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.
It feels like the right time to talk about skin. Not in a "summer's coming, panic" way. More in a quiet, year-round, this-is-worth-doing-for-yourself kind of way. Because here's something most people don't know: the UV index in New Zealand doesn't go to zero in winter. Not even close.
The Winter UV Myth (And Why It Matters Here More Than Most Places)
New Zealand sits at a latitude that puts it closer to the ozone hole than almost anywhere else on earth. That's not alarmist — it's just geography. And it means that even on a grey July day, UV radiation is still reaching your skin. The Cancer Society of New Zealand recommends sun protection whenever the UV index hits 3 or above. In most parts of the country, that still happens regularly through winter — particularly in the North Island, and on clear days further south.
Add to that the reflective surfaces of winter — wet roads, puddles, white-sky glare — and you start to see why putting sunscreen away in April isn't quite the right move.
Winter Is Actually Hard on Skin
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Central heating pulls more moisture out. Wind strips the skin barrier. The result: drier, more reactive, more vulnerable skin than you had in summer — and skin that's less equipped to handle the UV that's still there.
A decent SPF face moisturiser isn't a concession to vanity in winter. It's just good sense. It protects what's exposed, locks in moisture, and means your skin arrives at spring in better shape than it started.
And your lips? Completely defenseless. No melanin. No sebaceous glands. Just bare, exposed, wind-buffeted skin that deserves a lot more than whatever's at the bottom of your bag.
A Ritual Worth Keeping
Matariki is, among other things, a celebration of new beginnings. A moment to set intentions. And if there's one intention worth setting this winter, it's the habit of protecting your skin year-round — not as a chore, but as a small daily act of care.
COOLA’s Refreshing Water Cream SPF 50 was made for exactly this moment. It’s a water-light organic cream with powerful SPF 50 protection and clinically proven 24+ hour hydration — built around Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Aloe, and Organic Coconut Water to deeply replenish the moisture that winter keeps stealing. It also carries BlueScreen® Digital De-Stress™ Technology, so it’s protecting against blue light and environmental stressors at the same time. The texture is the kind of thing that makes you forget you’re wearing sunscreen, which is exactly the point.
Pair it with a Classic Liplux® Lip Balm SPF 30 and you’ve got a two-step winter ritual that takes about thirty seconds and genuinely makes a difference.
Matariki is a good reminder that care isn't seasonal. The stars rise regardless of the weather. And your skin is worth protecting regardless of the month.
Shop face SPF here
