A foundation with SPF 30 protects your skin from sun damage just as well as a “regular” sunscreen – but there’s a catch: to achieve the protection factor stated on the packaging, you have to apply a thick layer of the product, which is what a foundation does not a very nice result! A foundation with SPF is good for protecting your skin in winter when the UV index is low, and you spend a lot of time indoors. For the rest of the year, however, it does not replace sunscreen.
Can you mix the foundation with sunscreen?
Of course, you are “allowed” to mix your foundation with sunscreen, but that’s not sensible. One thing to keep in mind is that if the SPF in your foundation is lower than that in your sunscreen, the protection of that mixture will eventually decrease significantly. After all, the concentration of UV filters in the mix is lower than in your sunscreen. There is also the risk that the effectiveness of the UV filters will be impaired by mixing the products. For example, chemical filters such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, and homosalate are very unstable, leaving you uncertain about how well-protected you are. So two separate layers are better!
Do you have to put sunscreen under or over your cosmetics?
Apply sunscreen better under your makeup but on top of the moisturiser for a better Skincare. This is because the key ingredients in the moisturiser may not work well if you change the order. The best combination is a moisturiser with antioxidants and sunscreen on top, mainly if it also contains antioxidants. However, it would help if you used a water-based moisturiser. You can easily recognise one: Aqua is the first item on the list of ingredients. A very greasy product can ensure that the sunscreen does not penetrate. And that is a problem, especially with chemical UV filters. Then let the sunscreen “take effect” for at least half an hour. You can then apply your make-up.
Can you apply sunscreen to makeup when reapplying it?
If you want to stick to the recommendations, you have to reapply every two hours, which is not only difficult when you wear make-up but also not always possible due to busy schedules. You should invest in good Sunscreen for your face with modern and stable physical or semi-physical UV filters. Then your skin is still well protected even after a few hours, and you don’t run the risk that the sunscreen cannot be absorbed well enough when you apply it again. You can also top up the powder with SPF, but you should know that you can only build up limited protection.
