Prologue
Trust me we will have posts that spill some tea and are fun and juicy, but this one is more educational, so bear with me. *Side note: once after a 1.5 hour long walk, Helen and I came across a tarot card reader sitting at the window of a popular bar in Singapore. On a whim we decided to each get our cards read. At the time we were exploring a few business ideas and had yet to land on Cheeky. The tarot card reader specifically said that we would find success in….education. Full circle back to this (hopefully) educational post. I will always bend over backwards to find connections and meaning everywhere. Anyone else like that?
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So about winter and sun protection - I really just want to get the message across that sun protection in the winter months can but just as important as protecting your skin in the summer. Maybe even more so, because people tend to neglect their sun care when it feels dark, gloomy and cold outside. This is especially important when you’re at a high altitude and the air is thinner.
I can admit that I wasn’t big into sun protection in cold weather either. A few years ago, on a ski trip to Niseko, my instructor showed up with strips of K-Tape (kinesiology tape, the kind you see athletes stick on their elbows and knees to provide stability) on her cheeks. She told me it was to protect against windburn and sun damage since she spent full days on the slopes. That was one of the seeds that started Cheeky. The fluorescent pink tape across her cheeks actually looked sort of cute, not to mention, she was so easy to spot on the slopes!
Eventually, that would become one of the sparks that inspired Cheeky. A simple idea. What if we created something that was designed for real life outdoors, stayed on, looked cute, and actually protected your skin in the exact places that get burned the most - for all seasons of play and adventure.
But I digress - a recurring theme if you stick around weekly, and thats a promise.
Here are some of the reasons you get sunburned on ski trips and how to finally prevent it. Oh and by the way, just because you don’t get sunburned, doesn’t mean the underlying cellular damage isn’t being done! That’s how the pesky sun spots begin to take hold and the melasma darkens.
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The cold hard TRUTHS:
Higher altitude means stronger UV exposure
The higher you go, the thinner the atmosphere becomes. The atmosphere is what filters and weakens UV rays. When you are skiing at altitude there is simply less air between you and the sun. UV radiation increases by roughly ten to twelve percent for every thousand meters of elevation. This is why people feel they burn faster in the mountains even if they do not feel the heat on their skin.
Snow reflects UV light like a giant mirror
Snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation. It bounces sunlight back upward onto your face and under your chin. This is the part that surprises most people. You are getting hit from above and below at the same time. The result is double exposure to UV without any of the usual signals your body relies on, like heat or visible brightness.
This is also why the cheekbones and temples tend to get the worst burns. They catch direct sun plus snow reflection. They sit at the perfect angle for overexposure. Hello Cheeky!
Cold weather hides the warning signs
On a hot day your skin feels warm when you have been out too long. You instinctively look for shade or reapply sunscreen. In winter you do not get that feedback. The air is cold and the wind distracts you. Skin can be compromised without any discomfort which makes it very easy to stay outside for long periods without realizing what is happening.
Long days outdoors add up quickly
A typical ski day is four to six hours outside with only short breaks. That is a lot of cumulative exposure. Children burn even faster because their skin is thinner and they spend more time in the direct glare of snow.
Winter sunburn leads to deeper pigmentation
Even if you do not turn visibly red, repeated winter UV exposure contributes to melasma, sunspots, and long term pigmentation. People often return from ski trips with darker spots on the cheekbones and temples and assume it happened during summer. It usually starts in winter.
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Okay so now that I’ve fear mongered you into reading this far…what now?
Apply SPF 30 to 50 generously
- Mineral sunscreen is so good in the cold months. It traps moisture, it’s doesn’t rub off as easily and is less irritating for the eyes.
- pack a Stick sun screen. Go ahead and put a stick sun screen into one of your many pockets. Don’t forget you eyelids and the bridge of your nose. Cheeky will cover your face ☺️
- SPF Lip balm. Your lips will be chapped no matter how hard you try to keep them moisturized - anything with SPF with a Vaseline like consistency will work. Gloop it on, don’t be stingy.
Reapplication…is the bane of my sun protection existence.
I try but I rarely do, and almost no one does. And that’s why Cheeky exists. Put it on your CHEEKS, the areas that are most exposed when your goggles are off and you’re taking a little break. You won’t even have to think twice about whether or not you’re protected.
Wear physical protection
A neck gaiter that can be pulled up to cover half your face, a helmet with a brim or visor, and high quality snow goggles with full UV filtering are essential. Good goggles are not only for visibility, they prevent UV from reaching the skin around the eyes.
Focus on hydration and barrier support
Ever heard of your skin barrier? It’s definitely working overtime to maintain hydration in the cold and is exacerbated when you shift from heated spaces to freezing outdoors. Hydrate your skin after your day. We absolutely swoon for SkinInc’s Pure Deep-Sea Hydrating Mask. It does everything you need, moisturizes, soothes dryness (bye bye flaky skin), and most importantly supports skin barrier health when you need it most. We are putting together a free gift with purchase for the SkinInc Pure Deep-Sea Hydrating Mask - so watch out for that!
And finally, we formulated a beautiful soothing cica hydrogel on the back side of Cheeky Patches that will also help sooth and hydrate your skin barrier during the day - even if you aren’t on the slopes.
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What to remember
Winter Sun is deceptively brutal, especially at high altitudes!
Sun protection is still super important, especially if you’re prone to pigmentation. Don’t throw away all of your skin-care hard work by forgetting to protect your skin from the sun when it’s cold out.
Keep your skin barrier healthy by masking at night, and using a double-action sun protection like Cheeky Sun Patches (hydrate + UPF 50+, without the need for reapplication).
Until next week!
