Sun protection: why SPF shouldn't just be used in summer

Protecție solară: de ce SPF-ul nu trebuie folosit doar vara

From morning until evening, your skin is exposed to a silent and cumulative attack. Ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and visible light are neither seen nor felt immediately, but their effects accumulate year after year.

That is why sunscreen is not only necessary in the summer; it is a daily essential. Below, you will find out what the sun actually does to your skin, what 360° protection means, and how to choose the right SPF cream for your skin type.

What you will find in this article:

  • What happens to your skin in sunlight
  • 360° protection, a new standard in photoprotection
  • Sunlight 360° Moisturizing Cream SPF 50+: for sensitive, normal, or dry skin
  • Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+: for combination or oily skin
  • How to choose between the two and how the Sunlight range helps you
  • Frequently asked questions

What happens to your skin in sunlight

Not all sun rays are the same, and their negative effects are diverse. UVA rays (320–400 nm) are felt the least: they penetrate deep into the dermis, degrade collagen and elastin fibers, and cause photoaging. They are present all year round, including in winter, and pass even through car windows.

UVB rays (280–320 nm) cause immediate burning and redness and directly affect cellular DNA, being the main cause of skin cancer. UVB = Burning. The picture doesn't stop here. Infrared radiation (IR) penetrates even deeper, generates free radicals, and speeds up aging, while visible light (VIS) induces oxidative stress and hyperpigmentation.

Excessive and unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation is responsible for 90% of the signs of premature skin aging. The rest depends on genetics, sleep, and lifestyle. Sun protection, however, remains the decision you can make every single morning.

360° protection, a new standard in photoprotection

For a long time, a high SPF seemed enough. Today, we know that SPF only measures protection against UVB. A truly complete formula also protects against UVA, IR, and visible light, which dermatologists call 360° protection.

Ivatherm built the Sunlight range on this principle, a line of photoprotection for sensitive skin. It combines state-of-the-art solar filters, compliant with European regulations, with active ingredients that soothe, repair, and protect at a cellular level. Two products in the range deserve attention for your daily facial routine, as they cover different skin types.

Sunlight 360° Moisturizing Cream SPF 50+: for sensitive, normal, or dry skin

If your skin craves hydration and you prefer a richer texture, Sunlight 360° Moisturizing Cream SPF 50+ is the choice designed for you. The rich, non-sticky texture, which leaves no white marks, is applied in the morning to the face, neck, and décolleté and quickly becomes part of a comfortable routine.

What sets it apart is its complex of active ingredients. Brown Algae extract (Antileukine 6®), obtained from Laminaria ochroleuca, reduces UV-induced inflammatory mediators (IL1, IL6, PGE2, TNFα) and protects cellular DNA from degradation caused by UVA and UVB radiation. The Comet Assay, a standardized method for analyzing DNA degradation via fluorescent microscopy, has shown that the extract significantly reduces DNA breaks in epidermal cells.

Physalis extract (Physavie) neutralizes the effects of infrared radiation and visible light, controls intradermal temperature, and reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by 21% in just 5 days, in an in vivo study compared to hydrocortisone and placebo. Herculane Thermal Water adds a layer of soothing and protection for sensitive skin, especially when the cutaneous barrier is weakened. In short, the cream works at a cellular level, where radiation does the most harm, without leaving the skin feeling heavy.

Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+: for combination or oily skin

If you have oily or combination skin, enlarged pores, or the unpleasant feeling of a "mask" after applying sunscreen, Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+ was formulated with you in mind. Its lightweight, non-greasy, fast-absorbing texture leaves the skin matted, what in beauty terms is called a dry touch effect. It does not leave your skin shiny, greasy, or with white residue.

The fluid is water-resistant, so it accompanies you on active days, during sports, at the beach, and on long walks. Like the entire Sunlight range, it prevents the appearance of hyperpigmentation, a common problem for oily or combination skin, aggravated by unprotected sun exposure. The composition includes broad-spectrum solar filters, glycerin for light hydration, and Herculane Thermal Water, which soothes sensitive or reactive skin.

It is applied in the morning, alone or under makeup, where it acts as an excellent base, and should be reapplied throughout the day. It is the product that makes you forget you are wearing sun protection.

How to choose between the two and how the Sunlight range helps you

Both products offer SPF 50+, the highest level of protection available in cosmetics, and both are formulated for sensitive skin, the standard that defines the Ivatherm philosophy. Ivatherm products are formulated with Herculane Thermal Water and are based on our commitment to sensitive skin. Therefore, each formula is designed not to irritate and not to compromise the cutaneous barrier. The difference between the two products actually lies in the needs of your skin.

If your skin is normal, dry, or reactive and needs hydration and support for its barrier, the Sunlight 360° cream is the natural choice: the active ingredients transform it from a simple SPF cream into an anti-aging skincare product.

If your skin is combination or oily and you want protection that feels like a second skin, the Mat Dry Touch fluid gives you exactly that, without compromising on protection.

The entire Sunlight range goes beyond high SPF and builds around it a formula with state-of-the-art filters and ingredients backed by clinical studies.

Frequently asked questions

Is SPF 50+ enough or do I need more?

SPF 50+ is the highest level of protection available in dermo-cosmetics. More important than the number is reapplying throughout the day and covering the entire spectrum, which means 360° protection against UVA, IR, and visible light.

Should I use SPF in winter or on cloudy days?

Yes. UVA rays are present all year round, including in winter, on cloudy days, and behind windows. Photoaging occurs even without visible sun, which is why sun protection remains a daily step.

Can I use SPF cream under makeup?

Yes. The Sunlight Mat Dry Touch Fluid acts as a base under makeup, and the Sunlight 360° cream is applied in the morning, before the rest of your routine, on your face, neck, and décolleté.

How often should I reapply SPF cream?

Reapply every two hours of direct sun exposure and after sweating or leaving the water. On a typical office day, one application in the morning is enough, with a reapplication if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

The most effective action for your skin is not complicated and does not cost a fortune. It just requires a constant gesture: a product with SPF 50+ applied every morning to your face, neck, and décolleté, renewed if you stay in the sun for a long time.

90% of premature aging can be prevented, and it all starts with the SPF from this morning. On IvaStories, you can find other guides on how to build your routine for sensitive skin.

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