Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSPF for Your FaceThe Best RoutineBest Moisturizers With SPFFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
SPF for Your Face
The Best Routine
Best Moisturizers With SPF
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunscreen isn’t just for days spent sunbathing on the beach or hot, super sunny days. It’s essential to wear SPF daily, even on a cloudy day.
While sunscreens are now an ingredient in manydaily moisturizers, it’s important to know that studies have found that these combination products are inferior to sunscreen.
Read on for SPF recommendations for facial products and ways to easily incorporate sunscreen use into your daily routine.
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The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying anSPF(sun protection factor) 30 or higher sunscreen to exposed skin every day—including your face.
The sun’s harmful rays can penetrate your skin even on cloudy days. So, even if you only plan to be outside for a short time, it’s good to get into a routine of applying sunscreen to your face daily.
Your lips are also at risk from sun exposure. So, apply alip balmor lipstick with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Sunscreen should have broad-spectrum protection. That means it should contain protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
UVA vs. UVB RaysUVA rays have a longer wavelength and cause skin aging symptoms like wrinkles and sunspots.UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and are responsible for burning the skin.
UVA vs. UVB Rays
UVA rays have a longer wavelength and cause skin aging symptoms like wrinkles and sunspots.UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and are responsible for burning the skin.
UVA rays have a longer wavelength and cause skin aging symptoms like wrinkles and sunspots.
UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and are responsible for burning the skin.
Dermatologists recommend applying an SPF 30 or greater sunscreen to your face every day. Using an SPF 30 or highersunscreendaily is the easiest way to protect your face from the sun’s harmful rays.
Nowadays, most sunscreens tout broad-spectrum protection right on the label, so finding an effective sunscreen is easy.
Sunscreen 101: A Complete Guide to Avoiding Sunburns
The order in which you apply your sunscreen and other facial products, like moisturizer and makeup, depends on the type of sunscreen you use. For example, sunscreen comes in two different types. They include:
Considering how the product works to protect your skin will inform the order of application.
For instance, since chemical sunscreens must absorb into the skin to work correctly, you want to apply these types of sunscreens before your other products.
Apply the sunscreen to a clean, dry face and allow it to sink into your skin for a few minutes before applying your moisturizer and makeup, if applicable.The order you should apply products is as follows:
Using makeup and other facial products with sunscreen will help ensure that your face is adequately covered and you don’t miss a spot.
The Proper Way to Apply Sunscreen
While it’s most effective to use a separate sunscreen and moisturizer, you may find that applying a moisturizer with SPF saves you money and time during your morning routine.
Cost and Skin Type
SPF moisturizers are available at every price point; you can find them at drugstores and department stores.
However, SPF moisturizers, like all personal care products, aren’t one-size-fits-all. A product that works for someone else might not necessarily work for you.
Formulation
The skin on your face differs from the skin on the rest of your body. Sunscreen intended for the body often leaves a greasy residue, which isn’t ideal for the face.
Therefore, look for a moisturizer or sunscreen formulated for your face. These provide the sun protection you need without clogging your pores or making your skin feel greasy.
SPF moisturizers typically offer benefits in addition to sun protection. For example, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer in SPF 30 offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protectionandmay help improve skin tone and texture.
RecapTo save time and money, you might want to choose a combination of moisturizer and sunscreen. Whether you choose a combination or stand-alone sunscreen, be sure to purchase a sunscreen specially formulated for the face. These are less greasy and won’t clog your pores as all-body sunscreens can.
Recap
To save time and money, you might want to choose a combination of moisturizer and sunscreen. Whether you choose a combination or stand-alone sunscreen, be sure to purchase a sunscreen specially formulated for the face. These are less greasy and won’t clog your pores as all-body sunscreens can.
How Ingredients in Sunscreen Protect Your Skin
Summary
Applying daily sunscreen to your face with an SPF of 30 or higher is an integral part of your morning skin routine. Sunscreen is essential even on cloudy days or days that you plan to be mostly indoors because UVA rays can pass through clouds and windows and lead to skin damage.
The order of application depends on which type of sunscreen you choose. If you use a chemical sunscreen, apply it first; if you use a mineral sunscreen, apply it last.
Combination facial moisturizers containing SPF might save time and money, but be sure to choose one that works for your skin type.
What Does Snail Mucin Do for the Skin?
Frequently Asked QuestionsBefore applying moisturizer or other products, you should wait until sunscreen is fully absorbed.Sunburn typically resolves in three to five days.Learn MoreTips for Treating SunburnThere are several things you can do to treat a sunburn, including:Taking a cool bathApplying moisturizer and aloe veraDrinking waterTaking pain relievers, such as ibuprofenAvoiding sun exposure while your skin healsAvoiding picking at peeling skin
Before applying moisturizer or other products, you should wait until sunscreen is fully absorbed.
Sunburn typically resolves in three to five days.Learn MoreTips for Treating Sunburn
Sunburn typically resolves in three to five days.
Learn MoreTips for Treating Sunburn
There are several things you can do to treat a sunburn, including:Taking a cool bathApplying moisturizer and aloe veraDrinking waterTaking pain relievers, such as ibuprofenAvoiding sun exposure while your skin healsAvoiding picking at peeling skin
There are several things you can do to treat a sunburn, including:
How to Choose a Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer.Lourenco EAJ, Shaw L, Pratt H, et al.Application of SPF moisturisers is inferior to sunscreens in coverage of facial and eyelid regions.PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0212548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212548American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sunscreen safe?Skin Cancer Foundation.Making your sunscreen work with your makeup.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer.Lourenco EAJ, Shaw L, Pratt H, et al.Application of SPF moisturisers is inferior to sunscreens in coverage of facial and eyelid regions.PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0212548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212548American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sunscreen safe?Skin Cancer Foundation.Making your sunscreen work with your makeup.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer.Lourenco EAJ, Shaw L, Pratt H, et al.Application of SPF moisturisers is inferior to sunscreens in coverage of facial and eyelid regions.PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0212548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212548American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sunscreen safe?Skin Cancer Foundation.Making your sunscreen work with your makeup.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer.
Lourenco EAJ, Shaw L, Pratt H, et al.Application of SPF moisturisers is inferior to sunscreens in coverage of facial and eyelid regions.PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0212548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0212548
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Sunscreen FAQs.
Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation & your skin.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Is sunscreen safe?
Skin Cancer Foundation.Making your sunscreen work with your makeup.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.
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