Did you know that sun damage is responsible for up to 90% of premature skin ageing?
No matter how much money you spend on expensive skincare products, if you spend time in the sun without wearing sunscreen, you will develop wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of ageing faster than ever.
This just shows how important sun protection is, and Koreans have taken it to the next level by wearing sun patches!
Let’s take a closer look at how sun patches work and why you should use them, especially during outdoor activities.
@soobeauty814 They are also super cooling as well👍 Perfect for golfing in the hot summer weather☺️ #golf #korea #koreans #kbeauty #skincare
Benefits of sun patches
@glowwithava ill prob use these only for outdoor activities/vaca but the most comfortable ones ive tried so far! from Heimish 💗 #sunpatch #kbeauty #viralskincare #spf #viralbeautyproducts #koreanskincareproducts #trendingskincare
UV protection
Credits: IOPE
“Why not just use sunscreen?” you may wonder. Well, when your skin is exposed to sunlight, the active ingredients in your SPF begin to break down as they work to protect your skin from UV rays.
This is why reapplying sunscreen is critical, and it is strongly recommended that sunscreen be reapplied every two hours for consistent protection. Sounds like a pain, especially if you’re doing an outdoor activity. This is where sun patches come into play.
Sun patches, as the name implies, are patches worn on the face, typically on the cheeks, which are prone to sun spots.
They act as a physical barrier between your skin and UV rays, blocking up to 93% of UVA and 99% of UVB rays and eliminating the need to reapply sunscreen every two hours.
Ease of use
Credits: @sarahkchey/ TikTok, @soobeauty814/TikTok
These patches are lightweight and breathable, making them extremely comfortable to wear, and the hydrogel on it keeps the skin feeling fresh.
They are also ergonomically shaped to fit close to the skin without causing irritation and have excellent adherence in addition to their breathable fabric.
Skincare benefits
Imagine a mask that you would normally wear for its skincare benefits, but with added UV protection that you can wear outside for an extended period of time. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
These sun patches are typically infused with incredible skincare ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica extract, glutathione, and even collagen to provide your skin with additional hydration as well as soothing and brightening care throughout the day.
Cooling effect
Did you know that it’s not just UV rays that can cause your skin to age? When your skin is heated, it becomes more prone to ageing, and you will notice an increase in oil sebum production, skin dryness, enlarged pores, and a decrease in skin elasticity.
This is why it is so important keep our skin cool and soothed at all times. Unlike other cooling patches and masks on the market, however, sun patches are made of hydrogel, which can reduce your skin temperature by up to four degrees while also protecting your skin from harmful UV rays.
Where to get sun patches
MEDIHEAL UV Cut Outdoor Sun Patch (Wide Protection)
This sun patch has two pieces of cheek-wide hydrogel that are exclusively for large areas, protecting the eyes, cheekbones, and cheeks from 99.9% of UV-B and 93.9% of UV-A.
It is made of a highly breathable fabric that adheres to the skin coolly without causing any irritation. Tea tree, six-fold hyaluronic acid, vitamin C derivative, and glutathione are also included to soothe, brighten, and moisturise the skin.
Because the UV Cut Outdoor Sun Patch is a four-time use product, it is great for sharing with your friends and family!
MEDIHEAL UV Cut Outdoor Sun Patch (Wide Protection) retails for $35.81 on Amazon.
IOPE UV Shield Outdoor Sun Patch
This sun patch has nearly three times the adherence of the standard hydrogel, allowing it to stay in place even during fast and rough activities. It protects against 93.5% UV-A and 98.9% UV-B rays.
The hydrogel is made of agar (-agar), which expands when it comes into contact with water and sticks tightly to the skin while providing a cooling sensation when applied to the skin.
As skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C derivatives, and chamaecyparis obtusa leaf extract are used, you can expect a moisturising, brightening, and soothing effect when applied.
Its cooling effects are also apparent, with skin temperature dropping by more than four degrees after only an hour of application.
IOPE UV Shield Outdoor Sun Patch retails for $39.96 on Shopee.
