Yes, you still need sunscreen in fall and winter, even when the temperature drops. The risk of sunburn may be lower than it is during the height of summer, but UVA rays are present year-round and can reach your skin through clouds and window glass. While the light and weather change with the season, your skin is still exposed to UV rays.
Knowing you need to protect your skin year-round is the easy part. Keeping the routine going once summer is over can be harder. We have been trained to think about sunscreen in the summer, and going to the beach or pool, or simply being outside in the summer sun and heat, reinforces that. When fall comes, those daily reminders seem to go into storage along with the swimsuits, and the sunscreen tends to get packed away as well.
Why UVA matters even when it's cold
There are two kinds of UV rays in sunlight that reach your skin. UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn, which is one reason we tend to think about sunscreen more in the summer. UVA rays are present year-round and can reach you on gray days and through window glass. UVA exposure contributes to skin damage that shows up over time, including sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles. That's why daily, year-round protection matters, not just in summer.
Because you may not feel or see that exposure the way you notice a sunburn, a cold or cloudy day can make the sun easy to forget. That's why it's important to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Fall is also a great time to be outside. There are soccer sidelines and football games, school pickup lines, afternoon walks and weekends at the pumpkin patch, and a lot of that happens in the middle of the day. Winter brings its own time outdoors, and snow can reflect UV rays back toward exposed skin. The weather may be cooler, but those hours outside still add up.
Cooler weather doesn’t mean sunscreen season is over. Keep broad-spectrum protection in your routine year-round.
Keep the routine, change the reminders
A habit sticks when it is attached to something you already do every day, and our summer habits tend to be attached to summer. So the goal is to anchor sunscreen to a step that does not change with the seasons.
For years I have put it this way: wash your face, brush your teeth, Brush On Block. It sits in the same place in the morning whether it is June or December.
The same thinking applies to the rest of the day. Keep the brush where your keys, wallet or work bag already live, so it is there when you walk out the door. When you're spending time outdoors, reapply at least every two hours and according to the directions on your sunscreen after swimming or sweating. Our powder brush makes reapplication over makeup quick, with no sink or mirror needed. We designed the brush with reapplication in mind because a morning application doesn't carry you through a full day outside.
Keep sunscreen with the things you already reach for every morning, so it stays part of the routine year-round.
Fall and winter with kids
Despite being back in school, kids spend plenty of time outdoors in the fall. Practice, recess and weekend games add up, and while a sweatshirt may cover the arms, it leaves the face, ears and neck exposed.
A brush that lives in the backpack or sports bag is there when it's time to reapply, and older kids can apply it themselves with a quick check from you. If fall sports are on your calendar, our fall sports guide walks through what to pack and how to keep sunscreen in the routine.
What to use
For everyday fall and winter wear, our SPF 30 Translucent Mineral Powder is broad spectrum and goes on over moisturizer or makeup without starting your routine over.
If you want a little warmth as your summer color fades, SPF 30 Touch of Tan Mineral Powder applies the same way with a soft tint. For kids, BOB KIDS SPF 30 Brush On Mineral Powder gives them a brush of their own.
Remembering sunscreen every day is all about routine. As the season changes, the routine doesn't have to. Keep the brush where you'll see it and make it part of a morning step you already do. Summer may be over, but sunscreen doesn't need a season.
Fall sports may end, but time outside doesn’t. Sunscreen belongs in the routine for winter adventures, too.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need sunscreen in fall and winter?
Yes. UV rays reach your skin throughout the year, including during fall and winter. Dermatologists recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin when you're outdoors, even on cloudy days.
Are UVA rays strong in the winter?
UVA rays are present year-round and can pass through clouds and window glass. UVA exposure contributes to premature skin aging, including wrinkles and age spots, so colder weather isn't a reason to put away your sunscreen.
Do I need sunscreen on a cloudy day?
Yes. Clouds don't block all of the sun's UV rays. If you're outside on an overcast fall or winter day, sunscreen should still be part of your routine.
Do I still need to reapply sunscreen in the fall?
Yes, when you're spending time outdoors. Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and according to the product directions after swimming or sweating. A powder brush makes reapplication over makeup quick, with no sink or mirror needed.
What SPF should I wear in fall and winter?
A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is a good choice year-round. What matters is making sunscreen part of your daily routine and reapplying when you're spending time outdoors.
