Sunscreen Isn’t Seasonal: What You’re Still Missing

Every year, around early spring in Portland, something subtle begins to shift. The UV index quietly rises, and once it hits a level of three, we are no longer in winter mode. That is the moment sunscreen becomes essential, and still, so many people hesitate. They are not sure if SPF matters unless they are actively tanning or headed to the pool. They forget about the small exposures, the quiet moments in daylight that add up more than anyone realizes.

Those are the moments that matter most. You do not need to be lying out with a towel and sunglasses to be affected by the sun. You just need to exist. Walking to your car, sitting near a window, taking a lunchtime stroll, or just running errands. These are all forms of passive sun exposure, and they count. The sun is not waiting for a formal invitation. It shows up and your skin receives it.

And those small exposures add up quickest in the most overlooked places: your hands, for example, which receive near-constant daylight whether you’re driving, typing near a window, or grabbing your phone during an afternoon walk. Even areas like your hairline get skipped too often. A light fringe or imperfect blending can make you think you're covered when you're not. Sun damage loves the places we forget.

Sonia Bellini understands this firsthand. She is the founder and lead esthetician at Bellini's, and she spent her early years living under Australia’s intense sun. Back then, sunscreen felt optional unless she was planning to sunbathe. What she did not realize was that passive exposure was building quietly. Years later, the impact became clear. Thinner skin, pigmentation, textural changes that could not be undone with a single product or one season of protection. Sonia often reminds clients that the sun does not ask for permission. It simply arrives, and your skin registers every bit of it.

My own experience runs parallel in a different way. I have Fitzpatrick Type I skin, which means I burn fast and rarely tan. I remember being ten years old on a family trip to Lake Travis in Central Texas and ending up with a blistering sunburn that made sleeping almost impossible. My mom tans deeply and easily, but I inherited my complexion from my dad. He burns easily too and had skin cancer in his twenties. That stayed with me. For those of us with fair or sensitive skin, sunscreen is not an accessory. It’s essential, and it needs to be part of how we care for ourselves.

There is also confusion about what sunscreen even is. Some formulas reflect UV rays using minerals like zinc and titanium. Others absorb and break down those rays before they reach deeper skin layers. Both types are effective, but neither lasts all day. Physical sunscreens may stick around a little longer, assuming they have not been sweated or rubbed away. Chemical sunscreens have a shorter lifespan and often need reapplication within a few hours.

Another thing most people do not know is that sunscreen does not block everything. On its own, it offers about 55 percent protection against free radicals. That is why layering with something like vitamin C makes a difference. Vitamin C goes beneath the surface. It strengthens the skin’s defenses and supports repair, helping your sunscreen do its job more effectively. Together, they are much stronger than either alone.

At Bellini’s we believe sun care should slip into your morning as naturally as brushing your teeth. Start each day by smoothing a cream-based sunscreen over your face, neck, chest, shoulders, and arms so every exposed area feels nourished and protected. And don’t forget your hands. They’re often washed, rubbed, and re-exposed throughout the day, making reapplication just as important as the morning layer. And when you apply to your face, carry it all the way to your hairline. Every inch matters.

If you prefer a barely-there finish with a hint of coverage, the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense with broad-spectrum SPF 50 adapts to your skin tone and can even replace light foundation.

Touch Ups make all the difference, especially when the day runs long. That is where COOLA’s Refreshing Water Mist with SPF comes in. It is easy to keep in your bag and gives you a soft, mid-day reapplication that works beautifully over makeup. For the hands, which we wash constantly and often forget to protect, the Easy-Apply Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 by COOLA is wonderfully practical. It glides on quickly, fits in a small pouch or pocket, and makes it easy to re-apply without disrupting your routine. When driving, walking to grab lunch, or simply sitting outside with a coffee, that stick is exactly what you want within reach.

Underneath it all, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the kind of vitamin C serum that quietly transforms how your skin responds to stress. It boosts radiance and resilience while working against the oxidative damage you do not always see. Pairing it with sunscreen in the morning gives your skin both a barrier and a support system. And over time, that combination works harder than either one could on its own.

Sun care also means thinking beyond formulas. A wide-brim hat on a sunny walk. A breathable scarf when you are outside longer than expected. Long sleeves or a rash guard if you are near water or reflective surfaces. These additions extend protection without any fuss. Sun damage is cumulative. It does not show up in one afternoon and it rarely announces itself. It comes quietly, through years of everyday exposure. But protection adds up too. Every time you stop and say, I think I will put something on today, you are making a choice that supports your future skin.

If you are in daylight, you are exposed. So let sunscreen be more than a seasonal habit. Let it be a quiet act of care, a way to preserve the glow and clarity you already have.