How to wear Sunscreen with Makeup?

It's important to be safe in the sun and protect your skin but perhaps, like me, you don't properly know how to wear your sunscreen with makeup.   

A bare face is beautiful but for more mature skin a little makeup is usually an essential.  So let's get into good habits and make sure we've got the right products to hand!

SUNSCREEN MUST COME FIRST!

1. Sunscreen must come first!

• Cleanse your face before applying sunscreen. Factor 50 is best on your face although an SPF factor of 30 or higher is advised all over your body. 

• Allow it to take effect for 15-20 minutes. Have breakfast or style your hair!

2. Moisturizers with SPF factor...

• After Sunscreen wait 15-20 minutes for it to take effect before applying moisturizer. 

• Moisturizers with SPF factor are not enough protection on their own but will give additional support to your sun protection. 

3. Foundations with SPF factor...

• Wait a few minutes after Moisturizer before applying foundation to avoid slippage. Foundations with an SPF factor are not enough protection on their own but will give additional support to your sun protection. 

• The foundations listed below give some of the highest SPF protection on the market. 

• Mineral makeups in particular are said to be helpful as the powder is likely to cover any thinly protected spots, although it will probably only cover spots you've missed.  

• To lighten your foundation you may choose to mix it together with a tinted BB cream.  

4. Touch up without ruining your makeup

If you're in the sun all day long then you will need to up your protection, preferably without removing your makeup.

A brush-on mineral sunscreen is the perfect answer.

This inexpensive purchase from Amazon is a powder touchup that's convenient and portable. It goes on clear without any greasy residue. 

Mineral sunscreen from Amazon

What SPF coverage do you have? 

• The coverage using makeup with SPF varies according to how it is formulated and how it's applied. 

• You're only protected by the highest SPF e.g. if you apply sunscreen SPF 30 and foundation SPF 15 you are protected with 30. (according to Dr Leslie Baumann, MD, Director of the Cosmetic Dermatology division, Miller School of Medicine)