Advice from the Experts at a Leading Esthetician School in Toronto, Ontario

Beauty routines change with seasons for most of us. Summer calls for humidity-taming hair products and lightweight lotions while winter demands moisturizing masks and body butter. One skin care product that remains constant through all seasons is sunscreen. However, with the chill that winter brings, many people tend to ease up on applying sunscreen. The common assumption is that if you are not going to spend much time outdoors, you do not need skin protection from the sun.

Skin care specialists at Canadian Beauty College warn that UV protection during winter should not be taken lightly.

• Skin is more sensitive to the sun in winter than in summer – In winter, skin tends to be more pale and dry. Its melanin concentration is reduced due to reduced exposure to the sun. This means that the skin is more than ever, sensitive to UV radiation. Therefore, without sunscreen, you will be prone to winter sunburns.
• UV radiation exposure increases with altitude – The Skin Cancer Foundation cautions that UV intensity in the mountains during winter is comparable to a hot summer day at the beach. This is because UV intensity increases with altitude and most of it is reflected back by the snow and ice, thus doubling the exposure. This fact should incentivise you to employ greater sunscreen protection while participating in snow activities like snowboarding and skiing.
• Clouds do not block most of the sun’s rays – A cold and cloudy winter day does not mean that the sun’s intense UVA rays are not reaching you. The UV index is still high despite the cloud cover and breeze of winter.

Now that you know why you should protect yourself from harmful UVA and UVB rays during winter, here are some pointers on how to do it.

• Protect all exposed areas – Apply sunscreen on your hands, face and ears. On your lips, apply a lip product with high sun protection. Winter fog’s water droplets scatter light and snow reflects it, so you should also protect your eyes with sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection.
• Beware of sweat – The skin sweats even during winter, especially when you are outdoors. This sweat, which washes away your SPF moisturizer from your skin, may be hard to detect. You should, therefore, be careful to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day.
• Opt for physical sunscreen – Physical sunblock may be messy to apply but it offers broader spectrum coverage compared to chemical-based sunscreen. It is also less irritating to sensitive skin and provides longer coverage, requiring less reapplication.

Make sure that the SPF in your sunscreen, makeup or moisturizer is the required concentration. A low concentration will offer you only half the protection you require. To learn more about SPF and other skin care products, enrol for a skincare specialist course at the Canadian Beauty College. Our esthetician school in Toronto offers the best courses in skin care. The esthetician courses include training in cosmetics and skin care to teach you how to not only better care for your skin but also ways to establish a strong and rewarding career in the field.

For more information about skincare courses and programs at our esthetician school in Toronto, Ontario, call us at 1-866-720-4920 or request information online and we will get back to you as soon as possible.