You've probably seen more and more moisturizers and makeup products having SPF in them lately. This is from the rise in popularity and importance of sun protection in society and the media. And although this awareness is great, you’re probably also wondering if using SPF moisturizers and makeup is enough?

It may not be according to a dermatologist in a Cleveland Clinic article. This is because in order to have protection against both UVA and UVB rays, you must use “broad spectrum” SPF, which a lot of makeup may not have. 

Interestingly, a study by Lourenco et al. looked at the difference in application behaviour of sunscreens compared to SPF moisturizers, and they found that the participants tended to have worse application on the face when using SPF moisturizers. This was even more pronounced when they looked at the eyelid region. People tended to apply less SPF moisturizers to these important and sensitive areas of the face. This may be true because moisturizers tend to be more watery and less thick compared to sunscreens, leading people to use less product, and reduced application and coverage on the face. 

So what should you do now with your skincare and makeup routine? It’s recommended that when in doubt, double up on products. Apply a high SPF sunscreen as your base layer and then makeup with SPF on top; or vice versa with SPF moisturizers. Another great option is to use mineral makeup with SPF for touch-ups. It is recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, and mineral powders are super handy to apply over your makeup to get rid of any shine, as well as add sun protection.