Science has come a long way since cold cream was the go-to beauty product for women worldwide.

Now, there are a number of active ingredients in quality creams that can significantly decrease the effects of ageing.

Of course, at this point, we all know that one of the best skincare products your money can buy is a good sunscreen.

However, while sunscreen is something you can’t face UV rays without, there are also certain products and skincare ingredients you shouldn’t wear in the sun.

The experts at Skin Renewal made a list of cosmetics that are best suited to bedtime, rather than whilst out and about

Retinol

When it comes to wrinkle-busting active ingredients, retinol is still the gold standard, because it does a great job of stimulating collagen production. This helps keep your skin looking youthful and wrinkle-free for longer.

Better yet, it encourages your skin cells to regenerate at a faster rate, revealing fresher, more evenly toned skin. Still, because it’s essentially unveiling new, baby-soft skin, it can make you more sensitive to sunburn and increase your risk of sun damage, ironically one of many things it’s used to repair.

It also breaks down when exposed to light, so wearing it in the sun makes it less effective. The best way to use it is before bed.

Exfoliating acids

Physical scrubs aren’t the smartest option when it comes to exfoliating. Many of them simply aren’t ‘scrubby’ enough to truly shift dead skin cells or they’re too harsh and can cause micro-tears in your skin. Your safest bet is to choose a chemical exfoliator.

Similar to retinol, because you’re peeling and revealing new skin, that skin is going to be sensitive to the sun. This is another treatment to use in the evening or when you won’t be going outdoors.

Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a brilliant antibacterial ingredient that can penetrate through oil and get deep into your pores to kill acne-causing bacteria while reducing inflammation. Like everything else we’ve mentioned, it can also cause sun sensitivity.

If you’re going to apply it to a lone pimple and wear it in the office, that’s fine. Slathering it all over your face and then setting off on a hike, however, is going to land you with a nasty sunburn.

The bottom line is that products containing these ingredients should be used at night. There’s no point in using them at all if you’re going to undo all their work in the sun.

During the day, your best friend is sunscreen.

If you’re unsure about which skincare products would work best for your skin this summer, you can also set up a meeting with one of the Skin Renewal doctors for an assessment.

Your skin will thank you.