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Here’s Why the SPF In Your Makeup Isn’t Enough
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If your foundation or loose powder contains SPF, you may have wondered if that is sufficient protection from the sun or if you really need to apply sunscreen first.
We hate to break it to you, but even if your makeup contains SPF 50, it’s likely not enough to protect your skin from sun damage completely.
Let’s break down why this is the case, plus some helpful information about how best to use sunscreen and makeup together.
Is SPF in Makeup Enough?
The short answer is no; SPF in makeup is not enough to protect your skin from UV damage fully.
The main reason is that you won’t be able to apply enough actual SPF to your skin to get the job done—both because you would need a lot of makeup and because makeup also contains many other ingredients, not just SPF.
SPF is measured in sunscreen using a pretty heavy application, meaning you would need to cake on your foundation or powder—to the tune of 6x more makeup—to get the same effect as a pure sunscreen product.
You need up to ½ of a teaspoon of sunscreen to properly and effectively protect your face, which is way more foundation or other type of face makeup than you would likely wear.
Essentially, makeup with SPF should be considered an added bonus but never the only sun protection you use.
Of course, makeup with SPF is better than not using any SPF at all, but keep in mind that an SPF 30 foundation is likely not providing the same protection as an SPF 30 sunscreen.
Plus, many SPF makeup products are not broad-spectrum, meaning they don’t protect against both UVA and UVB rays. While both types of UV rays are harmful in excess and can contribute to sunburn and skin aging, UVA rays are more associated with premature aging, and UVB rays are most likely to cause sunburn and skin cancer. (Think UVA for Aging and UVB for Burns!)
Fortunately, there are many lightweight, almost invisible face sunscreens nowadays that perform beautifully under makeup—you really have no excuses now!
Should You Put Sunscreen on Before Makeup?
Yes, you should put on sunscreen before you put on makeup. If you put on sunscreen after your full makeup routine, things will get messy and not look so good.
Making sunscreen the first step in your makeup routine can also help ensure that you don’t forget to apply it and can allow it to soak fully into your skin. However, you should apply sunscreen as the last step of your skincare routine—see the next section for what that morning routine looks like.
Make sure that you allow enough time for your facial sunscreen to dry before applying any makeup.
Some sunscreens work better under makeup than others. Many people prefer sunscreen that goes on clear, such as Ghost Democracy Lightweight Invisible Daily Sunscreen or Supergoop Mineral Unseen Sunscreen, which are unique mineral sunscreens that don’t leave a white cast. Matte sunscreen can also create a better canvas for makeup products, avoiding the dreaded foundation creasing, cracking, or flaking.
Others prefer a tinted sunscreen, such as Clearstem You Are Sunshine SPF 50, to use before applying makeup—or in place of makeup!
If you need to reapply sunscreen throughout the day—every two hours or sooner if you’ve been swimming or sweating—and you have makeup on, powdered brush-on sunscreens or SPF facial mists can work well. We love Clearstem Sunny Side Kick Brush-On Mineral Sunscreen or Oars + Alps Face + Scalp Mist to reapply throughout the day.
How to Use Sunscreen With Makeup
Here is what a potential skincare routine with sunscreen and makeup could look like in the morning:
- Gentle cleanser
- Vitamin C serum
- Moisturizer
- Allow moisturizer to absorb and dry fully
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen (minimum SPF 30; ¼ -½ of a teaspoon to cover both your face and neck)
- Allow sunscreen to absorb and dry fully
- Begin your regular makeup routine
Essentially, sunscreen should always be your last skincare step before your first makeup step.
Sunscreen Makeup FAQs
Why is SPF 15 not enough?
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 is not enough sun protection for a full day—especially not on your face. SPF 15 can help protect your skin for a very short time. Depending on your skin tone, this could be 5 minutes to 30 minutes during peak hours.
Sunscreens with SPF 15 only filter out 93% of UV rays. In contrast, SPF 30 blocks 97%. Of course, SPF 15 is better than nothing, but the protection won’t last long and won’t be full coverage. Sunscreen with SPF 15 allows 1/15th of the ambient UV radiation to reach your skin. In other words, a properly applied layer of SPF 15 should protect you from the sun for 15 times longer than if you were wearing no SPF. Similarly, SPF 30 sunscreen admits 1/30th of the UV rays, while SPF50 allows 1/50th, and so on. However, SPF is not directly related to time of solar exposure but rather to the amount of solar exposure and its intensity. This means that, even if it normally takes you 1 hour to sunburn, SPF15 sunblock will not allow you stay in the sun for 15 hours without burning. According to the FDA, “It takes less time to be exposed to the same amount of solar energy at midday compared to early morning or late evening because the sun is more intense at midday relative to the other times.”
Is SPF 50 that much better than SPF 30?
You would think that SPF 50 would be almost twice as good at sun protection as SPF 30, but the differences are pretty small. When applied correctly, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UV rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 blocks 99%. This is why most dermatologists recommend SPF 30 as a good everyday sunscreen—it has a significant benefit over SPF 15 but is not much different from SPF 50. Plus, people who use SPF 100 or other high numbers often think they don’t need to reapply or are less diligent because they believe they are better protected. In reality, reapplying an SPF 30 sunscreen every two hours would protect you better than using SPF 100 just once. Overall, SPF 50 is great but only marginally better (1%) than SPF 30 when it comes to blocking UV rays.
Do I need sunscreen if my foundation has SPF?
Yes, you still need to use sunscreen if your foundation (or other makeup product) has SPF. You would have to completely cake on your makeup to get enough SPF from makeup alone. It’s not recommended to rely on SPF makeup for your sun protection—you need to put on sunscreen before makeup.
Can makeup protect my skin from the sun?
Generally speaking, makeup is not enough to protect your skin from the sun, even if it has SPF. It’s not recommended to rely on SPF makeup for sun protection—you need to put on sunscreen before makeup. Makeup with SPF should be considered a bonus; it should not be the only sun protection you use.
Is sunscreen still effective under makeup?
Yes, your sunscreen is still effective when worn underneath makeup—as long as you apply it correctly and in sufficient amounts. Use about ½ of a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face. Allow it to dry thoroughly before putting on any makeup. Depending on what sunscreen you use, this may take anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes. Some sunscreens work better under makeup than others. Many people prefer sunscreen that goes on clear, such as Ghost Democracy Lightweight Invisible Daily Sunscreen or Supergoop Mineral Unseen Sunscreen, which are unique mineral sunscreens that don’t leave a white cast. Others prefer a tinted sunscreen, such as Clearstem You Are Sunshine SPF 50, to use before applying makeup—or in place of makeup!
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