There’s a particular kind of joy in booking a winter escape. Flights to Fiji. A long stretch in Bali. Three weeks chasing the European summer while New Zealand sits under grey skies and four layers of merino.

And there’s a particular kind of regret in arriving at your destination, sun-starved and pale, and reaching for sunscreen only to realise the only thing in your toiletry bag is a half-used tube of something that expired during the last Labour government.

If winter is when you’re planning your getaway, this is your reminder: pack the SPF before you pack anything else.

You know the feeling. You get off the chairlift at the top of the mountain, squinting into that particular high-altitude brightness, and you think: I should have put on sunscreen.

And then you ski anyway, because the powder is good and the queue for the gondola was long and you'll deal with it at lunch. Except at lunch you're starving and also the nachos are on, so. And by the time you're back at the lodge your nose is the colour of a ripe tomato and your lips feel like paper that's been left in the sun.

We've all been there. Here's how to not be there this year.

There's something quietly powerful about Matariki.

It arrives in the middle of winter — when the days are shortest, the mornings are dark, and most of us are more focused on finding a warm jacket than thinking about sun protection. And yet here it is: a constellation rising in the pre-dawn sky, marking a new year, asking us to pause, reflect, and care — for ourselves, for each other, for the world around us.

Because SPF doesn’t take a season off. As temperatures drop, skin’s need for both hydration and sun protection is just as real — cold air, low humidity, and winter UV rays are a deceptively demanding combination. These three COOLA formulas are built for exactly that.

Wondering whether you need sunscreen in the winter? Even when temperatures drop, UVA rays stay strong, meaning your skin is still vulnerable to sun damage, dryness, and premature aging. That’s why using sunscreen in winter and choosing the right SPF for winter, is essential for healthy, protected skin.

Discover why winter sun protection matters, how UV exposure changes in colder months, and the best COOLA formulas to keep your skin hydrated and shielded all season long.

Cold weather calls for a smarter approach to skincare. As temperatures drop, skin needs deeper hydration, barrier support, and daily protection to stay balanced and radiant. Discover COOLA’s cold-weather essentials designed to nourish, protect, and keep your glow going all season long.

Discover effective methods to maintain skin hydration during the colder months with our guide. Learn more and achieve healthy, hydrated skin all winter.