Back in January, I wrote a post about why you shouldn’t mix your sunscreen with foundation or lotion. By doing that, in fact, you’re actually diluting the sunscreen and risking compromising its active ingredients, making it less or not at all effective. Some of you asked me what I thought of skincare and cosmetic products that contain SPF and if they offered enough protection. I thought this topic deserved its own post, so here’s my take on it.
But first, I have a confession to make. When I was in high school, I didn’t realise how much damage the sun could cause to my skin. I thought sunscreen was something that needed to be worn only at the beach (and sadly many still do, including my mum and boyfriend who think I’m crazy to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily but we’ll se who’s right in a few years’ time).
Cosmetics with SPF as an (effective?) alternative to sunscreen?
And so, most of the time, I relied on cosmetics and moisturizers with low SPF, thinking they would be enough. But after learning that the necessary amount of sunscreen to cover your entire face so that it offer sufficient protection is about a teaspoon, I wasn’t so sure that relying on cosmetics with SPF alone was a good idea.
Still, sunscreens can have a greasy texture or leave a white cast behind, so you don’t always want to apply several layers on your face (and everywhere else that’s exposed to the sun too!) every day. So, moisturizers and cosmetics with SPF can seem a valid alternative. But it wouldn’t be good if we were compromising the level of sun protection we get, would it?
Not really, unless you’re spending a very short time outdoors
Just like one layer of sunscreen isn’t enough to provide the protection claimed on the label, the same applies to cosmetics. You would need to apply at last 7 layers of foundation and 14 of powder to be sufficiently protected against the sun rays, but who does that? It would look so unnatural! Not to mention that sun protection fades overtime, so you would need to reapply several times a day (again, just like sunscreen).
Still, I wouldn’t say they are totally useless. If you know that you are gonna spend just a short time outdoors, like walking to your car or driving to work, then using moisturizers or cosmetics with sunscreen, provided they are broad spectrum (check the labels for Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Mexoryl, Tinosorb or Avobenzone) and reapplied throughout the day, may be ok.
But if you are gonna spend a few hours outdoors, then you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen cos cosmetics with SPF, albeit high it may be, just aren’t enough to protect your skin from the harmful the sun rays. You can still use them of course, but only in conjunction with a sunscreen.
What I do
I apply a broad spectrum sunscreen, like La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Sun Spray SPF50+, every day and try to reapply every couple of hours. However, that’s not always possible. If I can’t reapply reapply sunscreen, then I rely on powders with SPF and apply those every few hours.
Granted, I do not spend a lot of time outside. I try to avoid the sun as much as possible and prefer to be indoors. I try to reapply sunscreen whenever possible and it’s only when I really really can’t that I retouch my makeup with foundations or powders with SPF, and only because I know I won’t stay much in the sun anyway.
On those rare occasions when I know that I will spend hours outside, I wear little makeup and apply sunscreen religiously every couple of hours. I might wear cosmetics with SPF, but I won’t rely solely on those because I know they just wouldn’t be enough.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I should seriously get into this habit. I’m almost 27 and should take putting on sunscreen seriously. Thanks for the info.
I love love love the sun and love to spend my time in it. I also love smooth skin!
I noticed the beginnings of sun damage (little sun spots on the tops of my cheekbones) a couple years ago and immediately began using a broad spectrum sunscreen and an AHA product twice daily. If I’m diligent with both products, the spots are invisible. A single day out in the sun/water – unprotected- brings them right back and takes a few months to get rid of them again!
Anyway, I use Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection SPF 55 lotion (not cheap) and Walgreen Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream (ridiculously cheap and a miracle product when used properly). I also wear sunglasses and sometimes even hats when I spend the day outside.
I’d love to find a less expensive alternative to Shiseido … I’ll check out La Roche Posay.
Thanks for the post!
-Amy.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Oscars! My Guilty Pleasure. =-.
I use Neutrogena Pure Screen SPF 60+ because it is a physical sunblock. My skin is sensitive to chemical sunscreen. I wear it everyday before stepping out of the house and like you, I spend most of my days indoor.
.-= Dao´s last blog ..Hotel Room and Tiredness =-.
Great post! I always tried to buy creams and moisturizers that contain SPF and I’m also using foundations that has SPF. What I never did is applying sunscreen before I apply any face cream. My complexion is kind of oily anyway and I’m afraid if I’m going to put sunscreen it will get oily much faster. What do you think?
.-= Tavia´s last blog ..Essie The Art of Spring 2010 Collection Review – Round-Up =-.
All Women Stalker, you’re welcome and you should! Sunscreen is essential to protect our skin from the sun, which can cause premature aging, sun spots and skin cancer too. You skin will thank you if you start applying sunscreen regularly.
