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We’re feckin’ obsessed since the weather turned nice. Obsessed, that is, with sunscreen.
We’ve tackled the whys and the wherefores, we’ve had a gander at what’s good. But one question remained, and that was, “er … in what order should I apply?”, to which I reckon, moisturiser > sunscreen > makeup. If you use serum, add that as the first step, as you normally would. Gingerrama had another point of view, and cited her Dermalogica sunscreen, which recommends application before moisturiser. Confused? Yup, most of us were!
My rationale for putting it on afterwards is that I’m concerned that moisturiser application will smear sunscreen and possibly leave parts of my face unprotected. So, I let serum and moisturiser sink in, then do sunscreen. Then I slap on the foundation.
But this is a lot of steps, and a lot of chemicals. If that’s a big concern, an alternative would be a mineral product like Eminence’s Organic Sun Defense with SPF30. Buff it on after moisturiser, and you’ve got a natural physical block against harmful rays.
The other alternative to using so many products is to use one with SPF built in. In the winter, I tend to use a hydrating product with an included SPF. And often I’ll do that in summer too – as long as it’s factor 30 or above – unless I’m going to be out in very hot sun, in which case I do my very best to use a separate factor 50.
Want to know what’s good? Some of my recommendations are in my original post on sunscreens.
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Kirstie – That woman’s skin is GROSS!
I put on my sunscreen after my moisturiser. Stands to reason (in my mind) to put it on last!
Ya i do the same. Always swea a moisturise with a spf in winter and this year for the first time ever im being uber good and wearin factor 30 in the sun!! Vichy one is lovely! All down to the beaut.ies!!
OK, OK, i am now going to use sunscreen EVERDAY. Dear God, the sight of that woman has now made me want to wear sunscreen 24 hours of the day. Is she real?
I was putting on sunscreen first and waiting for it to dry, them mosituriser and thne make up.
Since reading this though I put the serum on first then sunscreen and I mixed a little foundation in with moistriser and all seems fine so far.
I sit right behind a window that gets full sun come 4.30 – I actually closed my blind yesterday as I was getting a rash on the arm nearest to the window.
KellBell thers is a girl here in work with lines so deep in her face you’d sow spuds in them.
When we get weather like this she takes half days and sits in the garden in oil I suppose. I actaully can’t even eat my lunch outside in weather like this as my eyes start watering.
Well thanks to all of Kirsties talk on the importance of sunscreen Ive finally smelt the coffee! Im 30years old with typical Irish skin that’s pale, freckley and burns so yes I should be wearing a decent factor.
I havent been so bad though either I went through a spell in my teens of wearing factor 40 everyday ( I was a goth
) so that might stand to me. I also always use factor 15 all year round in both moisturiser and foundation. But its factor 40 for me going forward. When I was about 25 I had a skin analysis done at the Off the Rails show. I was able to see the skin damage and other problems with my skin. It was extremely scary at the time and promted me to wear an spf. I dread to think what the damage is like now as I have only started to enjoy sun holidays in the last 5 years.
There has been a few mentions of a sunscreen range called Hamiltons – where can it be bought?
Good we’re back on the topic!
Yes, do put sunscreen on top of moisturiser. Yes yes yes. Not under!!!
Yesterday, I was trying to be fair to Dermalogica and figure out any possible reason for putting sunscreen on underneath. I’ve always put it on top, and even after much head-scratching, found it weird you wouldn’t. I also consulted Makeupalley, and the consensus is:
SUNSCREEN GOES ON TOP (and ignore any instructions to the contrary, they’re silly).
We’re so much better off with sunscreen these days: what with the super-light matte fluid veils (like the Chanel one that sparked all this business off), and the powder ones (Colorescience etc.). No excuse – and it’s imperceptible, even the physical-only ones.
Also, for once the boot’s on the other foot
: people in the US and UK are very jealous of Irish ready access to La Roche-Posay and Vichy sunscreens, which are either harder to get hold of (UK) or impossible (many of those ranges in the US, as one of the Mexoryl suscreens hasn’t been FDA approved yet) and much more expensive in both countries =D
Sunscreen on the Ginge here year-round, and have done for years. Winter at least SPF 15 / PPD 4-6; summer at least SPF 30 / PPD 10-12. Plus light sunscreen spray on top of hair (Lavera kids’ sunscreen spray), and sunglasses, and often a hat. Physical/mineral sunscreens only cos my skin gets very irritated by all others I’ve used, with really entertaining and dramatic reactions; but I still bravely try out anything new on the market, just in case it works!
jesu christ that picture is GROSS
I’m perplexed – what happened to the poor lady’s bosom? This might be naive, but if anyone can, please explain.
