How To Reapply Sunscreen Over Makeup

Updated 09/21/21. When information technology comes to preventing visible signs of aging, there's no ameliorate ingredient out in that location than SPF. The trick is applying your sunscreen correctly so that y'all're actually getting the total protection it claims to offer. A big part of this includes reapplying throughout the twenty-four hours equally your first application inevitably wears off.

Reapplying sunscreen can be tricky, though, specially if you wear makeup. In this mail service, I'll go over four different ways to reapply sunscreen over makeup, plus the pros and cons of each. Go on scrolling to find out which methods I recommend and which 1'due south I don't.

How Many Times a Twenty-four hour period Do I Need to Reapply Sunscreen?

The answer to this question depends a lot on what your day looks similar. If you're spending your twenty-four hours outdoors (peculiarly if yous're sweating or swimming), y'all must reapply every two hours.

Unless you work outside though, reapplying every two hours isn't necessary (or, let's face it, realistic). On a regular solar day, information technology's more often than not about using mutual sense and reapplying at times when yous'll be getting the most UV exposure. For most people, ane to ii reapplications should be enough. This could be right before you step out to take your lunch break or right before you go for a walk. Maybe it's right before yous get into your automobile to get out piece of work and run errands. With that being said, if you sit correct next to a window all twenty-four hour period, yous may desire to add in one more reapplication since UV rays penetrate through windows.

Remember though, the most of import sunscreen application of the day is your first. Starting time with a potent foundation in the morning past applying the correct corporeality of sunscreen to your face and all other exposed areas of your skin.

What'south the All-time Way to Reapply Sunscreen Over Makeup?

Okay, so let me start past saying this: there is no perfect mode to reapply sunscreen over makeup. Sunscreen is tested by applying a specific amount of product to a certain centimeter square surface area of the peel. It's applied evenly to clean pare and allowed to form a film before beingness evaluated and given an SPF number.

The nature of reapplication means you lot won't be applying whichever product you employ to clean skin, so there's a skillful take chances it won't be able to course a protective pic equally well as it'south supposed to. All this to say, it's really difficult to get the true SPF number indicated on a label when you lot're applying something over makeup, skincare, and/or some other layer of sunscreen. But, don't despair! At that place are still some great options out there and at the end of the day, some extra protection is meliorate than none. Here are four ways to touch on upward your sun protection throughout the day while wearing makeup.

1. Reapply Using Your Hands or a Dazzler Tool

The first option on the listing is to reapply your regular sunscreen throughout the solar day using either your hands or a dazzler tool, such as a castor or makeup sponge. The nice matter about this pick is that you're using a tested, tried-and-true sunscreen production and you can evenly coat your peel. However, it can get a little messy and it can disrupt your makeup (especially if you lot're wearing a full face), so that could mean you have to apply it sparingly in lodge to go along your makeup intact.

I've seen tons of manufactures recommending people use a Beautyblender (a popular makeup sponge) to reapply their sunscreen. If this works well for you, I say become for it. Only exist sure to keep it clean and switch it out regularly to avoid introducing bacteria to your skin. Too, you need to realize that a sponge volition absorb some of the product. Eventually, the saturation volition max out and the production will be deposited onto your skin, however, this may be a chip of waste matter if your sunscreen is expensive.

Pros of This Method

You're using a tried and true SPF product.
You lot can coat the skin well for even protection.
It's a good pick if y'all only wear light makeup.

Cons of This Method

Information technology works all-time with tinted physical, chemic, or hybrid sunscreens. Untinted concrete sunscreens may exit a cast or not blend well due to the apply of pure zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
If you're using a makeup sponge, it could soak upwardly the sunscreen or pick up and smudge the makeup you're already wearing.
It can be cumbersome, messy, or inconvenient.
Chemical sunscreen may non be able to form a proper film over your pare since yous're already wearing sunscreen and makeup.

ii. Reapply Using a Foam Makeup Compact

Even if your makeup products aren't marked every bit having SPF, they're withal giving yous some amount of sunday protection.This is thanks to the fact that titanium dioxide—an active mineral ingredient used in physical sunscreens— is used in almost all tinted makeup products. Of course, makeup isn't a suitable replacement for actual sunscreen, but information technology adds a lilliputian scrap of an insurance policy. I actually recommend that people wear makeup every day for this very reason!