Amy, I love the sun, just not spending time in it lol. I’m sorry you devloped sun spots, that’s awful but I’m glad that you’ve found a solution for them. I think when spending a lot of time outside, it’s essential not just to wear sunscreen but also use hats, sunglasses and clothes as protection against the sun rays.
LA Roche Posay sunscreens are usually really good. I’ve used a couple and they contain a mix of physical and chemical sunscreens and they don’t feel sticky on the skin. I think the price is pretty reasonable too.
Dao, I’m glad you found a sunscreen you like. The Neutrogena one sounds really good. I prefer physical blockers too but during the winter months, it’s hard to find any sunscreens at all here so at the moment I’m using one that contains both physical and chemical ingredients. I can’t complain though as it works well.
Tavia, those products you are using are fine if you only spend a very limited time outside, otherwise they aren’t enough to protect skin from the sun. A sunscreen should always be used daily but some can be too greasy, clogging pores and causing breakouts, which is a problem esp for those with oily skin. But then, by not using sunscreen, the sun rays will damage your skin, causing wrinkles and sun spots.
I think the best thing is to look for sunscreens formulated for your skin type like LaRoche Posay SPF 60 Fluide Extreme, which is a bit pricey but lots of people with oily skin swear by it, or Dermatalogica Oil Free Matte Block SPF 20. This one I haven’t tried myself but it claims to absorb oil and give skin a matte finish so it may be worth checking. Hope this helps.
dear Giorgia, if i apply a foundation with SPF 15, should i apply an additional layer of sunscreen with SPF 50 on top of it? is the foundation of SPF 15 alone effective enough for normal daily use?
Tina, I think it’s best to a broad spectrum sunscreen underneath foundation or any other cosmetic with sunscreen. That’s because to get the SPF stated on the packaging, you would need to apply several layers of your foundation, which could make your skin look very unnatural. I guess it’d be ok to use only the foundation if you’re spending very limited time outdoors (like walking from your office to your car for example), otherwise, use sunscreen as well.
It’s actually only 1/4 teaspoon of sunscreen required for the face (and the same again for your neck). Testing is standardised across the world and it’s done using 2mg of product per cm2 which is approximately 1/4 teaspoon for an average sized face.
Josh, thanks for your comment. I had always heard 1 teaspoon but I did some further research after reading your comment and you’re right. The recommended amount for the face is about 1/3, 1/4 teaspoon. Still, you’d have to apply several layers of foundation or powder to achieve that anyway.
Totally! There’s no way you’d be able to apply enough makeup to achieve that. My feelings are that SPF numbers should be based upon real-world application rates. So, a powder with SPF would be rated based upon the average amount somebody is likely to apply. This of course would mean most would be lucky to achieve SPF 2, and no doubt the cosmetics industry would lobby hard to stop that from happening, so it’s unlikely to ever happen. They should be forced to specify how much you’d need to apply though – we are, after all, talking about peoples health when we’re talking about sunscreens!
Josh, I completely agree with you. There are lots of people that buy cosmetics with sunscreen or even just sunscreen and apply a thin layer cos they think it’s enough to protect them from the sun when it isn’t. The correct way and amount to apply it should definitely be specified but sadly I can’t see that happen anytime soon.
I have learned so much reading these posts thank you, I have a question and hope its does not sound silly, someone suggest that when i go out in the evening, I should also use sun protection, but there are no sun in the evening? so do I really need to use sun protection in the evening? i do suffer from hipermigmentation. Thanks
Lan, I’m so glad you find these posts useful.
And your question is not silly at all. I know there are people that wear sunscreen at night because the lightening and some computer screens can emit some UV rays, but these are so minimal compared to that emitted by the sun rays that sunscreen isn’t really necessary. Protecting your skin from the sun is important, but wearing sunscreen at night is just taking things too far in my opinion and there’s no need to get paranoid about it. Of course you can use sunscreen in the evening if you prefer, but skipping it won’t make your skin or hyperpigmentation worse. But it will save you lots of money.
La Roche Posay do a tinted version of their SPF50 melt in cream. I use that in Summer with just concealer for any extra red marks. Otherwise, it’s their usual SPF50 cream, every single day. I’m now 45 (eeek) and barely have any wrinkles – just some crinkles when I smile. Institut Esthederm (another French company) make great sun-intolerent products, although it’s very expensive and you have to ask a specialist at the store since it doesn’t come labelled SPF30, 50, 60 etc.
Shisheido do an SPF30 foundation (I’m in London, I think the SPF is higher in the ones in the US) which, in Winter, is great if you are just going out for a short while. London…you know..not much sun! Finally, Peter Thomas Roth, which is a US firm I think, do a mineral SPF30 and 40 which is great for carrying around with you when you need to nip out for lunch or something. Yes, I am SPF fanatical!
Angela, I am a SPF fanatical, too. It is so important to wear sun protection to keep our skin lookier younger and healthier! Thanks for all your recommendations, I’ll check them out.
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