Most of us know the importance of wearing sunscreen in the summer months to avoid sunburn and damage, but it really should be a year-round preventative health measure. Whether you’re walking to the shops, pottering in the garden or on the golf course, you should always wear sunscreen, no matter what your skin colour or tone.

On an overcast day up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can still pass through clouds, so daily sun protection is essential and is an accepted feature within day creams for all ages.

Sunscreen isn’t a new revelation, it dates back to ancient Egypt, where Rice bran extract and Jasmine were used to help shield skin from the sun.(1) More recently, other natural ingredients such as Purified Bee Venom (PBV™) have proven to have a photoprotective effect on the skin to prevent skin damage caused by prolonged sun exposure. (2)

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. (3) Not only does sunscreen reduce your risk of skin cancer, it helps to prevent premature skin ageing caused by the sun, including wrinkles, sagging and age spots.

Choose a Day Cream with at least an SPF15 for general use. The Manuka Doctor age-defying Day Cream with added SPF protection for everyday use, refines the look of fine lines whilst nourishing and restoring skin’s softness. It’s not just the SPF within the Day Cream formula that can help to protect the skin from UVA and UVB exposure. Wonder ingredient from the hive Purified Bee Venom (PBV™) also works on all levels of the skin to encourage naturally occurring cell regeneration, boost collagen formation increasing skin’s elasticity and accelerate the recovery of damaged skin cells. (4)

And thanks to the highly moisturising properties of Manuka honey, this revitalising Day Cream and winner of Healthy magazine’s Best Skincare Product, leaves skin glowingly soft and naturally plumped. Cell regenerating Royal jelly rejuvenates skin by renewing damaged skin cells and boosting skin’s radiance, whilst hydrating Shea butter and vitamin E moisturise and smooth the complexion for younger looking skin.

 “The buzz around bee venom has been big for a few years now with fans said to include Gwyneth Paltrow and the Duchess of Cambridge, thanks to its collagen-boosting qualities. This nourishing SPF15 day cream is rich yet non-greasy and easily absorbed. It smells good enough to eat, but resist the urge – it’s your skin that needs to feast on this gorgeous cream! Nourishing ingredients also include royal jelly, manuka honey, shea butter, olive oil and vitamin E.”

“I love this cream it’s light and easy to wear under makeup. I also use the night cream and the two help my skin stay smooth and wrinkle free. I changed quite a while ago from another known brand and now wouldn’t go back.”

It’s not just wrinkles that are a result of over exposure to the sun, UV rays can cause discolouration of the skin leading to dark spots also known as pigmentation. Studies show that those below age 55 who apply sunscreen regularly have 24 percent less chance of developing these signs of ageing than those who don’t. (5)