The real investment that offers a multitude of benefits for your skin is sunscreen. In our environment, we can't avoid sun exposure, and the latest innovation works overtime to protect your skin and fight free radical damage that causes skin ageing. Editor Trudi Brewer shares Environ's new SPF, designed for year-round wear.
You may be thinking, why are we still banging on about sunscreen when we are heading into winter? Well, wearing SPF is the one skincare habit you need to adopt year-round. It is your skin’s safeguard against brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. Also, forget investing in those expensive, luxe-y serums and skin treatments if sunscreen isn't your number one skincare priority.
Enter Environ RAD ACTIVÉ Antioxidant Sun Cream SPF 20, a reinterpretation of the original, which launched in 1992. Back then, RAD was the world’s first sunscreen to combine antioxidants with UV protection, a proven science-backed concept that was decades ahead of its time. This new formula is receiving high praise from skin experts and dermatologists. It is the work of Dr Des Fernandes, founder of Environ Skincare, who leads the charge in maintaining optimal skin health through the combination of vitamin A and sun protection. The indisputable fact is that everyone is exposed to light every day. And the world is slowly coming to understand this. It's the overexposure to the sun without sun protection that is.”
He believes the skin has evolved to harness and optimise its benefits for immunological and mental health as well as physical well- being over and above the crucial synthesis of vitamin D. “If you're applying sunscreen responsibly, there's no fear of the sun.” This is perhaps where most of us slip up. First, don't apply the right amount of SPF; then reapply every few hours. According to the New Zealand Cancer Society, an adult needs seven teaspoons (or 35ml) of sunscreen for one full-body application, including your face, ears, and neck, every few hours. Well, who does that at any time of the year?
Fernandes goes on to say, “For safety and efficacy, it's all about dose and timing. It isn't sensible to rely solely on SPF. For safe and effective protection against photo-damage and the prevention of skin cancer, one must adopt a holistic approach, starting with daily topical replenishment of vitamin A and antioxidants, as well as supplements." Another problem is the misinformation that higher SPF means safer skin. The online world is dominated by misinformation, fear-based messaging, and an overemphasis on high SPF in summer and none in winter. “I believe it creates a false sense of security in the minds of the public. Much like believing you can’t get any sunburn on a cloudy day! The truth is SPF protection has been oversimplified, and it’s only one of the factors in skin protection.”
What’s in “t?
Kale Ragoobar, head of innovation at Environ, believes the science and clinical testing behind the new RAD ACTIVÉ Antioxidant Sun Cream SPF 20 make it a next-generation SPF. “The new formula delivers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, powered by clinically proven antioxidant defence and designed to support long-term skin health,” says Ragoobar. Another bonus is that the formula is lightweight and breathable, unlike many SPF formulations, which often feel gluggy to wear and leave a white cast on the skin. Ragoobar says, “It acts like skincare with added sweat resistance and a modern texture made for everyday comfort. Improved transfer resistance and low irritancy make it suitable for sensitive skin or post-treatment care.” There is also the bonus of added antioxidants, which help protect against free-radical damage, the number one enemy in the war on skin ageing. Ragoobar explains, “It has high antioxidant power, with a water-soluble, stable form of vitamin C that supports the skin's water phase. Oil-soluble vitamin E protects skin lipids (that protect our skin’s barrier), and beta carotene reinforces the broader antioxidant network, contributing to balanced support across the skin's different layers.” With clinical tests under its belt, demonstrating its antioxidant strength, the radical scavenging factor (RSF) test showed a 95.4 per cent inhibition of free radicals (in vitro). Also, an antioxidant potential test: proven to offer high antioxidant power through the rapid decrease in free radical levels (in vitro). It's got legs as great skin protection, even in winter. Dr Fernandes has some lasting advice on whether you need sun protection year-round. “The SPF factor indicates protection against UVB (burning rays), not UVA (ageing rays). I believe we are over-concentrating on UVB. When 99.9 per cent of UV radiation is, in fact, UVA, and even the highest SPF does not block 100 per cent of those UVB rays. It also doesn’t block UVA, nor does it block visible light, blue light, or infrared.”
Environ RAD ACTIVÉ Antioxidant Sun Cream SPF 20, $89.
Environ RAD ACTIVÉ Antioxidant Sun Cream SPF 20, $89
For year-round protection.