SPF is the most important step in your skin care routine. Every single day, you should apply a high-level, broad-spectrum sun protection product, especially in the spring and summer months when UVB rays are at their highest.

Our award-winning daily sun protection range, Heliocare 360° provides the very best daily defence against the sun and daylight and is the perfect choice for everyday sun protection. But what makes Heliocare 360° stand out from other sun protection products? We explain more about the power of Heliocare and the five main reasons you and your skin will love Heliocare 360°.

1. Broad-spectrum protection

Every Heliocare 360° product offers protection against UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A with at least SPF50 and PA++++.

This broad-spectrum protection is important because too much daylight exposure is incredibly dangerous for our skin. It’s true that a level of UV exposure can be good for us, as it helps our bodies produce vitamin D, however, only a short daily period of sun exposure¹ is required to achieve this.

UVA rays have long wavelengths that penetrate deep into the skin. They make up approximately 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface². Although they have a lower intensity, UVA rays are present all day long, no matter the weather. They reach the deepest layers of skin and cause chemical changes that lead to premature skin ageing, skin cell DNA damage and an increased risk of skin cancer.

UVB rays have short wavelengths that damage the uppermost layers of skin, causing the redness, blisters, tenderness, and pain associated with sunburn. UVB rays have also been found to increase our chances of genetic mutations and skin cancer. Though UVB rays only contribute to around 5% of UV radiation, they are incredibly high energy and can damage some unprotected skin types in just five to ten minutes³. UVB rays are strongest in the spring and summer months, and during the peak hours of 10am until 4pm. They are also stronger in locations closer to the equator, at high altitude, and with a low ozone layer.

Along with UVA and UVB radiation, we also need to protect our skin from visible light and infrared-A. As you would expect, visible light is light that can be detected by the human eye, either from the sun or devices like smartphones and laptops. Much like UVA rays, visible light can penetrate to the deepest layers of skin, hindering collagen and elastin production⁴ which impacts on skin health and youthfulness. Meanwhile, infrared-A cannot be seen, but can be felt. It has long wavelengths at a low frequency, penetrating even deeper than UV radiation and damaging the skin’s structure.

Fortunately, we can protect our skin from the risks of UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A exposure with Heliocare 360°. It’s just one of the reasons to love Heliocare.

2. The power of Fernblock®

What really makes Heliocare 360° stand out from other SPF ranges is Fernblock®, a supercharged antioxidant that helps to further boost the broad-spectrum protection we’ve already mentioned.

Fernblock® is a patented plant extract from the aquatic fern, Polypodium leucotomos, which has a natural protective mechanism against the sun. With its unique ability to defend and repair sun damage, P. leucotomos evolved to be able to survive on land. This incredible power was harnessed by Cantabria Labs, the geniuses behind Heliocare 360°, and Harvard Medical School. After years of scientific research, Fernblock® technology was born, obtained from selected plants and offering maximum efficacy and safety.

Fernblock® has been involved in 80 studies and scientific publications demonstrating its multiple benefits. These include drastically increasing the skin’s resistance to sunburn, protecting against the four types of radiation, preventing DNA damage, eliminating free radicals, regulating the skin’s immune system, and preventing collagen breakdown and hyperpigmentation.

Every product in the Heliocare 360° collection contains Fernblock®, providing unrivalled sun protection along with a host of other skin-loving ingredients and activities.

3. DNA repair enzymes

Heliocare 360° also contains powerful DNA repair enzymes. These not only help to repair existing DNA damage but prevent the build-up of additional damage.

DNA protection and repair are crucial in achieving long-term skin health. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the ‘molecule of life’: a long molecule containing a unique genetic code that tells our cells how to function. As with all molecules, DNA has a very specific structure, and when certain chemical reactions take place, this structure can change. This means our cells start to behave dangerously, and it's these mutations that lead to cancerous growths.

For the most part, our skin cells can repair any problems encountered. But when the damages become too severe and frequent, our skin cells can’t keep up, and the changes are irreparable.

The more we expose our skin to the sun and other external aggressors, the higher our risk of DNA damage. Even if the skin doesn’t burn or blister, it does not mean that the skin cell DNA hasn’t been affected.

The single best way to prevent skin cell DNA damage is to avoid daylight exposure and protect the skin with Heliocare 360°. This will also help to repair any existing DNA damage within both the nucleus and mitochondria of DNA, thus lowering your risk of developing skin cancer. What’s more, the DNA repair enzymes within Heliocare 360° can reduce free radical damage to the mitochondria by 30%.

4. Antioxidant activity

Another reason to love Heliocare 360° is its powerful cocktail of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea extract.

Antioxidants help to protect and replenish the skin, as well as keeping the symptoms of premature skin ageing at bay. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of antioxidants available from different sources⁵. Many antioxidants are naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, flowers, leaves, roots and bark. They can be taken orally, or applied topically in skin care, such as Heliocare.

Antioxidants are naturally skilled in delaying or completely preventing cell damage. They achieve this by stabilising free radicals (the single, unstable atoms that are responsible for a number of health conditions and premature skin ageing) and counteracting the oxidation process (whereby free radicals scavenge the body for electrons to pair up with, causing oxidative stress). Free radicals are present in our everyday environment, from fried food and alcohol, to pollution and cigarette smoke. UV exposure is thought to be one of the biggest sources of free radicals, contributing to approximately 80% of free radical damage⁶.

Fortunately, antioxidants offer the incredible ability to stabilise free radicals by donating a desired electron without causing the body oxidative stress. This makes the free radicals less reactive, therefore slowing down or completely stalling damage.

Heliocare 360° contains a combination of antioxidants to prevent free radical damage and boost skin health. Benefits include improving the skin’s protective barrier, slowing collagen breakdown, reducing inflammation, and improving the appearance of pigmentation.

5. A product for everyone

The creators of Heliocare 360° understand the importance of daily sun protection for everyone, no matter their age, skin type, skin tone, or skin concern that’s why we offer a range of different formulations. This means that everyone has the opportunity to give their skin the very best daily defence against the sun and daylight whilst boosting their overall skin health and preventing premature skin ageing.

• Heliocare 360° Water Gel: For normal to dry skin – suitable for all Fitzpatrick phototypes
• Heliocare 360° Oil-Free Gel: For combination, oily and spot-prone skin – suitable for all Fitzpatrick phototypes
• Heliocare 360° Color Oil-Free Gel: For foundation coverage and broad-spectrum protection in one – available in shades Beige and Bronze
• Heliocare 360° A-R Emulsion: For sensitive skin types with a tendency to rosacea and redness – suitable for Fitzpatrick phototypes I-IV
• Heliocare 360° Pigment Solution Fluid: For those with a concern for pigmentation – suitable for Fitzpatrick phototypes I-IV
• Heliocare 360° Age Active Fluid: For mature skin with visible signs of ageing – suitable for Fitzpatrick phototypes I-IV

The Heliocare 360° range also includes an option for full body coverage – the Invisible Spray - plus a pediatrics range suitable for children from the age of six months. What’s more, Heliocare 360° Capsules are an oral supplement that can further protect the skin from within, designed to enhance the benefits and protection of our topical SPF products.

To sum up; Heliocare 360 provides everyone with the very best daily defence against the sun and daylight, with skin loving ingredients that help boost overall skin health and prevent premature skin ageing from within.

Show your skin some love this summer with Heliocare 360°. Find out more today.