Do you put sunscreen on after moisturizer

While most of us are aware of the importance of applying sunscreen as part of a daily skincare routine, so many are still unsure about where to slot it in. Consequently, a question we get asked a lot is “Do you put sunscreen on before or after moisturiser?” It’s an important question because the difference between getting it right and getting it wrong could mean you’re exposing your skin to sun damage.

Sun care isn’t something that you should be just hoping that you get right, so to take away any guesswork, we’ve put together a definitive guide to applying your facial SPF every day.

Do you put SPF on before or after moisturiser?

You know the drill, come rain or shine, SPF is a part of your morning skincare routine – no excuses! And as a rule of thumb, you should be applying your suncare product as the very last step of your skincare routine, before you put on makeup. So it’s simple, sunscreen should always be applied after moisturiser (leaving a few minutes for the moisturiser to penetrate). If it’s a chemical formulation, you’ll need to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun to ensure it’s fully penetrated the skin.

Discover The Correct Order To Apply Your Skincare In The Morning

Should you apply  SPF before or after makeup?

The answer to this is both! Always apply it after your moisturiser and before any makeup, but if you’re outside during the day you should be topping up your SPF – the easiest way to do this is with a SPF Spray Mist.

The Best Facial SPF Mists You’ll Actually Want to Wear

Can you combine SPF and moisturiser?

No, because if you’re mixing your moisturiser with your sun protection you could be diluting the protective nature of your SPF, causing it to be less effective and a risk you don’t want to put yourself through.

For those mornings where you are in a rush and don’t want to include an extra step, try a moisturiser with SPF. This type of moisturiser will be specially formulated to hydrate your complexion while helping to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Is it ok to skip SPF if you wear makeup with SPF?

No, absolutely not. You’d have to apply 15 layers of your foundation to receive the protection that is stated on the side of the bottle (for more information about this, read our suncare myths debunked edit). You should always think of the SPF in makeup as a bonus rather than something you should rely on to protect your face, so apply a layer of SPF first, then your makeup.

How often should I reapply my SPF?

If you’re outside, it needs to be every two hours to ensure that your face is protected. This is where an SPF mist comes into play, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mist Spray SPF 50+ is an excellent choice, just make sure that you’re applying it liberally over your makeup.

How Often, How Much and How to Apply Your Facial Sunscreen

Should you apply SPF at night?

No, sunscreen formulas contain ingredients that can block your pores if you wear them at night and potentially cause breakouts.

Discover More:

10 of the Most Common SPF Myths Debunked

The Best Tinted Facial SPFs For All Skin Types

Tags: Face SPF, facial SPF, how to apply spf, Suncare

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By now you should know that wearing sunscreen is a must to age gracefully, as it is arguably the most important part of any skincare routine. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on anti-aging retinol and vitamin C, if you’re not applying sun protection, you’re throwing away your money. The next step to that process is knowing when to apply it and it can get tricky if you want to make the best of it. According to Dr. Heather Rogers, a board-certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon, applying your skincare products in the proper order ensure that your skin receives the full benefits of each product.

Figuring out when to layer sunscreen into your beauty routine, though, can get a little confusing. “The order of application is incredibly important,” says Dr. Rogers. “The skin’s job is to keep things out, but many of the skincare products we use have ingredients we want to get in. Only a very small amount of these key ingredients can penetrate the skin, even when perfectly formulated and perfectly applied. If you don’t apply products in the correct order, you will not see the best results from your skincare regimen.”

Because of how moisturizer (or any other skincare product for that matter) can interfere with the effectiveness of your sun protectant, the main concern is that when moisturizer is applied under sunscreen, it can create a barrier that prevents the sunscreen from penetrating the skin. However, when moisturizer is placed over sunscreen, it can interfere with how the sunscreen interacts with the sun. It all comes down to the type of sunscreen you’re using and there are two: Chemical and Physical (Mineral) Keep in mind that putting sunscreen on before or after moisturizer is better than not putting it on at all. You never want to leave the house without sunscreen that contains at least SPF 30 or higher.

Related articles: Chemical vs Physical Sunscreen
Related articles: How to Pack Skincare for Traveling

CHEMICAL VS PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN
Moisturizer First, Mineral Sunscreen Second:
Physical sunscreens can be applied on top of moisturizers because they act as more of a shield and do not need to be absorbed into the skin to work. If you’re using a mineral-based sunscreen or sunblock, you should always apply your moisturizer first, then your sunscreen. When physical sunscreen goes on last, it can work its magic without any interference. This type of product contains minerals like zinc and titanium dioxide that deflect harmful UV rays before they reach your skin.

Because sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can be a little bit drying, if you add your moisturizer first, you won’t be left with sticky or gritty residue. If you’re using a powder sunscreen, it can be applied on top of makeup, much like a finishing powder. A benefit to powders is that they can be easily reapplied throughout the day, without worrying about smudging or rubbing off your makeup.

Chemical Sunscreen First, Moisturizer Second:
Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, tends to be more effective when it has a chance to absorb into your skin. Think of chemical sunscreens like a sponge, once these formulas sink into the skin, they absorb the sun’s rays and break them down so that your skin stays protected. As the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) explains, active ingredients such as avobenzone, homosalate, oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and octocrylene work by soaking up the UV rays, converting that energy into heat, and releasing it before it can penetrate your skin.

If this is your preferred type of sunscreen, you’ll want to reach for it first before moisturizing. Dr. Rogers explains: “Chemical sunscreens have to be absorbed into the skin to be effective, so applying after your moisturizer will delay and hinder that.” If you mix it in with your moisturizer, you’re diluting your sunscreen and its ability to protect. If you apply your chemical sunscreen before your moisturizer, your moisturizer will not work as well either because the skin is coated with chemical sunscreen. As for those who like using chemical sunscreens, try to look for a formula that offers moisturizing benefits so you can get your daily hydration needs while protecting your skin.

How do I know which one is right for me?
As far as whether to choose chemical or mineral SPF for your own routine, it’s mostly up to personal preference. Dermatologists consistently say that the best sunscreen around is the one that you’ll wear consistently. If you can’t remember when to apply which product, combination products such as a multitasking moisturizer can simplify this process. Many morning facial moisturizers are formulated with sunscreen in them.

Conclusion:
Having both moisturizer and sunscreen in your skincare routine is important because they both serve different purposes, it’s like asking if you need to use a cleanser and eye cream. While some sunscreens do have hydrating properties, they usually aren’t considered a substitute for a moisturizer—especially in the dryer months. The same goes for a moisturizer with SPF. It usually isn’t considered an adequate substitute because it either doesn’t have the ideal amount of SPF or it isn’t applied as thoroughly as it should be. This is especially true for sensitive areas that are prone to aging like the under eyes.

Now that we’ve answered whether you apply sunscreen before or after moisturizer you’re probably wondering where sunscreen fits into your overall skincare routine. When it comes to breaking down your skincare routine, that means that cleanser, toner, serums, moisturizer, and eye cream should all go on before sunscreen. As we mentioned earlier, it’s important when using mineral sunscreen that you apply all other products first, so it can be your outer layer of protection against the sun. If you’re going to wear chemical sunscreen, make sure to put sunscreen on before your moisturizer. Remember to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 daily or higher over your moisturizer for adequate sun protection, and don’t forget that even if your makeup has SPF, you should still wear sunscreen.

Written by Kimberly P.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich from Pexels