UVA rays — the ones responsible for aging — penetrate clouds, glass, and car windows. They reach the dermis daily, breaking down collagen and elastin regardless of season or weather. This is not a beach problem. This is a daily, year-round problem.

After 40, our skin already produces less collagen. Natural cell turnover slows. Pigmentation becomes more stubborn. That's our baseline. Without daily sun protection, you are accelerating every one of these processes while spending money on serums trying to undo damage that could have been prevented.

Sorme's take

If I had to choose one product to recommend to every woman over 40, it would be SPF50 — every morning, rain or shine, before you go near a window. Everything else builds on top of this. Retinol without SPF is counterproductive. Vitamin C without SPF is half the job. SPF is the foundation.

SPF50 blocks about 98% of UVB rays, and broad-spectrum formulas (labelled PA+++ or higher) protect against UVA too. Price matters less than texture: you will only use it consistently if you like how it feels. I have tested mineral, chemical, and hybrid formulas extensively. For mature skin, I typically recommend a lightweight hybrid — no white cast, no greasiness, comfortable under makeup.

Application matters as much as the product. A quarter teaspoon for the face alone. Reapply every two hours if you are spending time outdoors. And do not neglect the neck, décolletage, and the backs of your hands — areas that reveal age as clearly as the face, and that most people forget entirely.

One more thing: "SPF in my moisturiser" is not enough. The amount of moisturiser you apply is a fraction of what you need for sun protection. A dedicated SPF is always more reliable. It does not have to be expensive or complicated — but it has to be there, every single morning.