Sun protection every day – even in winter?
Reading time: 4 min. · Updated: 11/2026
Hardly anyone thinks about sunscreen in winter. The days are short and the sky is often grey. For your facial skin, however, sun protection is still an important part of daily care – especially if you have peels or use retinol.
Why UV light matters in winter too
Sunlight contains two types of UV radiation that matter for the skin. UVB radiation is strongest in summer and causes sunburn. In winter it is much weaker. UVA radiation, on the other hand, is present all year round. It passes through clouds and window glass and reaches deeper into the skin.
UVA radiation doesn't burn, so you don't feel it. But over the years it contributes to skin ageing: fine lines, loss of firmness and an uneven complexion. If you go out unprotected every day in winter, this exposure adds up.
On top of that, snow strongly reflects sunlight. During winter sports or on a clear day in the mountains, the skin can therefore get more UV radiation than on a summer day in the city.
After a peel, the skin is more sensitive to light
A chemical peel loosens dead skin cells and stimulates the skin's renewal. In the days and weeks afterwards, the skin is more sensitive – including to light. This applies to a gentle Glow Peel as well as to an Intensive Peel, after which the skin peels for a few days.
This is exactly why autumn and winter are the classic peel season: the sun is weaker and it's easier to protect the skin. Easier doesn't mean unnecessary, though. Consistent sun protection is part of your care after every peel – on grey days, too. Right after more intensive treatments, a mineral sunscreen is often recommended because it is less irritating to freshly treated skin.
Retinol and acids: protection is part of it
If you use retinol or fruit acids at home, you should also use sun protection every day. These ingredients speed up the renewal of the top layer of skin, and the skin reacts more sensitively to light. Without protection, you're working against what your skincare is meant to achieve – a more even complexion, for example.
To find out why the skin reacts at the start of a retinol routine, read the article Retinol: why your skin reacts at first.
What to look for in sun protection
- Broad-spectrum protection: the sun protection factor (SPF) only describes protection against UVB. Also look for UVA protection – in the EU you can recognise it by the UVA logo in a circle.
- For your face every day: SPF 30 or 50 is usual for daily care. After peels and if you are prone to pigmentation, choose the higher value.
- Enough product: most people apply too little. For face and neck, a good rule of thumb is about two finger-lengths of cream.
- As the last skincare step: sun protection goes on in the morning after serum and moisturiser, before make-up.
- Reapply: if you spend a lot of time outdoors, reapply during the day. Powder with SPF can help without removing your make-up.
- Don't forget your neck and hands: both areas often show signs of ageing early.
Sun protection from ZO Skin Health
In the ZO skincare concept, protection is the third and final step of every routine – after cleansing and targeted care. ZO's sun protection products are developed as broad-spectrum protection and take into account visible light and infrared as well as UVA and UVB. There are mineral and chemical options, light fluids and tinted products.
As an official ZO partner, we advise you in the studio on which sun protection suits your skin and your everyday life. You can get the products directly from us on Theresienstraße. How protection works together with cleansing and care is explained in the article Skincare in 3 steps.
FAQ
If it has a sufficient SPF and UVA protection and you apply enough of it, it can be enough for everyday life. But many people use less day cream than would be needed for the stated protection. After peels, we therefore recommend a separate sunscreen.
For your face, yes, if you want to protect your skin from premature ageing – especially with retinol, acids or after a peel. UVA radiation is present on grey days too.
Both protect when applied correctly. Mineral filters are often better tolerated by freshly treated or sensitive skin. Which one suits you, we'll be happy to discuss in the skin analysis.