What’s the number one rule when it comes to wearing sunscreen? The answer: you need to reapply it.
It’s a common misconception that the greater the SPF rating, the more time you can spend under the sun. The truth is that sunscreen does not last all day. Sunscreen will eventually wear off, and soon, your skin will be exposed to the sun’s UVA rays and UVB rays. Chances are you’ll end up with a bad sunburn by the end of the day, or show other signs of sun damage such as sun spots and discoloration.
We know it can be a hassle reapplying sunscreen — especially if you’re wearing a face full of makeup — but the truth is that slathering on sunscreen only once won’t work. Dermatologists recommend reapplying every two hours. Below, we’ve listed down the reasons you need to reapply sunscreen, and how often to reapply sunscreen to get the best sun protection.
The best offense is a good defense.
Shield your skin from sunburns with a personalized regimen that contains a high-quality day moisturizer with SPF.
Why do you need to reapply sunscreen?
You get the most amount of sun protection once you put on sunscreen. As you go about your day, though, it starts to lose some of its effectiveness.
Think of it this way — every time your sunscreen blocks UVA rays and UVB rays, it slowly uses up its UV-blocking power. Eventually it can no longer fully guard your skin against the sun. It can still protect you to an extent, but at that point, its protection will be so low that it’s basically nonexistent.
Another reason that sunscreen wears off is because you sweat. What do you do when you sweat? You wipe it off. And there goes the layer of sunscreen that’s supposed to protect you.
How long does sunscreen last on the skin?
If you know how much sunscreen to use on your face, you can count on your sunscreen to provide sun protection for up to two hours. After this period, you need to reapply your sunscreen, otherwise, you will be at risk of sun damage, such as sunburns, sun spots, and skin cancer.
Furthermore, if you’ve been sweating or swimming, it will wear off at a much faster rate, so be sure to reapply more frequently. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sunscreen that’s been exposed to water (or sweat) lasts about 40 to 80 minutes.
Do note that the FDA doesn’t allow brands to market their sunblocks as “waterproof”, so if you find a mineral sunscreen or chemical sunscreen that claims to be waterproof, don’t trust it. Sunscreens can only be classified as “water-resistant” or “very water resistant”.
How often should you reapply sunscreen?
So how often should you reapply sunscreen? It depends on how you’re spending your day. The more time you spend under the sun, the faster your sunscreen will wear off. But to be safe, it’s best to reapply SPF every two hours throughout the daytime.
Should you still apply sunscreen if you’re indoors?
We all know sunscreen is essential to your summer skincare routine. However, do you still need sun protection if you’re away from the sun? Yes. Even if you’re indoors all day, you still need to wear a sunscreen product. While you’re less likely to be sweating, you’ll still be exposed to UV radiation (it can enter via the windows), so you shouldn’t forgo your SPF.
Suppose you’re near a window where the sunlight goes through the glass. In that case, you’d be exposed to UV radiation, so it’s best to reapply your sunscreen as often as you would if you were outdoors. It is also important to note that some sunscreens can block the effects of blue light, which can be emitted from our devices and screens, offering another reason to consider sunscreen when indoors.
What happens if you don’t reapply sunscreen?
The sunscreen product protects your skin from the sun. Once it wears off, there will be nothing to guard you against the sun’s rays. If you wear sunscreen at the start of the day but forget to top it up, you’ll be susceptible to painful (and often permanent) effects — the most common one being sunburn.
When your skin gets burnt, you’ll be at greater risk of breakouts due to dry skin. A sunburn with blisters (a second-degree sunburn) is even worse, as it can cause flaky skin that can be unbearably itchy.
Sometimes, the signs of sun damage won’t be visible immediately but will develop over time. A good example is premature aging — this is when the skin starts showing signs of skin aging like wrinkles. But that isn’t your biggest risk — skin cancer is. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over 9,500 individuals are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Fortunately, by wearing skincare products with SPF daily, you can lower your risk of developing skin cancer by about 40 percent.
Can you reapply sunscreen over makeup?
Now that you know how often to reapply sunscreen, you’re probably wondering how to reapply it on top of your makeup. Understandably, you wouldn’t want to walk around with a white cast on your face, but it would be a mistake not to reapply sunscreen, either. The answer is to use powdered sunscreen or spray-on sunscreen — these don’t make a mess, making them ideal for putting on top of makeup.
Sun protection that works for your skin
While it’s important to top up on sunscreen, it’s more important to protect your skin from the start. At PROVEN Skincare, we believe that sun protection starts with your base. You should prep your skin with products that contain SPF sun protection such as our daily moisturizer with SPF. That way, your skin will always be protected from the sun, even if your makeup comes off or if your sunblock is wiped away by accident.
Not only does it guard you against sun damage, but it’s also packed with ingredients that target skin concerns like sun-related dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Additionally, it’s formulated for your skin, so you never have to worry about irritation, inflammation, and more. Whether you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin, take PROVEN Skincare’s Skincare Quiz for a personalized facial cleanser, night cream, and moisturizer that works for you.
