Cold rain, short days, low sun. November tricks us into thinking our SPF can hibernate. It can’t — and that’s the big skincare lie many of us quietly tell ourselves.
A weak sun leaked through the window, the colour of cold tea. Two students compared moisturisers, one saying she’d “parked SPF till spring” like a winter bike, mud-splattered and forgotten.
An older man in a flat cap rubbed a pale scar on his temple, the kind you don’t notice till you do. A mother swiped concealer over faint patches that looked like melted freckles. Outside, puddles threw little discs of light onto passing faces.
The driver flicked the wipers, and the whole bus blinked. The sun didn’t change. The sun didn’t get the memo.
Winter light, same old ultraviolet
November feels harmless because the air bites and the sky is grey. Our skin reads weather, not wavelength. That’s the trap.
UVA — the ageing, deep-penetrating rays — stays steady all year, slipping through cloud and glass like an uninvited guest. **UVA doesn’t hibernate just because the calendar flips to November.** It moves lower in the sky, skimming faces at street level, bouncing off wet pavements and car bonnets.
Think about where you sit. At a window desk, on a train facing daylight, in the driver’s seat with your cheek to the glass. Standard window glass filters much of UVB, the burning stuff, while UVA cruises through. Snow can reflect a hefty chunk of UV back at you, and even in the UK, winter sun on a frosty morning is brighter than it looks.
Dermatologists talk about cumulative exposure like spare change: a coin here, a coin there, suddenly a jar. Up to 80% of UV can penetrate light cloud. Low UV index doesn’t mean low risk for long-term collagen wear and tear.
So where does the big lie come from? Heat and burn are easy feedback loops; we learn them as kids on beaches and football pitches. Cold doesn’t sting in the same way. SPF, strictly speaking, measures protection from UVB, not UVA — that’s why you need the “broad-spectrum” bit, or the UVA circle, or high PA rating.
The UV index is not a permission slip. What you want is a daily habit that treats light like weather: always there, sometimes loud, always worth planning for.
How to keep SPF effortless in the cold
Pick a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 with a texture you’ll actually use. Gel-cream if you’re oily, richer lotion if you’re dry, tint if you love skipping foundation. Aim for two fingers of product for face and neck — index and middle — laid in stripes, then spread from centre out.
Layer moisturiser first, wait a minute, then sunscreen. Make-up can go straight on top once it sets. If you commute, keep a pocket stick for quick top-ups on cheeks, nose, and hands at lunch. If pigmentation bugs you, a tinted sunscreen with iron oxides helps against visible light too.
Common slips? Under-applying, skipping on grey days, forgetting ears, lips, and the back of the neck. Let the routine bend to your life. Keep one SPF on the sink, one in your bag, one at your desk. Let’s be honest: nobody really does that every day.
We’ve all had that moment when the sky looks sullen and we trust the clouds more than we trust science. If reapplying every two hours sounds like a faff at a desk, reframe it: once before your commute, once after lunch by the window is a win.
“Think of SPF like seatbelts,” said a London derm I once interviewed. “You don’t buckle up because you expect a crash. You buckle up because you drive.”
- Look for “UVA” in a circle or 4–5 UVA stars, plus SPF 30–50.
- Use two fingers of product for face and neck; a teaspoon for head, ears, and hands if exposed.
- Top up with a stick, cushion, or spray over make-up at midday.
- Don’t mix SPF into moisturiser — it dilutes coverage.
- Lip balm with SPF for cold, windy days; reapply after hot drinks.
What this really says about habits and health
There’s a quiet kind of self-respect in small, boring protections. You charge your phone before it dies. You lock the door even on safe streets. SPF in November lives in that same category: unglamorous maintenance that prevents hard-to-fix problems later.
Photoageing is a slow storyteller. It whispers in fine lines and uneven patches, then speaks up. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is one of the few tools with real, measurable power to slow that narrative. **If your sunscreen isn’t broad-spectrum, your SPF number is only telling half the story.**
This isn’t about fear. It’s about odds. A simple daily layer lifts yours. Keep it within reach, make it part of washing your face, pair it with the kettle boiling. **Future you will thank present you for the 20 seconds it takes.**
| Key points | Detail | Reader Interest |
|---|---|---|
| UVA is year-round | Penetrates cloud and glass; drives ageing and uneven tone | Makes sense of “why SPF in winter?” |
| SPF needs broad-spectrum | SPF number = UVB; look for UVA circle/PA rating/UVA stars | Easy shopping filter, fewer regrets |
| Small habits win | Two-finger rule, desk reapply, lip/hand coverage | Practical, doable steps on busy days |
FAQ :
- Do I really need SPF in November in the UK?Yes. UVA — the main driver of photoageing — barely dips in winter and passes through cloud and glass. Cold air doesn’t cancel light.
- Won’t SPF block my vitamin D?Real life under-application means you’ll still make some vitamin D outdoors. If levels are low, follow UK guidance and consider a supplement, not sun damage.
- SPF 30 or SPF 50 for winter?Either works if you apply enough and choose broad-spectrum. SPF 50 gives a bigger buffer for under-application and long window commutes.
- Do windows protect me from sun damage?They block much of UVB but let UVA through. That’s why the “window side” of drivers often shows more sun wear over time.
- Mineral or chemical sunscreen — which is better?Both protect well when broad-spectrum and properly applied. Pick the texture you’ll use daily; comfort beats theory in the long run.
