Our human nature is indeed fascinating, full of contradictions. Some things are taken for granted, not requiring much thought, simply following logic.

On the other hand, some things we don't perceive as threats, even when there's an abundance of scientific evidence confirming the risks we easily dismiss.

Let's review the material: There's no protection without sunscreen.

For example, when it rains, we grab an umbrella because it's obvious. We wouldn't want to get wet if we can prevent it, right?

Similarly, when strong sunlight blinds our vision, we reach for sunglasses to instantly clear it up because behind tinted lenses, the sun's glare is controlled, allowing for better visibility. And that's understood, because if one can't see clearly, it's easy to lose direction…

Yet, when experts, from climatologists to dermatologists, warn about the dangers posed by UVB and UVA rays to our skin health, emphasizing that using sunscreen is now a matter of health prevention, it's still too often ignored.

There are still too many who would conclude that it's not that big of a problem to think about or take action. Just like with climate change, some will dismiss warnings about the harmful effects of UV rays as a myth.

Therefore, it's time to review the material. Especially now, as we enter the warmer part of the year, when people become more aware of the risks of ultraviolet radiation…

What can excessive exposure without protection do to our skin?

• Why are UVB and UVA rays a threat to us?

• What are protective factors, and how do we determine which one is good for us?

• What ingredients does a good sunscreen contain to make the sun always friendly to our skin?

First, let's review the lesson aimed at breaking the prejudice that the sun is only dangerous in summer when extreme heat occurs. That's simply not true. Summer is when it's the strongest, that's true.

Few are the people who haven't at least once in their lives experienced what it's like when their skin burns from strong sun exposure, when that burning skin redness appears, accompanied by painful blisters and peeling of layers of scorched epidermis that lasts for days…

What ailments can excessive sun exposure cause?

However, besides the sunburns that can result from uncontrolled exposure to strong sunlight, there are a number of other skin conditions caused by UV radiation from the spectrum:

• from oxidative stress due to the action of free radicals

• various allergies

• pigmentation issues

• accelerated skin aging

• the appearance of melanoma, a life-threatening consequence of ignoring warnings about the danger of UV radiation…

When we look at the range of problems that UV radiation can cause, it begs the question: Is it really so hard to understand that our skin is our largest organ, the one most exposed to various adverse effects, and that it requires special care and attention? It shouldn't be.

If one loves themselves, they should love their skin because it's their first touch with the world. This love is reflected in the attention we give it, and when it comes to the negative impact of the sun, that attention must be heightened and heightened.

Are UVB & UVA rays less dangerous in autumn and winter?

So, just because we won't get sunburned in autumn and winter doesn't mean that UVB and UVA rays are less dangerous, weaker, or gone.

On the contrary, they are always there; it's just that people are more aware of them in summer than in winter. And so, the skin, especially the facial skin, which is always exposed, needs to be protected throughout the year.

Using a daily moisturizer with a protective factor is a prerequisite for beautiful and healthy skin! Quality sunscreen should never be excluded from the daily care routine, and an ideal factor would be SPF30.

Here's a reminder that it doesn't matter whether it's summer or winter, raining, or indoors. UV rays are present everywhere, and UVA rays penetrate through window glass. UVA rays, by the way, constitute as much as 95 percent of the UV spectrum, regardless of weather conditions.

They are the main culprits for so-called photoaging, the formation of wrinkles, various spots on the skin, contributing to the loss of skin firmness… So, when we add and subtract everything, protection from the negative effects of UV radiation is not possible without a protective factor! And that's - throughout the year.

What is the protective factor and which factor ensures optimal protection?

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is simply the degree of protection of the skin from sunburn caused by excessive sun exposure.

A little digression: don't think that there are no sunburns or other skin damage if they aren't visible to the naked eye. Five years ago, the French artist Pierre-Louis Ferrer published a collection of UV portraits entitled "Raw," photographed with a special technique under ultraviolet light, showing that beneath the top layer of his models' skin lies a completely different layer, full of specks, which are the consequences of UV radiation…

So, there are low, medium, and high levels of protection, and people often find themselves in doubt about which factor is enough to protect them.

Dermatologists claim that the optimal protective factor is SPF30. Why? Because SPF30 protects against 97.6 percent of UV radiation, and SPF50 protects against 98 percent of radiation.

So, the difference is minimal, which means that creams with SPF30 provide an extremely high level of protection, and there's no need to opt for higher protective factors. This is the reason why dermatologists worldwide recommend using SPF30 sunscreen.

Which products from Nikel cosmetics can protect your skin?

In addition to prevention, the new generation of sunscreen creams also provides rich skin care. The NiKEL SUN PROTECTION line of sunscreen creams are lightweight moisturizing face creams with SPF30.

They contain the most advanced photostable UVA and UVB filters, as well as extremely advanced protective active ingredients that protect and nourish, restore skin radiance, even out the complexion, and protect the skin from photoaging: premature wrinkle formation, pigmentation spots, and dehydration. Whether it's the version with vitamin C or without it, the facial skin will be nourished and protected from the negative effects of UV radiation.

Why vitamin C with SPF?

Because of its antioxidant effect: vitamin C doesn't absorb UV light but neutralizes free radicals. In the NiKEL SUN PROTECT face cream with vitamin C, there are micro-capsules of vitamin C, retained in liposome microspheres made from pure ceramides.

This means that vitamin C is released only upon contact with the skin and is confirmed as a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. It's equally effective against UVA and UVB rays and extremely successful in limiting chronic skin damage.

And of course, that's not the end of its superpowers. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production, reduces hyperpigmentation, strengthens the skin barrier function, and reduces transepidermal water loss. In laboratory conditions, the application of vitamin C to the skin has been shown to reduce UVB-induced erythema by 52 percent and sunburn by 40 to 60 percent.

In practice, it has been shown that the NiKEL SUN PROTECT line works beneficially in various specific situations - from not clogging pores, not promoting acne formation, not drying out skin prone to freckles, to combining well with powder because it's lightweight and deeply hydrating…

It's applied simply - by applying evenly to the entire face and neck, as the last step in daily care. For longer sun exposure, it's good to apply a thicker layer of cream, and be sure to reapply protection after swimming or during increased sweating…

Just like all NiKEL products, these magical SUN PROTECT creams bear the trusted signature of quality from the esteemed and award-winning Croatian innovator in the field of cosmetology, master of pharmacy Mirjana Brlečić.