If yous do want guaranteed SPF, there are makeup compacts that offer just that, such as the Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50.

Pros of This Method

Since it'southward a makeup production, it will assist go along your makeup looking intact.
It'southward fairly portable and mess-free.
It'south practiced for someone who wears a full face of makeup and likes foundation.
Since it contains a physical blocker (titanium dioxide), it doesn't matter as much that you already accept other products on your skin—the sun protection will nonetheless exist effective.

Cons of This Method

The applicator or sponge could get muddy and introduce bacteria to the pare.
You need to apply an even glaze for sun protection, which could provide heavier makeup coverage than some people desire.

3. Reapply Using a Tinted Powder (That Contains Titanium Dioxide)

This is the method that I've personally used for years thank you to the ease of application.I honey only existence able to quickly and conveniently reapply a powder product as needed, then go about my day. Just like with cream makeup compacts, whatsoever makeup powder containing titanium dioxide will offer protection (even though it hasn't been tested for it). You can also go makeup powders that take been proved to protect against UV rays, and every bit such, accept been given an SPF number by the FDA.Both Colorescience and Supergoop make these, and I have personally used both.

Pros of This Method

It's easy, portable, and mess-free.
It's good for those with oily peel since it'due south oil-absorbing.
Pulverization particles are good at grabbing onto and coating the peel (which is essential for acceptable sun protection).
These powders are like shooting fish in a barrel to use on other trunk parts like the hands, neck, chest, and pilus parts.
Because it'south a physical blocker (titanium dioxide), it ways information technology doesn't affair equally much that you already take other products on your skin—the sun protection will still be constructive.

Cons of This Method

Yous need a good corporeality of pulverization, which could look cakey on some complexions.
It may not be platonic for those with dry out pare.
The shade ranges for powders with SPF tin can be limited.

four. Reapply Using a Spray or Mist

Sunscreen sprays and mists have definitely go more than pop over the past few years equally people pursue dewy-looking peel. If I'm beingness honest, though, this is my fifty e favorite reapplication method, merely because information technology's unlikely that it'due south offering significant sun protection.

People underestimate how much of an SPF spray or mist is needed to get the protection that'south indicated on the bottle. Chances are it'southward a lot more y'all'll exist comfy using from an aesthetic standpoint. In addition, it's really critical that these spray sunscreens tin can form a motion-picture show over the skin to exist effective. This just isn't possible when you're spraying it over layers of other products that are already on the skin. Finally, you're actually supposed to rub in sunscreen sprays or mists, which defeats the purpose of keeping makeup intact! While this certainly isn't a glowing recommendation, I still encourage you lot to exercise information technology if it'southward the only way you tin can stand to reapply SPF over makeup. Like I said earlier, some protection is better than none!

Pros of This Method

It'due south easy, portable, and mess-gratis.
Information technology doesn't disrupt makeup very much.
Sprays and mists are great for those who like a dewy await.
Sprays and mists tin can hands be used on the body equally well.

Cons of This Method

A spray or droplets delivery could cause irritation to the eyes, olfactory organ, mouth.
It can't form a film over skin that has products on it, which ways information technology won't offer much lord's day protection.

Which Method Is Best?

The best method of sunscreen reapplication is the method y'all'll actually use. As y'all tin can tell, reapplication is a tricky business, and none of these methods are perfect. The one that works best for you will depend on your pare type and how much or what kind of makeup you article of clothing on a daily basis, so I encourage you to experiment a little and see what you like. At the end of the day, just exist aware of the drawbacks of each so you can mitigate them every bit much every bit possible.

Next, see the pros and cons of mineral vs physical sunscreen .

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in corrective chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent thirty years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an honor-winning line of products. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the world, her vast existent-world noesis and constant inquiry are why Marie Claire calls her "the well-nigh passionate skin practitioner nosotros know."