strong, I’m the person with the hat, long sleeves And an umbrella. Using an umbrella for sun protection isn’t particularly common where I live, so people either look at me like I’m slightly insane or assume I’m a tourist. 🤣 Meanwhile I’m just underneath it thinking, you do not understand what happens to this face if I don’t do this. 🦞☂️ I completely agree with you about winter too! I actually like having that extra layer on my skin when it’s cold and windy, and there’s still UV exposure in winter, especially with reflected light. So for me sunscreen has almost become part UV protection, part extra physical shield between my ridiculously reactive skin and the outside world. 😂 At the same time, I don’t think someone without this level of sun sensitivity needs to become terrified of every tiny bit of daylight or obsessively reapply sunscreen every two hours while sitting indoors. I’m very much in the “daily SPF is a good habit” camp, even when it isn’t obviously sunny, but actual exposure matters too. If someone is indoors away from windows with minimal UV exposure, that’s very different from spending hours outside in direct sun. I’m probably more cautious than the average person because I’ve had enough unpleasant experiences with sun exposure that my brain has basically learned SUN = POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. 😂 But when your skin has repeatedly punished you for underestimating the sun, you learn very quickly to bring the SPF, hat, sleeves and apparently the entire portable shade department with you. 🤣☀️🦞
@Veky Ah, photosensitivity. It's really fun to tell people that the sun gives you rashes. Possibly this means we are vampires?
@hazelmoss Honestly, at this point being vampires might be the most reasonable explanation. 🤣🧛♀️ The sun gives us rashes, we avoid direct sunlight, and I’m out here carrying my own portable shade everywhere I go. The evidence is getting a little too convincing. 😂☂️ At least we’re very well-moisturized vampires with excellent sunscreen collections. 😭