The effect of sun on your face And how to protect your skin

Our face, neck and décolleté are more exposed to the sun than almost any other part of our bodies. They benefit from daily sun protection that has been specially formulated for facial skin and that matches your skin type and condition. This article looks at how to protect your face, how to choose the right products for your skin and why you should make sun protection part of your morning skincare routine.

The skin on some parts of the body is also more sensitive to the sun, and more susceptible to sun damage, than skin in other areas. Facial skin is:

Thinner: the epidermis of facial skin is about 0.12mm thick while the body’s average is around 0.60mm)
More exposed: being mostly uncovered, it is exposed to the sun (and other elements) on a daily basis

It’s not just holiday sun that affects skin. UV rays (UVA in particular) and high- energy visible (HEVIS) light are present all day, every day – winter as well as summer and on cloudy days as well as sunny ones. Our faces are ofen one of the first parts of the body to show visible signs of sun-induced skin damage such as sunburn, photoaging (premature skin aging caused by the sun) and hyperpigmentation. And, being always on show, the signs of sun damage are particularly visible on our faces and necks.

Skin benefits from sun protection products that are specially formulated to address its specific needs.

Oily and/or acne-prone skin

Look out for lighter textured products and ensure they’re ‘non-comedogenic’ (which means they don’t contain ingredients that might block pores and trigger blemishes). In addition to superior sun protection, Eucerin Oil Control Sun Gel Crème SPF 50+ offer sebum-regulating Oil Control Technology with L-Carnitine to help improve your skin condition. The ultra-light gel-cream leaves skin with a dry matt texture and a longlasting (up to 8h) anti-shine effect. Find out more in oily and acne-prone skin: why does it need daily sun protection ?

Premature aging

The sun is responsible for 90% of premature skin aging2. You can find out more in What causes photoaging and how can I prevent it? All Eucerin Sun face products protect skin from photoaging but, if signs of aging are your primary skin concern, try Eucerin Photoaging Control Sun Fluid SPF 50 or SPF 30. The formula includes short- and long-chain Hyaluronic Acid to plump up winkles and visibly reduce signs of skin aging. If you prefer a tinted product try Eucerin Photoaging Control CC Sun Cream SPF 50+ which also contain color pigments to instantly unify the complexion.

Dry and atopic skin

Skin with Atopic Dermatitis is very sensitive and benefits from sun protection clinically and dermatologically proven to be suitable for its needs. Eucerin Sensitive Protect Sun Creme SPF 50+ give dry and atopic skin the soothing protection it needs.

Sun allergies

Whilst more common elsewhere on the body, some people experience Polymorphous Light Eruption (PLE) on the face. Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect Creme-Gel SPF 50 contain Alpha-Glucosylrutin which helps to prevent sun-induced allergies and can be used on both face and body. You can find out about how to care for allergy-prone skin in Sun allergies: how can I prevent PLE and protect my allergy prone skin ?

All Eucerin face products are clinically and dermatologically proven to be suitable for sensitive skin.

Find out about the Eucerin sun protection range for the body in How should I protect my body from the sun?

2 Ramos-e-Silva et al., ‘Anti-aging cosmetics: Facts and controversies’. Clin Dermatol. 2013 Nov-Dec; 31(6): 750-8