The weather outside may be frightful and bitter cold (thanks, climate change!), but that doesn’t mean you should be slacking with your sunscreen (also, thanks climate change!) It’s just as easy for those harmful ultraviolet rays to damage our skin in the coldest months. But what are these UV rays? And why does it even matter when we barely see the sun in the winter months?

UVB rays (or, as I like to call them, “U Vill Burn” rays) damage the outermost levels of skin causing delayed sunburn as well as most skin cancers. While these rays are stronger in the summer, they’ll still burn you in the winter, bouncing off the snow and ice. “Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV light,” according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. “So the rays hit you twice, further increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.”

UVA rays (or “U Vill Age” rays) penetrate the skin deeper, causing wrinkles and aging. These rays are constant year-round and can penetrate clouds, fog and glass. That means you can get a full blast of UVB and UVA rays on your way to work, without even stepping out of your car. This is also why the Mayo Clinic recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against both types of UV rays — whether it’s sunny or not. 

The best way to protect against damage from the sun is to add sunscreen to your morning routine and the easiest way to do this is multi-tasking. Picking up a moisturizer with SPF is a great way to save time, hydrate your skin and protect yourself from those harmful UV rays. Read on for a few of our favorite skin-quenching and protecting multitaskers…

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