Posted by Wan Hee Lee
The beach bag is put away. The sun didn't get the memo. Here's what the science says about fall UV, and how to keep your SPF habit going without it feeling like summer.
Most of us treat sunscreen like a summer thing. Once the pool closes and the sweaters come out, the SPF drifts to the back of the drawer. It's an easy habit to fall into, and it's worth breaking. Here's why.
4 things about fall sun that might surprise you
1. The rays that age skin don't take the season off. UVA makes up as much as 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth, and according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, it keeps roughly the same strength during daylight hours all year long. UVB (the burning rays) does ease up as the days get shorter. UVA doesn't.
2. Clouds aren't a shield. Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through clouds, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A gray October morning still counts.
3. Your window seat counts too. Regular window glass blocks most UVB, but UVA passes right through. Car windshields are usually treated to filter UVA, but side and rear windows often aren't. If you sit by a window at work or have a long commute, that's daily exposure.
4. This is where most visible aging comes from. In a 2013 study of 298 women, researchers estimated that UV exposure was responsible for about 80% of visible facial aging signs. Much of that exposure is the everyday, incidental kind you don't notice.
"UV rays are always present, regardless of the season or time of day."
— Dr. Dawn Davis, board-certified dermatologist, Mayo Clinic, via the American Academy of Dermatology
And winter is next. Fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, and UV levels rise about 10% with every 1,000 meters of altitude, according to the World Health Organization. If a ski trip is on your calendar, your SPF should be packed.
Why fall ![]()
is when people drop the habit
It's not just you. In a 2024 American Academy of Dermatology survey, 19% of U.S. adults didn't know you can get sunburned in winter, and only 13% planned to use sun protection on cold-weather walks or hikes.
The fix isn't willpower. It's a sunscreen you actually like wearing when it's not beach weather: one that doesn't feel heavy, doesn't leave a white cast, and doesn't fight your makeup.
Meet your fall SPF
Our 2% Panthenol Hydro Airy Sunscreen SPF 50 was made for exactly this: everyday, all-year wear.
- Broad Spectrum SPF 50. Protects against both UVA and UVB, the kind dermatologists recommend for daily use.
- Hydrating, for drier fall air. 2% panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), Centella asiatica, and vitamin E help keep skin comfortable as the weather cools. On many days, it can double as your morning moisturizer.
- Weightless, no white cast. An airy lotion that feels like nothing on.
- Makeup-friendly. Layers cleanly under foundation, so it fits into a real morning.
- Thoughtfully formulated. Made without oxybenzone and octinoxate, and irritation-tested.
How to use it this fall
Your 3-step fall morning
- Treat. Did summer leave dark spots behind? A few drops of 10% Niacinamide Radiance Serum help with tone and dark spots.
- Hydrate (optional). If your skin feels tight, add a Booster Gel like Hydro or Collagen. Give it 3–5 minutes to melt in naturally.
- Protect. Sunscreen goes on last, 15 minutes before you head out.
Use enough. The AAD recommends at least one teaspoon for your face and neck. An easy guide: squeeze a line along the length of your index and middle fingers.
Don't skip the "indoor" days. Working next to a window or driving a lot? Apply it anyway. UVA doesn't stop at the glass.
Reapply when you're out. Apple picking, a football game, a fall hike: reapply at least every 2 hours outdoors, and add a hat. If you'll be sweating heavily or swimming, reach for a water-resistant formula.
Keep one where you'll see it. By the door, in your work bag, in the car. The easiest sunscreen habit is the one you don't have to remember.
The bottom line
Sunscreen isn't a summer product. It's an every-morning product. Fall just happens to be when it's easiest to forget, and when the sun is quietly still at work.
Sources: The Skin Cancer Foundation, "UV Radiation & Your Skin" and "Not All UV Rays Stay Outside"; American Academy of Dermatology, "Sunscreen FAQs" and 2024 winter sun protection survey; World Health Organization, "Ultraviolet (UV) radiation" Q&A; Flament F, et al. "Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin," Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2013. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
