Do Sun Creams And Make-up Go Together?

Sun cream and your make-up routine

In order to prevent skin cancer and wrinkles, we should protect ourselves with a layer of sun cream daily. But when a moisturiser, foundation and powder become part of the daily routine, it becomes more of a logistical challenge. In which case a foundation with a SPF doesn’t sound so crazy any more. But does this provide enough protection? How, for that matter, can you re-apply your sun cream without messing up your make-up? And the favourite question of the week: can your foundation mix with sun cream?

Does my foundation give enough protection against sun damage?
A foundation with SPF 30 will provide the same protection from sun damage as a ‘normal’ sun cream product with this factor, however there is are strings attached. In order to reach the factor on the packaging, you need to apply a thick layer of the product which, with a foundation, will not give the best finish! As far as I’m concerned a foundation with SPF is perfectly suitable to protect your skin in winter when the UV index is low, and if you are mainly indoors. But, for the rest of the year, it is no replacement for a sun cream!

Can your foundation mix with sun cream?
Yes of course, your foundation can mix with sun cream, but it is not really practical. Just be aware that if the SPF in your foundation is lower than in your sun cream, the ultimate protection from the mixture will be much less. The concentration of sun filters in the mix is, after all, lower than in the sun cream. Alongside this, you are taking the risk that by mixing the products the functioning of the filters become affected. Chemical filters such as, for example, avobenzone, oxybenzone and homosalate are very unstable, making it difficult to know your ultimate protection. So best apply two separate layers!

Should you apply sun cream before or after your cosmetics?
It is best to apply your sun cream before your make-up, but after your moisturiser. The important ingredients in the moisturiser will be less effective if you apply the other way round. The best combination is a moisturiser with antioxidants and then your sun cream over the top. And if there are also antioxidants in your sun cream then even better. But do choose a water based moisturiser! You can check this yourself: aqua will be displayed at the top of the ingredients list. A very rich oily product can prevent your sun cream from absorbing into your skin properly. And that will cause a problem for chemical filters. Allow your sun cream to absorb in for at least 15 minutes. After that you can apply your make-up.

Can you apply more sun cream over your make-up?
If you really want to do it properly then you should re-apply your sun cream every 2 hours; that is not only difficult if you are wearing make-up, but with our busy lifestyles, not always possible. So it is a good idea to invest in a good sun cream for your face with modern and stable physical or semi-physical filters such as tinosorb. Then your skin will be well protected for a number of hours, and you won’t run the risk, when re-applying, of your sun cream not absorbing in and doing its job. You can also apply a powder with a product containing SPF, but be aware that you will only be able to build up a limited protection.

Regards,

Jetske

(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)

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