In any skincare routine, sunscreen is the ultimate non-negotiable. You know the spiel: it protects you from skin cancer, prevents premature aging, and keeps hyperpigmentation at bay. But when you’re putting on a full face of make-up, you might be tempted to skip the sunscreen to maintain a lightweight, smooth base for your foundation. Or, you might even reach for a BB cream with SPF15 instead.
Well, we’re here to remind you that no matter how much make-up you’re wearing, none of it can substitute good old sunscreen. But you might be wondering, can you layer sunscreen under make-up? The good news is, it’s never been easier to layer SPF, as modern formulas are now made to be ultra-breathable and apply seamlessly.
Want to know the best way to layer sunscreen with make-up? Here are some tips.
Use multi-purpose products
Other people enjoy the elaborate 10-step routines, but some may think that moisturizer + SPF already feels like overkill. If the latter sounds like you, your best bet is to use multi-purpose products. This way, you shorten your routine while also reducing chances of cakiness or pilling. Our Resting Beach Face SPF30 Sunscreen Serum is a hydrator + SPF in one, powered by moisture magnet hyaluronic acid and antioxidants like green tea and spinach. It is an oil free sunscreen that leaves you with a beautiful, dewy glowy, and it works well under make-up for a radiant canvas.
Go for lightweight formulas
The key to achieving a smooth base that’s ready for make-up is to use lightweight formulas. It will allow the product to absorb fast, again reducing chances of cakiness or pilling later on. So what’s a good sunscreen for your face? This Rose From Above SPF35 Mineral Sunscreen, for instance, is super breathable and has a subtle tint for a skin-but-better look. It is the best tinted mineral sunscreen, since you can wear it on its own to even out your complexion, or use as a base for your make-up if you want more coverage. Bottomline is, you don’t want to be piling on goopy, whitecast-y sunscreen with make-up, as this will definitely make the rest of your routine feel more uncomfortable.
Don’t use SPF-infused make-up alone
For SPF to do its job, you need to be generous and apply enough. On your face, the proper amount of sunscreen is about a nickel-sized dollop. So while that powder or skin tint might claim to have SPF30, that means you’d need to slather on an extra thick layer to get adequate sun protection. Let’s face it: that’s something most of us just wouldn’t do. As such, health experts don’t recommend relying on SPF-infused make-up alone. Instead, use your trusty, lightweight sunscreen first, then your make-up.
Reapply SPF with a make-up sponge
You know the golden rule: reapply sunscreen every two hours. Unfortunately, wearing make-up is no excuse not to reapply. So here’s a bonus tip for you: if you’ve got a full face on and don’t want to mess up your bronzer, you can make SPF reapplication easier with a beauty sponge. Take your sunscreen (again, lightweight formulas are best!), and dab the product all over your face using the sponge. Be sure to do it gently so your make-up won’t move that much. Resting Beach Face is perfect for this, as it’s a non greasy sunscreen for the face that absorbs fast, even when you’ve got make-up under.
There you have it. Now you know how to layer SPF and make-up like a pro.
