It is the number one product that works immediately upon application, and protects your skin from premature aging: indeed, we’re talking about sunscreen! We all know how important it is to slather on sunscreen before going to the beach, but did you know that it’s equally essential to apply SPF every day, even when you stay inside? We tell you everything there is to know about wearing SPF every day and what SPF you should use on your face.
Should you wear SPF every day?
Well, the answer is ‘yes’. Sunscreen protects you from skin cancer as well as sun damage. Many of us only apply sunscreen before heading to the beach or other major outdoor activities, but most discount the sun that we get daily from just running errands. Trust us, the sun damage adds up on those days. Even a short stroll at lunch can put your skin at risk! If you wear SPF every day, your skin is always protected against the sun and you don’t have to worry about the negative effects, like wrinkles and pigmentation spots.
Even if you spend your day indoors, it’s best to wear SPF if you want to protect your skin. UVA rays penetrate through glass and can cause sun damage to your skin. In general, sunscreen should be applied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. If you’re at home and sit away from the windows, you probably don’t need a second application. It’s clever to keep a bottle of sunscreen near you at all times, just to be sure.
What SPF should I use on my face?
Protecting your skin from damaging UV rays is the best way to prevent premature aging. Regardless of the weather, you need to apply your SPF daily. Whichever sunscreen for the face you choose, budget-proof or high-end brand, make sure it contains UVA and UVB. (that is always shown on the packaging!)
- UVA protects against Aging
- UVB protects against Burning
No matter if you have very fair or very dark-toned skin, it’s best to use SPF 30 on your face in the spring, autumn and winter. In the summer months, you probably spend a lot of time outside in the sunshine. Then it’s best to apply SPF 50 and reapply every few hours throughout the day.
How do you know how much SPF you should use on your face? Think of a table spoon-full amount when applying SPF to your face. Slather the sunscreen all over your face, neck, ears and chest. Don’t forget about your eyelids and lips, since they are made of very thin and sensitive skin!
Do you apply SPF before or after moisturizer?
It’s clever to incorporate both SPF and moisturizer in your morning skincare routine. You should always apply SPF as the final step in your skincare routine. In other words: first comes moisturizer, then sunscreen.
You can not mix moisturizer and SPF and skip one step in the a.m. When mixed, both products will not work as intended and you put your skin at risk.
Is foundation with SPF enough?
Foundation with SPF: that sounds like the holy grail. But is the SPF in foundation enough to protect your skin from harmful UV rays? The short answer is ‘no’. Sunscreen ratings are achieved based on a standard application of 2mg/2cm2 of sunscreen. When it comes to foundation (or other makeup) with SPF, you would need over 7 times the required amount of sunscreen if you use foundation as sun protection. It would take a ton of makeup to protect your skin the same way sunscreen does and you’ll look, well ehm, like you’re wearing a mask.
Use foundation with SPF as an add-on, and don’t skip applying SPF 30 or SPF 50 before you put on your foundation.
