SPF Should Be The Beauty Essential Of Gen-Z

We are raising a generation more image-conscious than any before. Teenagers are experimenting with retinol and anti-ageing serums, while twenty-somethings are turning to fillers and injectables to “future-proof” their looks. And yet, at the same time, many are skipping daily SPF and even heading back to the sunbed salons their parents were warned away from.

The SPF Backlash

Scroll through TikTok or Instagram and it doesn’t take long to stumble across posts declaring sunscreen “toxic” or unnecessary. Influencers proudly share that they’ve “ditched SPF” or promote tanning oils as a shortcut to a so-called “healthy glow.” Others argue it blocks Vitamin D or clogs pores – ideas that sound persuasive in a twenty-second clip, but unravel the moment you look at the evidence.

Because the truth is simple. You can get enough Vitamin D from short bursts of daylight or supplements, without risking skin cancer. Safe sunscreens are widely available in the UK (read my blog here to find out more). And that golden tan so often held up as aspirational? It’s your skin’s distress signal, proof that the damage has already begun.

The Anti-Ageing Paradox

It is a troubling contradiction: a generation more image-conscious than ever, investing in serums, fillers and filters, while rejecting the one step that truly protects their skin and fast-tracking the very damage they’re trying to avoid.

UV rays don’t just cause burning; they penetrate the skin and break down collagen, leading to sagging, fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. The irony? While 20-somethings are booking in for injectables at unprecedented rates, sunbeds and unprotected sun exposure are undoing their investment at a cellular level.

Why SPF Should Be a Daily Habit

SPF protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA is the spectrum that drives premature ageing – the fine lines, pigmentation and sagging skin that no amount of serums can undo. UVB is what burns, leaving the obvious redness. Both, however, increase the risk of skin cancer, which makes daily protection non-negotiable.

Collagen breakdown is another consequence of UV exposure, and once it happens, no filler or cream can truly repair the damage. Prevention is the only option. Sunscreen is not just a cosmetic choice; it is the foundation of every effective anti-ageing routine.

And it isn’t just for summer. Cloud cover filters out only around ten per cent of UV rays, which means that even on grey, overcast days in the UK, your skin is still at risk. SPF should be thought of as a year-round habit, as essential as brushing your teeth.

Children and teenagers, in particular, have the most to gain. Sun damage accumulates over time, and the habits formed early will make the biggest difference decades later. Teaching young people to apply sunscreen is one of the simplest, most powerful long-term health interventions we have.

Why “Safe Tanning” Is a Myth

New data released last year by the charity Melanoma Focus found that more than a quarter (28%) of adults in the UK say they use sunbeds, rising to a shocking 43% of 18-25 year olds. Even more concerning, the research found that public awareness of the dangers is low, with only 62% of people knowing their use increases the risk of skin cancer.

The report says, "Over the last decade, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around a third (32%) in the UK and it is estimated that, across the country, sunbeds cause about 440 melanomas and around 100 deaths each year." Despite some suggesting sunbeds are about “wellness,” there’s no safe dose of artificial UV. The World Health Organisation has classified tanning beds as a Group 1 carcinogen – the same category as asbestos and tobacco. And then there’s the ageing factor. UV accelerates skin thinning, loss of elasticity and uneven pigmentation – exactly the concerns driving young adults toward skincare and injectables in the first place.

Talking to Teens

Convincing teenagers to wear sunscreen can feel like a losing battle, especially when a tan is still tied to the idea of looking healthy. The trick is to frame SPF in a way that connects with what matters most to them. A lecture about skin cancer might not cut through, but mention spots or the chance of premature wrinkles, and suddenly the message lands.

It also has to be easy. Lightweight, non-greasy formulas or tinted moisturisers with SPF are far more likely to become part of their routine than a heavy cream they hate the feel of. It should be seen as a daily essential, not something they reach for only when the sun is shining. It also helps to be clear about the risks of shortcuts. Sunbeds may be sold as a quick glow before a holiday, but even one session damages skin at the deepest level, with long-term effects they can’t see now but will live with later.

Above all, parents need to model the behaviour themselves. Children mirror what they see. If sunscreen is simply part of family life – kept by the door with keys, applied before school runs, topped up on weekends outdoors – it stops being a chore and becomes second nature.