by kelly
/ March, 21 2018 01:30
No matter what you gotta wear sunscreen everyday. It’s by far the best thing you can do for your skin. As Dr. Samer Jaber of Washington Square Dermatology explains so eloquently:
“It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on oils or retinol and vitamin C. If you’re not getting good sun protection, you’re wasting your money.”
Ok now that we have that out of the way, in what order should you apply your sunblock - before or after your moisturizer? Well there are three schools of thoughts on this matter.
Apply Sunscreen Before a Moisturizer…
In one camp are dermatologists like Dr. Y. Claire she recommends:
“gentle cleansing, then applying products with active ingredients (like vitamin C or glycolic acid), then applying a base layer of sunscreen prior to moisturizer and make-up.”
Or Maybe Apply Sunscreen After a Moisturizer…
On the other side are dermatologists like Dr. Melda Isaac, she suggests cleansing, medicating, moisturizing and then protecting. Her belief is that:
“If you are using a cream-based or lotion-based sunscreen, which most people do, you want to put that on after your moisturizer…If you mix it in with your moisturizer, you’re diluting your sunscreen and its ability to protect. Then you would put on makeup, if someone’s choosing to wear makeup.”
Most Importantly, Make Sure to Apply Sunblock Daily…Before or After
Finally there are those that take a more middle of the road approach. Dr. Jaber said it really “depends on the person” and believes this topic is a bit controversial. In his mind:
“Some dermatologists will tell people to put it on first, some will tell them to put it on after. Personally, for me, I put on sunscreen and then a moisturizer, but a lot of times, putting on moisturizer then sunscreen is fine, too. It’s more about making sure you’re putting the right amount on [...] making sure you have good coverage on your face.”
I like what Dr. Jaber says - the bottom line is to wear sunblock everyday and to make sure your applying enough no matter when you do it, before or after a moisturizer.
A Final Option, Use a Combo Moisturizer + SPF Product
If you’re still unsure what to do, using a moisturizer that has SPF and broad spectrum protection (like our Natural Face Moisturizer SPF 30) can solve the issue. You’ll get both at the same time. Just make sure to apply enough and to apply it to all exposed skin. If you have some areas you don’t want to use a moisturizer, maybe your hands and forearms?, then use a regular sunblock there.
So There You Have It…
Do whatever works best for you routine but make sure you do it everyday and you’re wearing enough to protect your skin. Don’t forget the sunscreen – your skin will love you for it!
We have so many skin care and suncare tips to keep your skin looking fantastic, simply check out our Skin Care or Suncare Smarts blog series.
