SPF Is Still the Cheapest Anti-Ageing We Know
No serum outruns the sun. A practical guide to choosing and actually using sunscreen in Indian humidity — and why dermatologists keep repeating it.
Ask any dermatologist for the single most cost-effective anti-ageing intervention and you will hear the same answer: daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. Not because it is glamorous, but because up to 80% of visible facial ageing is driven by ultraviolet exposure.
What "broad spectrum" actually means
UVB burns; UVA ages quietly through windows and cloud. In India, look for:
- SPF 30 minimum — SPF 50 for pigmentation-prone skin
- a PA+++ or PA++++ rating (this is the UVA measure)
- gel or fluid textures that survive 70% humidity
The two-finger rule
Most people apply a quarter of the tested dose. Squeeze two finger-lengths onto your hand for face and neck. Yes, it feels like a lot. No, a pea-sized dab does not count.
Reapplication without wrecking makeup
- Morning: full dose on clean skin, wait two minutes, then makeup
- Midday: a mineral SPF stick pressed over makeup, or a setting-spray SPF
- Outdoor days: shade breaks matter more than perfection
If one product decision could change your skin trajectory in five years, this is it. Everything else in our clinic builds on this foundation.