It’s no secret that the sun can cause serious harm to you. That’s why you should use sunscreen daily. But the question is, how much sunscreen do you need? If you put on only a tiny dollop, you’ll end up with a nasty sunburn by the end of the day. But if you put way too much sunscreen, your face will feel sticky and uncomfortable.
To help you find that happy medium, we’ve put together this guide on how much sunscreen to use on your face.
Why Put Sunscreen On Your Face?
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How Much Sunscreen Should You Use On Your Face?
The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests using 2 milligrams of sunscreen for every square centimeter of skin. That’s one ounce of sunscreen for the whole body. Since the face is 4.5 percent of the body surface, you’ll need about 0.045 ounces or ¼ of a teaspoon of sunscreen for your face.
Now, you obviously won’t be carrying around a teaspoon with you, so the second best way to gauge how much sunscreen to use on the face is by using your fingers. The “two finger rule” tells you to squeeze sunscreen along the length of your middle finger and forefinger — this should be enough to cover your face and neck.
If those measurements seem too complicated, remember that what matters is you cover every inch of your face with sunscreen. The amount will depend on your face’s surface area, but as a rule of thumb, a nickel-sized dollop of sunscreen should do the trick.
What’s The Best Sunscreen To Use On Your Face?
You can choose between two types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral sunscreen.
- Chemical sunscreen. This sunscreen contains chemical ingredients that are absorbed by the skin. Once UV radiation penetrates the skin, the chemical sunscreen transforms it into heat.
- Mineral sunscreen. This is a type of sunscreen that sits on the skin. It creates a physical barrier that blocks UV radiation.
Although chemical sunscreen won’t leave a white cast on your face, some people may experience irritation with chemical sunscreens. That said, if you have sensitive skin or other skin concerns, it may be best to choose mineral sunscreen. It’s a bit messier than chemical sunscreen, but if you work it into your skin, it shouldn’t be that visible.
How To Put Sunscreen On Your Face
So, how should you slather on sunscreen? Do you need to put sunscreen or moisturizer first, or is it the other way around? Can you put makeup on top of sunscreen? Here’s how to put sunscreen on the proper way:
- Wash your face with a facial cleanser. A cleanser unclogs your pores, reducing the risk of skin concerns such as acne.
- Do you put sunscreen on before or after moisturizer? If you’re going for a mineral sunscreen, put on the rest of the skincare products, including your daily moisturizer with SPF, that you regularly use. Top off your skincare with sunscreen.
- If you’ve chosen chemical sunscreen, remember that it needs to be absorbed by the skin, so put it on before your skincare products.
- Apply makeup on top of the sunscreen. (While you can put sunscreen on top of makeup, that tends to be messy, so it’s best to apply sunscreen first.)
Is Makeup With SPF Enough?
If you’re wondering whether you still need sunscreen if your makeup contains SPF (sun protection factor), the answer is yes. Your makeup products may contain SPF, but they’re likely not enough to guard your skin against the sun. They offer sun protection, but not sufficient sun protection. Makeup contains small amounts of SPF protection, so it’s best to supplement it with sunscreen. Additionally, in order to get the amount of SPF indicated on the label, you need to apply enough of the product, and most people don’t apply that amount of makeup.
How Often Should You Reapply Sunscreen On Your Face?
You shouldn’t apply sunscreen only once a day. This is because your sunscreen will eventually lose its ability to block harmful UV rays. So how often do you reapply sunscreen? That’s why the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends reapplying the same amount of sunscreen every two hours. Even if you put on sunscreen with SPF 50, you still need to reapply as all sunscreens will wear off. If you fail to top up on sunscreen, you’ll put yourself at risk of skin damage such as premature aging, sun spots, and more.
How Can You Reapply Sunscreen On Top Of Makeup?
It can be tricky to top up on sunblock when you’re wearing makeup. No one wants a white cast across their face and some mineral sunblocks can be messy. That’s why the ideal way to reapply sunscreen on top of makeup is to redo it all.
However, this isn’t practical as you may not have the time to wash a full face of makeup off. Plus, there’s a low chance that you carry your skincare products with you, anyway. If you’re on the go, top up with powder sunscreen or spray-on facial sunscreen to prevent your makeup from smearing. That way, you can easily put it on top of your makeup without starting over.
Do You Need To Put Sunscreen On Your Face If You’re Indoors?
Even if you’re indoors, the sun’s rays will still be able to pass through the windows. This means you won’t be safe from harmful UV rays. With that said, it’s important to apply and reapply sunscreen, particularly if you’re working near a window or other areas where the sun’s rays can enter. You won’t have to reapply it as often as you would if you were outdoors, but you still have to do it, otherwise, your unprotected skin will be more prone to wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of skin aging.
Sun Protection Should Be Part Of Your Skincare Routine
Applying sunscreen is an important part of your skincare routine. At PROVEN Skincare, we believe that establishing a tried-and-tested skincare routine is the key to protecting your skin. To ensure you never forget your SPF, we’ve created a simplified skincare routine for you. Our custom skincare system is a fuss-free solution UV protection, and in turn, targets other skin concerns such as skin aging.
All you’ve got to do to get started on your skincare routine is take our Skincare Quiz and we’ll formulate the perfect skincare for you.
