How can SPF protection enhance your anti-aging routine?

If you’ve been hearing a lot about sun damage, and are asking yourself how to prevent skin aging, we have a few answers. As we’ll see, a good skin-aging prevention routine should include collagen peptides for skin, and of course, an SPF. Read on to find out more about how SPF protection can enhance your anti-aging routine.

What are the sun’s effects on the skin?

Oh, how we love the sun! In addition to its warmth, life and energy-giving properties, it’s a great source of Vitamin D – essential for our health. It’s just not all that good for our skin.

Excessive sun exposure can lead to photo-aging, which is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to UV radiation. This can in turn lead to sagging skin and dark spots.

How do UV rays bring about sagging skin? Basically, prolonged UV radiation activates enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These break down collagen fibers, which leads to a loss of skin’s firmness and resilience. And that leads to more wrinkles, fine lines and, you guessed it, sagging skin.

Sun exposure can also create dark spots or hyperpigmentation. Long term exposure to UV rays damage melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin and cause your skin to tan. That leads to dark spots.

So, while we all need a bit of sun now and then, clearly, we should look at how to prevent skin damage too.

How to prevent skin damage: the benefits of an SPF protection routine

Because UVA rays break down collagen and elastin, it makes a lot of sense to protect the collagen in your skin from the sun’s damaging effects by using skincare for anti-aging as well as an SPF:

• First by using collagen peptides for skin to maintain your collagen capital. Protect your skin’s elasticity and firmness with a collagen peptides cream from Biotherm’s Blue Peptides Uplift range. Blue peptides stimulate collagen synthesis to preserve collagen fibers and skin structure, firming up skin and acting on even deep wrinkles. Blue Peptides Uplift Cream SPF 30 has an added SPF to protect your skin from further damage.


• Second by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen in your skin aging prevention routine. Broad-spectrum means that it stops the longer UV wavelengths from penetrating deep into your skin. Urban UV Defense Protective hydratating fluid is an excellent choice as it offers very high SPF 50+ protection against UVA, UVB and long UVA rays. And with its breathable cream texture it absorbs quickly, leaving no white marks, making it ideal for layering over anti-aging face cream. Skin feels smoother, hydrated and strengthened¹.

How to prevent sagging skin as you age: Does sunscreen help build collagen?

While sunscreen is essential for protecting the skin from harmful UV rays, it doesn’t directly stimulate collagen production. Still, sunscreen indirectly helps protect collagen by preventing collagen damage. As we’ve seen, UV radiation can damage collagen fibers and contribute to the breakdown of skin’s structure. By applying sunscreen regularly and minimizing UV exposure, you can help preserve existing collagen in the skin and prevent skin damage.

When should I apply SPF in my skincare routine?

You should apply an SPF as part of your daily anti-aging skincare routine. Apply it as a last step in your skin-aging prevention, in the morning, and again before sun exposure. There’s no need to apply it at night.

What’s a good collagen peptide + SPF routine?

And when should you use collagen cream? A good rule of thumb is to use collagen cream in the morning and the night, and SPF during the day. Biotherm’s new range of collagen peptide creams, Blue Peptides Uplift includes a variety of day creams and a night cream so you can choose the one best for your needs. Read on for a good daytime collagen peptide and SPF routine.

• SKINCARE FOR ANTI-AGING: MORNING ROUTINE



• STEP 1. After cleansing apply Life Plankton Elixir serum to repair and brighten your skin.


• STEP 2. Then apply Blue Peptides Uplift Cream to visibly lift, firm and illuminate.


• STEP 3. Now comes Blue Pro-Retinol Eye blue moisturizer to smooth the eye contour.


• STEP 4. Finish with Urban UV Defense to protect and prevent UV-induced damage.

Were you a fan of the blue moisturizer, Blue Therapy Multi-Defender? Well Blue Peptides SP30 is the next generation anti-aging face cream. With increased efficacy against wrinkles and sagging skin, plus a higher SPF to protect skin against sun damage, Blue Peptides is the very latest in Biotherm skin aging prevention.

Tips for how to layer skincare with SPF

Read on for a few helpful tips for how to layer skincare with SPF.

• • Apply SPF as the last step of your anti-aging skincare routine: after cleansing, toning, applying serums, and moisturizing, sunscreen should be the final step in your morning skincare routine. This helps the sunscreen form a protective barrier on top of your skin.


• • Allow enough time for each layer to be absorbed: allow each skincare product to be absorbed fully into the skin before applying the next layer, including sunscreen.


• • Use the recommended amount of SPF: to make sure that you have solid protection against UV radiation, it's essential to apply the recommended amount of sunscreen.


• • Reduce the number of products by using a tinted sunscreen: new Urban UV Defense Brightening Light Milk SPF 50+ helps you skip a step in your morning beauty routine. It’s tinted, so it can protect you from UVB and UVA rays and give a glowy finish, without the need for a foundation.

It looks like the evidence is clear! In order to protect collagen and maintain healthy skin, it's essential to use sunscreen regularly, as part of your daily skin-aging prevention routine. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do to protect your collagen capital, reduce wrinkles and look years younger!

¹ Consumer test on 69 Caucasian subjects, results after 28 days application.