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Not necessarily every single day of the year. In the UK, the sun is usually strong enough to damage skin from around mid-March to mid-October, and Cancer Research UK says to think about protection whenever the UV index is 3 or above, which can happen on cool, cloudy days too. In the middle of winter the UV index is often lower than that.
That's the public health answer. My skincare answer is slightly different. If you're treating dark marks or uneven tone, or you use a retinoid, putting sunscreen on every morning is easier than deciding each day whether today counts. But you don't need to feel guilty about walking to the shops on a dark December morning without it.
What 75 Skin Advice forms showed me
Between 11 and 27 September, 75 people sent me their routine through Skin Advice, almost all of them in the UK. Sixty-nine of them answered the sunscreen question on the form.
Seventeen said they wore SPF50 every day. Sixteen used SPF30 or a day cream with SPF in it. Twenty-one wore sunscreen sometimes, and fourteen didn't use it at all. So about half of the people who answered weren't wearing sunscreen every day, and only about one in four were on a daily SPF50.
Most of them hadn't written to me about sun protection. The most common main concern was fine lines and firmness, for 36 of the 75, and 56 were 45 or older. That matters, because UV is one of the things behind the changes most of them were asking me about.
It's a small sample from just over two weeks, so I wouldn't treat it as a survey of Britain. It's a fair picture of who writes to me, and it's why sunscreen turns up in so many of my replies.
What does the UV index tell me?
It tells you how strong the sun's ultraviolet radiation is expected to be. Most weather apps show it next to the temperature. At 0 to 2 it's low for most people. From 3 upwards, Cancer Research UK says it's strong enough to damage skin, especially if you burn easily.
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CHECK THE UV, NOT THE WEATHER.
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From 3 upwards: think about protecting your skin.
- UV index 0 to 2 is low for most people. From 3, the sun is strong enough to damage skin, especially if you burn easily.
- Cloud is a poor guide. Over 90% of UV can pass through it.
- In the UK, the main season is around mid-March to mid-October.
- Most weather apps show the UV index next to the temperature.
The cloud point surprises people. Cancer Research UK says over 90% of UV can pass through cloud, so a grey day in May can still be a UV 4 or 5 day, while a bright, cold day in December can be a 1.
And sunscreen is only one part of protection. When UV is high, the NHS also recommends shade between 11am and 3pm, clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Sunscreen isn't permission to stay out in strong sun for longer.
Why do I recommend sunscreen so often in Skin Advice?
Because I'm rarely looking at it on its own. Someone wants to fade dark marks. Someone else has started a retinal for fine lines. Another person has three brightening serums and uses sunscreen now and then.
Sunscreen doesn't make every serum work, and missing it once doesn't undo your routine. But UV exposure can keep pigmentation darker and make it harder to judge whether a brightening treatment is helping, and it contributes to the skin ageing people are trying to slow down. So I usually sort the morning protection step before I add another treatment.
What does SPF50+ PA++++ mean?
SPF is mainly about UVB, the part of sunlight most linked to burning. UVA is the part most associated with skin ageing, and it has its own rating. The NHS recommends at least SPF30 with at least 4-star UVA protection, and on UK sunscreens you'll see that as a star rating or a UVA logo in a circle.
Korean sunscreens usually use the PA system for UVA instead, from PA+ to PA++++. PA++++ is the highest grade on that scale. It's a different test from the UK stars, so don't try to convert one into the other. SPF50+ PA++++ on a Korean label means high UVB protection and the top grade of UVA protection in its own system.
Why do Korean sunscreens feel more like skincare?
Because a sunscreen is a whole formula. The UV filters do the protecting. Everything around them decides how it feels: how it spreads, whether it dries dewy or matte, and how much it feels like a moisturiser. That's why two SPF50 sunscreens can feel completely different.
The SPF number belongs to the finished, tested product. You can't work it out from the ingredient list. So I wouldn't choose a sunscreen because it contains rice, centella or ceramides. Those change how it feels on your skin. They aren't what makes it SPF50.
Some sunscreens use mineral filters such as zinc oxide, some use other UV filters, and some mix both. I don't think "mineral is safe, chemical is bad" holds up as a rule. Some sensitive skin does better with mineral formulas and some is perfectly happy with the others. The question I'd ask is simpler: can you put enough of it on comfortably, and will you keep wearing it?
Same SPF job
SAME SPF JOB. DIFFERENT FEEL.
All three are SPF50+ PA++++. The difference is how they feel on your skin.
Does my moisturiser with SPF count?
It gives you some protection. The problem is how it gets used. The British Association of Dermatologists says the protection people get from moisturisers and make-up with SPF is much lower than the number on the label, mainly because they're applied far more thinly than sunscreen, and many don't protect as well against UVA.
Here's a quick test. Look at the bottle. If it's sold as a sunscreen, it's doing the sunscreen job. If it's sold as a moisturiser or foundation that happens to contain SPF, treat it as a moisturiser or foundation, and on days when you need proper protection, put a sunscreen on top or use one instead.
How much sunscreen do I need?
