Hybrid work is no longer the exception, it’s simply how most of us work now. Whether you’re splitting your week between the office and home, or spending long stretches on video calls, laptops, and multiple screens, “indoors” has become the default setting for a huge part of our day. And that shift has quietly changed our beauty routines too.
Some steps get skipped when the commute disappears and the webcam becomes the closest thing to “getting ready.” But there’s one step that should never make that list: sun care. It’s the one most of us are guilty of glossing over when we’re not stepping outside — and it’s also the one with the biggest long-term cost if we do.
Why do I need to do sun care when I’m indoors?
It’s a natural assumption that staying indoors means no sun exposure, so no need for sun protection. Unfortunately, that assumption is also a dangerous one.
UV radiation that affects the skin is made up of UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn, while UVA rays — which have a longer wavelength — are responsible for much of the damage linked to photoaging. Glass windows filter out most UVB rays, but UVA rays pass through glass largely unaffected. That matters because UVA exposure, even at low daily doses, breaks down collagen and elastin over time, contributing to fine lines, sagging, and uneven texture.
There’s also a second, more modern culprit: screen light. With so much of work and life now happening across laptops, monitors, tablets, and phones, our daily exposure to high-energy visible (HEV) light — commonly known as blue light — has only grown. Research has linked blue light exposure to visible signs of photoaging, including hyperpigmentation and collagen breakdown, and some studies suggest it can trigger even more pigmentation and redness in skin than comparable UVA exposure.
The bottom line: UV and blue light damage is cumulative. Every unprotected day adds up, whether you’re by a sunny window, on a video call, or scrolling through your phone in bed. There’s no such thing as a day off from sun care.
What kind of sun care should I be doing at home?
Once you accept that sun care isn’t just an “outdoors” habit, the next question is how to build it into a routine that actually fits your day.
Being indoors reduces your UV exposure, but it doesn’t eliminate it — especially if you’re seated near a window or under bright indoor lighting for hours at a stretch. Dermatologists still recommend applying sunscreen to all exposed skin, particularly the face, neck, and chest, even on full work-from-home days.
If reapplying topical sunscreen throughout a busy day of back-to-back calls feels impractical, or you’d rather not risk product smudging onto your keyboard or furniture, consider supplementing your routine with an oral sun care supplement like Heliocare 360º Capsule. Formulated with Fernblock®+ along with prebiotics, cystine, and vitamins B3, C & E, it works alongside topical sunscreen to help defend against visible photoaging signs such as hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and loss of skin firmness, without needing to touch your face mid-workday.
As a general guideline, dermatologists recommend reapplying topical sunscreen every two hours when you’re in direct sun or near strong window light. If you’re working further from windows or mostly under indoor lighting, reapplication can be less frequent, but skipping sun protection altogether still isn’t advisable.
What should I look out for in my sunscreen?
To get meaningful protection indoors, look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers UVA, UVB, and blue light — not just UVB, which many basic sunscreens are still formulated primarily around.
Not every sunscreen offers blue light protection. The ones that do typically contain mineral filters like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which have been shown in clinical research to offer stronger protection against both UVA and blue light compared to sunscreens without them.
Heliocare 360º Gel Oil-free SPF 50 is built for exactly this kind of day. Formulated with titanium dioxide, it protects against four types of radiation — UVA, UVB, blue light, and infrared — while its oil-free, sebum-controlling formula keeps skin comfortable through long hours indoors, whether you’re at a desk or in back-to-back meetings.
If you’re regularly on video calls and want sun protection that also helps you look camera-ready, Heliocare 360º Pigment Solution Fluid SPF 50+ is worth considering. This ultra-light, tinted formula combines antipollution and depigmenting technology to help prevent and correct hyperpigmentation and sunspots, while its nude pigments even out skin tone on application.
Not sure which Heliocare product is right for your skin? Take our Skin Quiz to get a personalised recommendation in minutes!
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