Just like what Baz Luhrmann’s song says – everybody’s free to wear sunscreen. The truth is, sunscreen isn’t just skin product – it’s a revolutionary product. These days, everyone is concerned with slowing down signs of ageing, so applying sunscreen is a must. Sunscreen provides the protection our skin needs so that it won’t wrinkle twice as fast or cause hyperpigmentation. Today, makeup and skincare brands are quick to jump on the demand of sunscreen use by combining makeup and skincare products with an easy fix of SPF.
Truthfully, it’s an exciting hybrid. Investing in a moisturiser with SPF seems like a great way to save time in the morning. Heck, you even save on a few extra bucks! One less product to apply, one less product to buy, right? And many of us think we’re doing enough by using a two-in-one product.
But are we really? Is it really good to use an SPF moisturiser, an SPF primer? The answer may be a little more complicated than we think!
The amount of SPF-containing makeup you apply isn’t enough
Though SPF-infused skincare and makeup won’t hurt, the truth of the matter is, they’re not as effective as applying two products separately. Why? We don’t apply moisturisers and primers as thickly as we should apply sunscreen. If you have a skincare routine, you’ll know that a thin layer of moisturiser on your face is enough for you to feel completely moisturised.
Now think about when you go on a beach trip. How much sunscreen do you apply to your face? Yeah, I bet it’s more than the amount you answered above!
According to Sonia Batra, an American dermatologist, you have to apply about 2mg of product per square centimetre of skin to achieve the SPF on the label, which is about a pinky-nail-sized dollop of product on an itty-bitty section of skin.
Plus, the standard recommendation is to reapply SPF every two hours when out and about in the sun. No one reapplies their foundation in that amount every two hours.
You miss a lot of spots when you apply sunscreen like a moisturiser
When you apply pure sunscreen, you’ll notice you apply it fairly intentionally as you don’t want to miss out on any spot and risk having an uneven skin tone. Sadly, it’s not the same case for moisturisers. With a moisturiser, you can easily just rub on your face without paying much attention.
The fact is that this difference in application makes a huge difference in results and the overall protection you get from the product. Applying half the required amount of sunscreen can reduce the protection by as much as two-thirds. SPF-infused makeup or skincare products aren’t applied well enough to protect from the sun’s rays on their own.
It’s also worth noting that SPF-infused makeup products may not contain any UVA protection at all! They can’t protect against UV ageing and are less likely to be water-resistant.
The lesson to be learned here is…
When using makeup products that contain SPF, you may not be getting enough protection if that’s your sole source of sunscreen. However, it all also depends on your habits! You can stick to the tried-and-tested tradition of using the products separately. Even if it’s worth a few extra minutes in the morning!
This is not to say you should throw away all your makeup with SPF, though. If you’re going to stick with the SPF-containing makeup and skincare products, just remember to buy products that contain broad-spectrum sunscreen – one that protects against UVA and UVB rays. It also pays to be more conscious of how you apply it. You can protect your skin by applying additional sunscreen product to layer on top of your UV-infused makeup such as primers, BB creams, and CC creams.
One thing’s for sure when it comes to sunscreens, extra protection is never a bad thing!
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