More important than ever.

Wearing sunscreen is something we could all be better at doing, with skin cancer being the most common type of cancer in Ireland. Slapping on the suncream during the summer is a given, it's hot out and the sun is shining so we try to protect ourselves at all costs. Now that summer is over and the winter months are approaching, sunscreen is more important now than ever. You may be reading this thinking "hardly?", but trust us, it has more benefits than just preventing sunburn on your holidays. Adding sunscreen into your morning skincare routine is a must, putting it on just after your moisturiser to give your skin an extra layer of protection. Just because it's not warm out anymore doesn't mean the sun has gone away, although sometimes it really feels like it has. Rain, shine, clouds, or sunny skies, you need to be wearing it every day as UV rays can damage your skin no matter what the weather is like. Heck, they can even damage your skin without you leaving your house, shining through your windows and hitting your skin. Realistically, the only time your skin is truly safe from harmful UV rays is at night, when we know for sure the sun isn't out. "Ultraviolet rays that are the cause of sun damage and skin cancer are always present," Dr. Shilesh Iyer, M.D., a Board Certified dermatologist with New York Dermatology Group told Forbes. "They are independent of cold or hot weather, and are not blocked by clouds. On overcast days, only visible rays (but not UVB rays) from the sun are blocked. The best way to protect the skin is with sun protection." Skincare brands these days mostly have sunscreen as one of their products, along with the rest of their range, so there's no excuse to avoid it as part of your routine. There are specific things you need to look out for when it comes to buying the perfect sunscreen so you know you'll be protected all day long. When looking for a sunscreen, look for one with "broad spectrum" on the label. This means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. According to the American Cancer Society, all sunscreen products protect against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. But UVA rays is what causes premature aging, as well as skin cancer. If you opt for a sunscreen without this on the label, it should have a warning to say that it only protects against sunburn and not skin cancer or aging.