More than feels natural. The NHS says most people apply too little, and a thin layer protects less than the label says. I won't give you a fixed teaspoon rule for your face, because products differ. Apply a generous, even layer over your face, neck and ears, following the product's instructions.
Put it on as the last step of your morning skincare. If you're outside for a long time when the UV is high, reapply every two hours, and again after swimming, sweating or towelling. A commute and four hours on a beach are different days, and your sunscreen habits can reflect that.
Which sunscreen would I choose?
If you already own a standalone sunscreen that's SPF30 or more, has good UVA protection and doesn't bother you, keep it. Don't replace something you wear every day just because another one has better reviews.
If you need one, I'd choose by texture, because the best protection is the one you'll put on properly. These are three I stock. They do the same main job, so pick one.
Beauty of Joseon
Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++
I'd choose this if you want sunscreen to feel more like a moisturiser.
- Finish
- Creamy, dewy
- Best fit
- Normal to drier skin, or anyone who likes a dewy finish
- Mari's note
- If rich sunscreens already bother you, skip this one and look at the Skin1004.
£15.50 · 50 mlView product
Skin1004
Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++
I'd choose this if you dislike the feel of cream sunscreen.
- Finish
- Thin, serum-like, dewy
- Best fit
- Anyone who wants the lightest feel of the three, including combination skin
- Mari's note
- It isn't sold as water-resistant, so reapply after swimming or sweating.
£16.00 · 50 mlView product
Purito
Wonder Releaf Centella Daily Sun Lotion SPF50+ PA++++
I'd choose this if your skin reacts easily and you want something light.
- Finish
- Light lotion, dewy
- Best fit
- Sensitive or easily irritated skin
- Mari's note
- Purito says it has no essential oils or artificial fragrance, though there's a mild natural scent. It contains niacinamide, so patch test first if your skin is easily upset.
£16.00 · 60 mlView product
Don't buy all three. Pick the texture you're most likely to use. If your skin reacts easily, patch test whichever you choose, because "suitable for sensitive skin" never means every sensitive skin will tolerate it.
And if you already own three sunscreens and don't like any of them, don't buy a fourth at random. The texture is probably the problem, and that's worth working out first.
When is it more than a sunscreen question?
If you have a mark or mole that is new, changing shape or colour, bleeding or crusting, see your GP. Don't wait to see whether a cream helps. That one isn't a skincare question.
Not sure which one suits you?
Send me your routine through K Skin Aura's free Skin Advice service. I'll tell you whether the sunscreen you already have is fine, which texture I'd choose for you, and where it fits around everything else. I'll only suggest a new one if there's a reason to change. You don't have to buy anything.
Send me your routineSkin Advice is a cosmetic routine review. It is not a diagnosis, and I won't tell you to change prescribed treatment.
Mari
About Mari. Mari is the founder of K Skin Aura, a UK Korean skincare retailer. She reviews cosmetic routines and product choices through K Skin Aura's free Skin Advice service. She is not a dermatologist or clinician.
Sources checked. NHS, Sunscreen and sun safety. Cancer Research UK, The UV index and sunburn risk. British Association of Dermatologists, Sun protection fact sheet. Purito, Wonder Releaf Centella Daily Sun Lotion. Skin Advice figures: every Skin Advice form received 11 to 27 September 2026, counted by hand, test entries removed, repeat submissions from the same email address counted once. Other product details from our own listings.
Articles are written and reviewed under Mari's direction using questions and patterns from K Skin Aura's Skin Advice service. Skincare and health-related claims are checked against sources such as the NHS, DermNet, the American Academy of Dermatology and published research where appropriate. Product details are checked against current packaging, manufacturer information and K Skin Aura stock data. Recommendations are not paid placements within editorial articles. If a product you already own is suitable, we will say so.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need sunscreen when it's cloudy in the UK?
Often, between spring and autumn. Cancer Research UK says over 90% of UV can pass through cloud. Check the UV index rather than the sky, and think about protection at 3 or above.
Do I need sunscreen in winter in the UK?
UK guidance focuses on mid-March to mid-October, and winter UV is usually lower. Wearing it all year still makes sense if you're treating pigmentation, using a retinoid, burn easily, or a doctor has advised it.
Is SPF30 enough or do I need SPF50?
The NHS recommends at least SPF30 with at least 4-star UVA protection. SPF50 gives more UVB protection and more margin if you apply less than the tested amount, which most people do. Neither replaces shade or clothing in strong sun.
Does moisturiser with SPF count as sunscreen?
It gives some protection, but the British Association of Dermatologists says it's usually much less than the label suggests because it's applied thinly. On days you need proper protection, use a standalone sunscreen.
Is Korean sunscreen better than British sunscreen?
Not because it's Korean. Korean facial sunscreens are popular for their lighter textures. What matters is tested UVA and UVB protection, putting enough on, and choosing one you'll keep using.
What does PA++++ mean?
PA is a UVA rating used on Korean and Japanese sunscreens, from PA+ to PA++++. PA++++ is the highest grade. It's a different test from the UK star rating, so the two don't convert directly.
