We all know that we should apply sunscreen every morning before stepping out of the house. But should we remove it at night before going to bed as well? This may seem a very obvious question at first and if you’ve responded with a resounding yes, then well done! You’re right, sunscreen should be removed every night.
However, because we are constantly told to reapply sunscreen every few hours throughout the day, some people may be lead to believe that sunscreen comes off on its own. After all, why should we bother to reapply it if it is still intact on the skin, right? Well, it doesn’t really work like that. Let me explain.
Why you should remove sunscreen at night
Chemical sunscreen ingredients degrade when exposed to sunlight, and within two or three hours, completely lose their sun protective properties. The longer we’re staying outdoors, the faster this degradation occurs, which is why we’re told to reapply sunscreen frequently when we’re basking in the sun. But even if the sunscreen ingredients become useless, that doesn’t mean that your sunscreen has completely come off.
Some of the ingredients may still cling onto your skin and prevent your night time products, such as serums and moisturizers, from being absorbed properly, thus reducing their effectiveness. Skincare products should always be applied on a clean canvas so everything that’s accumulated on your skin throughout the day, from dirt to makeup to sunscreen, needs to be removed beforehand.
How to remove sunscreen
Most sunscreens can be removed with a regular cleanser. If you still have some residue on your skin, you can wipe it away with a toner. However, some sunscreens, especially the waterproof kind, can be pretty stubborn and refuse to budge. In that case, you need to use an oil-based makeup remover.
You can also use simple, good old, olive oil. It’s a bit messy but gets the job done well without causing irritations and chances are you already have it in your kitchen. I, instead, usually remove it all only with my faithful Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, which easily and gently takes off even the stubbornest makeup and sunscreen.
Do you remove your sunscreen at night? If so, how?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m someone who is shouting yes, take off the sunscreen!
My face feels so much fresher when I take off all my makeup and sunscreen! I couldn’t stand not removing all my sunscreen off each night.
The olive oil idea is very smart! For a while, I used coconut oil and then a cleanser.
Janessa, skin feels so much better when you cleanse it properly, doesn’t it? And coconut oil works really well too.
Just curious!
How about those moisturiser with SPF? Do we have to remove that also?
Connie, everything that’s on your skin needs to be removed at night, otherwise your night time skincare products may not absorb properly.
Mam I apply sunscreen 9am and clean it 5pm. is it right or wrong?
Nazma´s last [type] ..New Collection: Essie Spring 2013 Resort
Nazma, if the sun has set, or by that time you’re already at home, away from windows and don’t plan to get out again, that’s fine. You should wear sunscreen only when the sun is up.