9 Best SPF Moisturizers for Winter, According to Dermatologists

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9 Best SPF Moisturizers for Winter, According to Dermatologists
9 Best SPF Moisturizers for Winter, According to Dermatologists

<p> “The sun shines year-round, and while its rays may not be as intense as they are in the warmer months, they still have enough strength to cause damage to your skin,” confirms Dr. Corey L. Hartman, board-certified dermatologist and founder of <a href=” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Skin Wellness Dermatology</a> in Birmingham, Alabama. This is before noting that UV rays can reflect off ice and snow onto your skin. He adds that even if you aren’t spending much time outside during the winter, the sun’s rays can still penetrate through windows and reflect off surfaces. <br> <br>According to <a href=” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Dr. Alicia Zalka</a>, board-certified dermatologist and Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University, “If you can see the sun, the sun can see you.” Not to mention, using a daily SPF (short for sun protection factor) moisturizer is one of the most important tools in combating signs of premature aging and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Plus, as Dr. Marc Hurlbert, CEO of the <a href=” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Melanoma Research Alliance</a> warns, “Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV light which means amplified intensity.”<br> <br>In short, wearing an SPF moisturizer or quality sunscreen through winter is just as important as during the summer months. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should up and grab the first SPF 15 you find and call it a day.</p><h2 class=”body-h2″>What To Consider </h2><h3 class=”body-h3”>SPF Level</h3><p>In fact, you should avoid SPF 15 altogether. Every dermatologist we consulted with agreed on this: Whether it’s winter or one of the other seasons we actually enjoy, your daily moisturizer should be at least SPF 30 or higher. Dr. Zalka says that for day-to-day tasks, like commuting to work, running errands, etc., an SPF 30 will be sufficient. However, once you start engaging in more involved wintery activities, she recommends bumping up to an SPF 50. “If you find yourself atop a mountain or in the outdoors for extended periods of time, especially if there is snow on the ground reflecting light to your skin, be sure to use SPF 50 on exposed parts like face, neck, and hands.”<br> <br>Board-certified dermatologist <a href=” Hadley King</a> breaks it down further noting that, while no SPF product is capable of blocking 100 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, a sunscreen with SPF 30 will block up to 97 percent of them. “A sunscreen’s SPF, or sun protection factor, measures how much the product shields shorter-wave ultraviolet B rays, known as UVB radiation, which can cause sunburn,” she explains. <br> <br>That being said, Dr. King also notes that anything above SPF 50 is mostly unnecessary. “The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and an SPF 50 is marginal. Far from offering double the blockage, SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98 percent,” she says. With that in mind, most dermatologists advise using an SPF between 30 and 50 SPF for the best protection. It’s also crucial to reapply SPF throughout the day, and every couple of hours if you’re doing any activity involving sweating, water, snow, or anything else that might wash away the product. <br></p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Broad-Spectrum Protection</h3><p>Something you might come across while shopping for an SPF this winter is the term “broad-spectrum protection” slapped across the labels—this is a good thing, and a prerequisite in our opinion. Broad-spectrum essentially means that the product protects against both the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. In general, the major difference between the two is in their wavelength and how deep they penetrate the skin. UVA (aka Ultraviolet A) rays have longer wavelengths and can travel farther, “meaning they put you at risk for accelerated skin aging, resulting in sun spots, fine lines, and wrinkles and dull, tired skin,” according to Dr. Hartman. UVB (aka Ultraviolet B) rays mostly affect the skin’s outer layer, responsible for burning the skin. “Both UVA and UVB rays are dangerous and can lead to accelerated skin aging and skin cancer,” Dr. Hartman warns. </p><p>As a result, Dr. Hurlbert and the Melanoma Research Alliance as a whole—not to mention, just about every dermatologist we spoke to—recommend using a broad-spectrum to protect you from UVA rays that age skin and UVB rays that burn, along with avoiding a much worse consequence. “It’s important to find a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection because exposure to UVA and UVB rays can cause cancer,” Dr. Hurlbert explains. </p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Water Resistance<br></h3><p>Depending on how adventurous you are during the winter, Dr. Hartman advises using a water-resistant SPF to minimize the amount that sweats or rinses off. “If you are outside and plan to engage in activities, look for a water-resistant sunscreen so that it protects your exposed skin,” he says. However, Dr. Hurlberts adds the major caveat that no sunscreen is 100 percent waterproof. “Instead, sunscreens can be rated as water-resistant for 40 or 80 minutes,” he notes. With that in mind, if you’re a snowboarder, skier, outdoor runner, or just an especially sweaty person, look for water-resistant options to get the most out of your SPF, and consider its length of water resistance. </p><h3 class=”body-h3″>Key Ingredients </h3><p>Like any skincare product, a quality SPF moisturizer is only as good as its core ingredients. What’s unique to SPF products, however, is that they need to fulfill two crucial responsibilities—hydrate skin while also protecting it from the sun’s UV rays. Dr. King recommends you seek out products with skin-soothing humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin, emollients like ceramides and squalane to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier, and occlusives like petrolatum to seal in hydration. Additionally, calming ingredients like shea butter, niacinamide, chamomile, or aloe can offer added benefits. </p><h2 class=”body-h2″>How We Selected </h2><p>For the past two winters, we have consulted with <em>Men’s Health </em>grooming writers and editors to determine the top SPF moisturizers for men to use during cooler weather. Experts, including our Grooming Commerce Editor Sean Zucker, tried dozens of face moisturizers with SPF and evaluated their ingredients, feel, consistency, ability to rub in, and effectiveness at protecting skin from the sun. We also spoke with a panel of board-certified dermatologists on what to look for in an SPF cream and which they recommend, as well as considering top-reviewed face moisturizers on e-commerce websites that we trust.<em></em></p><p>Below, the nine best SPF moisturizers for men to use during the winter based on this research and testing. </p>” data-next-head/>