SPF is the foundation of every result we care about. What to look for on the label, how much to apply, and the mistakes we see most often.
If we could only keep one product in a routine, it would not be a serum. Ultraviolet exposure drives the pigmentation, laxity and textural change that most treatments are then asked to undo. Protection is not the boring step — it is the step that protects your investment.
Reading the label
In Australia, look for SPF 50+ and the words broad spectrum, which covers UVA as well as UVB. Beyond that, choose a texture you will genuinely wear every morning; adherence beats specification every time.
How much, how often
Most people apply roughly a third of the tested amount. A level teaspoon for the face and neck is the benchmark. Reapply every two hours of meaningful exposure, and after swimming or sweating.
The mistakes we see most
Skipping the ears, hairline and the back of the hands. Relying on the SPF in a foundation. Assuming a cloudy Melbourne morning is a day off. And stopping in winter, when UVA levels remain more than high enough to keep pigment active.
