It’s cold, the sky is sometimes gray, and yet it’s when they get back from a day on the slopes that many people discover the goggle mark on their face. The cold is deceptive: you can’t feel the sun warming your skin, yet in the mountains it hits harder than in town.
In brief
In the mountains, skin receives more UV than at low altitude, because UV increases with altitude and fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of it, according to the WHO. So apply a broad-spectrum protection of SPF 30 at least before heading out, on everything the helmet and goggles leave uncovered, and reapply every 2 hours, along with a protective lip balm. In the evening, go back to a gentle, nourishing routine for skin that has had a day of cold and wind.
Why is the sun stronger when skiing?
Because altitude and snow add up. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that UV radiation increases with altitude, as thinner air absorbs less of it. The Skin Cancer Foundation, an American foundation, estimates that UV exposure increases by 4 to 5% for every 1,000 feet of elevation (roughly 300 meters).
Then there is reflection. The WHO states that fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of the UV radiation it receives: your skin is exposed from above, and from below too, under your chin, under your nose and under your eyes.
Finally, a gray sky doesn’t protect as much as you might think: according to the WHO, UV is strongest under clear skies but can remain high under cloud. And the cold changes nothing: it simply stops you feeling your skin warm up.
Which sunscreen should you choose for skiing?
SPF 30 at least, broad-spectrum, in a texture that holds up in the cold. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) and water-resistant. For winter sports, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends an SPF of at least 30 on all exposed skin.
As for texture, the mountains have their own particularities:
- a cream rather than a very light fluid: your skin takes the cold and wind all day, and a richer texture is often more comfortable;
- water-resistant: snow, sweat and the rubbing of a neck gaiter wear it away;
- a pocket-sized format (stick or small tube) for reapplying on the slopes.
The general criteria (mineral or organic filters, amount, finish) are covered in choosing a facial sunscreen. If your skin already feels tight in winter, the moisturizer to apply underneath is chosen with winter face cream: how to choose.
Where should you apply sunscreen when wearing goggles?
Everywhere the helmet, goggles and neck gaiter leave your skin bare, including the areas lit from below by the snow. The Skin Cancer Foundation lists the tops of the ears, the area around the eyes and the hairline among the spots often forgotten. Dermato-info, the website of the French Society of Dermatology, adds the lips, ears, nape of the neck and backs of the hands.
The table helps you go around your face before setting off.
| Area | Why it gets forgotten | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nose and cheekbones | They stick out from the goggles | Generous layer, to reapply first |
| Underside of the nose and chin | Snow reflects UV from below | Apply upward, not just from the front |
| Around the eyes, under the goggles | The goggles shift and lift | Apply up to the edge of the goggles, without touching the eye |
| Ears and hairline | A helmet or hat that slips | A small dab on the tops of the ears and the forehead |
| Lips | You don’t think of them | A balm with a filter, SPF 30 at least |
| Backs of the hands | Gloves off on the chairlift or at lunch | A quick pass when you take your gloves off |
Should you reapply sunscreen on the slopes?
Yes, about every 2 hours, and after sweating a lot or wiping your face. The AAD advises applying sunscreen 15 minutes before going out, on dry skin, then reapplying about every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating. Dermato-info likewise recommends reapplying every 2 hours and always after heavy sweating or wiping.
In practice, lunch and chairlift breaks are good reminders. Remember too that the WHO points out that sunscreen should not be used to stay out in the sun for longer: at the midday break, shade or indoors remains the best protection.
Lips and eyes: how do you protect them at altitude?
A balm with a filter for the lips, sunglasses or a filtering mask for the eyes. For the lips, the AAD recommends a balm of SPF 30 or higher before going out, even in winter, reapplied every 2 hours outdoors, preferably with mineral filters (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). If they are already chapped, the steps are in chapped lips in winter: what to do.
For the eyes, the WHO advises wraparound sunglasses that filter 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB, and Dermato-info recommends UV-filtering glasses of category 3 or 4 depending on the brightness. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that almost all current ski goggles are made of polycarbonate, a material that filters all UV. The WHO describes snow blindness, a burn of the surface of the eye, in skiers and mountaineers exposed at altitude: eye pain after a day in the mountains warrants medical advice.
Which face routine for a day in the mountains?
Simple in the morning, protective during the day, gentle in the evening.
- Morning: a gentle cleanser or a simple rinse, a moisturizer, then sunscreen in a generous layer, 15 minutes before heading out. Lip balm with a filter last.
- On the slopes: sunscreen and balm in your pocket, to reapply about every 2 hours.
- Evening: a gentle cleanse to remove the sunscreen, then a richer cream. If your skin has taken knocks from cold or wind and stings, it’s time to cut the routine back to the essentials and pause active ingredients (acids, retinol) for a few days.
For your toiletry bag, the formats and quantities to take are covered in skincare routine when traveling. And for a routine that takes into account your skin, your lifestyle and your budget, the free skin quiz asks you a few questions and builds yours.
A burning redness, blisters, swelling after a day in the mountain sun: this is no longer a question of routine, it calls for medical advice, from a pharmacist or a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need sunscreen when skiing on a gray day?
Yes. The WHO points out that UV is strongest under clear skies but can remain high under cloud, and the snow keeps reflecting it. The cold simply stops you feeling your skin warm up.
Is SPF 30 enough in the mountains?
The AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend an SPF of at least 30, broad-spectrum. The SPF is measured in a laboratory with an amount that is rarely applied day to day: at altitude, a generous layer and reapplying every 2 hours matter as much as the number. That is why many people choose SPF 50 for the face, as explained in choosing a facial sunscreen.
Is foundation with SPF enough for skiing?
Rarely. People generally wear a thin layer, far from the amount used to measure the SPF, and it isn’t designed to be reapplied on the slopes. A proper sunscreen is better, reapplied every 2 hours.
Can dark spots get darker after skiing?
UV is one of the things that accentuates the appearance of dark spots, and the mountains deliver a lot of it. A generous, reapplied layer of sunscreen is the first step; what then helps soften their appearance is covered in dark spots after summer.