You’ve most likely heard it on repeat: For correct solar safety, it’s essential to reapply, reapply, reapply that SPF. Particularly, you need to purpose to the touch up your sunscreen each two hours whenever you’re chilling exterior, and much more steadily if you happen to’re swimming or sweating, as SELF beforehand reported.
That sounds simple sufficient—particularly if you happen to’re bumming it on the seaside, say, or dedicating your complete afternoon to lounging in a park. However for these of us who put on make-up, there’s an issue: How on earth are you purported to slather goopy sunscreen in your face with out ruining the inspiration, blush, and bronzer you so fastidiously utilized this morning?
“Ideally, you have to be reapplying with a lotion, cream, or gel,” Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a dermatologist at La Jolla Dermatology in California, tells SELF. “They’re sometimes thicker and are usually more practical by supplying you with extra even protection in comparison with sprays.”
In fact, that’s not at all times sensible with a full face of make-up. And sadly, no, you may’t simply go onerous below your basis: You could suppose you’re good to go together with one layer of an SPF 75 product to begin your routine, for instance, however dermatologists say that also isn’t sufficient to protect you from the solar’s dangerous UV rays (which may burn your pores and skin, trigger hyperpigmentation, and improve your threat for pores and skin most cancers).
“Sunscreen efficacy decreases over time,” Lily Talakoub, MD, a dermatologist at McLean Dermatology and Skincare in Virginia, tells SELF. “Because it rubs off or will get absorbed into the pores and skin, it received’t present as a lot safety as whenever you initially put it on.” That’s why reapplication is so essential, even when it’s cloudy out otherwise you’re staying indoors. “So long as there’s daylight, you’re getting uncovered to UVA rays, which may even penetrate by means of your automobile or bed room window,” Dr. Talakoub says.
The excellent news is, sure, there actually is a mess-free strategy to reapply with out having to redo your face. In actual fact, there are a number of strategies that not solely provide longer-lasting protection towards solar harm, however might even improve your look. Simply needless to say none of those choices ought to change a correct, nickel-size base coat of broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or larger), which belongs below your basis, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Talakoub say.
For all you make-up devotees, listed here are 4 sensible and dermatologist-approved methods to remain secure—and nonetheless look good—through the scorching days forward.
Use an SPF mineral powder.
Simply as you’ll preserve your make-up in place with a setting powder, you are able to do the identical with an SPF model. It’s an particularly nice choice if you detest the greasiness of lotions and like one thing that can take in oil, Dr. Talakoub says. Plus, it may well even assist your make-up keep put for longer.
“Powders are nice whenever you’ve bought oily pores and skin or when it’s humid and sticky out and also you simply want one thing to soak up all that extra moisture in your face,” Dr. Shirazi provides. She and Dr. Talakoub each advocate Colorescience’s Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50, which is available in 4 completely different coloration shades to match your make-up. For a extra reasonably priced and translucent various, you can even attempt SELF’s Wholesome Magnificence Award–successful Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Sunscreen Powder Brush SPF 30, which is noncomedogenic and ultimate for acne-prone of us. Whichever formulation you select, make sure to brush it throughout your complete face—not simply the oily elements—for extra even protection.
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Retouch with a transparent sunscreen stick.
You may not suppose to maintain sunscreen in your purse or bag the best way you’ll with a lip balm, say, or a pack of gum. However if you happen to actually wish to keep on high of your SPF, Dr. Shirazi recommends preserving a transparent sunscreen stick readily available, like Supergoop!’s Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 or Neutrogena’s Mineral Extremely Sheer Sunscreen Stick SPF 50. These ultra-portable formulation make for simple, handy retouching on the go: Simply glide the stick throughout your face and mix with clear fingers or a magnificence sponge, she says.