Sunscreens are unnecessary in a lot of skincare products, including cleansers, toners, night-time moisturisers and treatments such as face masks. We made the decision, early on, not to include an SPF in our moisturisers. This is mainly because we knew – from the experts that we worked with – that many people with sensitive skin find that using an SPF in their moisturiser daily can actually increase their sensitivity over time – this is particularly the case with chemical sunscreens, such as benzophenones and cinnamates, which can be potential irritants.
According to photo-biology experts, including Prof Brian Diffey, sunscreens are not an absolute necessity during the daytime in our British winter, (or months in which the temperature is low/cool), as we tend to spend much of the time indoors. We recommend you use a common sense approach – if you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may like to use a sunscreen (although we do need vitamin D that the sun can provide) and certainly if you are skiing we recommend always using a higher SPF as the sun's rays can be stronger at high altitudes and are reflected back from the snow. During warmer months and in warmer climes it’s important to protect skin from the sun's rays.
There are several good reasons why we do not use any chemical sunscreens (such as benzophenones, homosalate, benzene derivatives or cinnamates). Firstly, they can trigger allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin. Secondly, some studies indicate that they may actually encourage free-radical activity – potentially damaging skin cells and accelerating skin ageing. By contrast, non-chemical sunscreens reflect UV rays away from the skin and do not allow them to be absorbed.