And what’s the kid saying to the Tanned Hide?
Maybe time for a picture caption competition, O Kirstie?
I think the sun melted her tits.
freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkk!!
LOL – admin.
Please God, somebody tell me that’s Photoshopped! I remember when that did the rounds in e-mails a while back, ’tis fecking scary!
Right so, SPF over moisturiser from now on. I’ve also been wondering for a while about protecting my hair in the sun – good to see Gingerrama has this one sorted too! What would I do without this site? (Answer: probably get a lot more work done, heh.)
SF – I’ll be doing some stuff on that Very Subject next week, so stay tuned!
Yay! Looking forward to it.
does anybody know if LRP have sunscreen in toleraine range? also some creams say they have UV barriers is this just a way of makin u think there is SPF in them when they hav no protection, im very confused by sun creams so need ur help girlies! if i put some on my face it looks like oil just super shiny!
Another yay!
Seconding SF’s “yay” to Admin’s promise of future treats (I nearly had “teats” there) next week.
Admin – any ideas on a spray sunscreen, specifically for hair, that’s physical-only? This is why I’m compromising by using kiddie sunscreen spray… Or is that as good – is there a huge difference in hair protection stuff?
Should I just go and blow lots of money on Philip Treacy instead?
Hi girls, for those of you who apply sunscreen to their face on a daily basis, how many times a day do you do it? Do you just do it the once in the morning and hope it will last the day or do you re apply later in the day? I’m dying to know thanks!
Pinkmini: all the LRP sunscreens I’ve seen are in the Anthelios range. But check their website too.
On SPF: there are two factors to look for:
(1) “SPF” = sun protection factor, gives an indication of UVB protection, related to how fast one burns in the sun unprotected and how much slower one would burn with that sunscreen on. Opinion varies as to whether you should be going for 15 or 30 as a minimum. UVB’s the stuff that burns, and there’s more when there’s more sunshine.
(2) “PPD” is a measure of UVA protection; the good ones on the market here are in the 20s (LRP 50 is 28, for example); one rough consensus is that you should aim for PPD 6 to 8 minimum. UVA’s the stuff that does invisible damage, and is around year-round, come rain or shine or clouds.
And then there’s UVC, but there seems to be little consistency on how that’s labelled.
But if something says it provides UV protection then doesn’t back it up with any of the above – anywhere on the bottle – might be a dodgy claim… there are laws on this, both here in Ireland and EU-wide!
Just to be confusing, there’s also the Boots star rating (little stars in a circle), which is I think just UVB. 4 or 5 is good.
But – search Beaut.ie for “sunscreen”, as there have been really good posts on the subject over the last few days!!
Laura: depends on what I’m doing during the day. And I always carry sunscreen around in my bag, just in case.
On a normal i.e. working day, I apply at the beginning of the day, and that’s it.
If I’m outside for more than two hours in a row, I apply (or reapply) before going out, and reapply every 2 h religiously. And walk in shadows where possible. And avoid direct sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – if I can’t, I wear a hat and cover up arms and shoulders.
Now, this is me using physical-only sunscreens (irritable skin). There are others out there, in part of completely chemical, that claim to protect your skin all day or for at least 6 hours (like the Soltan Once).
It’s all a bit experimental and depends on what works on your skin – maybe try one for a day, and see how it goes? If your skin starts feeling hot to the touch, red, etc. see how long it’s lasted, and top up?
Oops, not “invisible” damage – UVA does the “making you wrinkly” kind of damage, and also the more serious and worrying kinds (like leading to skin cancer).
See what happens when you write too fast. Stupid brain and fingers. Time for more coffee!
Admin ladies – that reminds me – can we have a post sometime rating salons and the like on their coffee and tea?
Should I still wear sunscreen if I wear smashbox primer with SPF 15 as well as lancome foundation with spf15? lancome moisturiser has no spf sadly
Off the sunscreen topic but onto salons and tea and coffee. I never ever accept coffee partly because I’m afraid it will be instant, and secondly because I’d puke if it arrived with little cut hairs floating around the top.
M, I’m no expert, but for the summer months I would definitely add a sunscreen.
i think ur right there Kitty – I can’t decide which one though for my dry skin- think ill try the La Roche-Posay Anthelios one…thanks !!
maybe girls this is a ridiculous comment and i wear foundation which has a spf of 15, but is the spf to guard your skin mainly from the sun or is it to protect it from the elements in general?
Also just had a thought there- would you the sunscreen on over the moisturiser and before the primer- or primer first then sunscreen (which defeats the purpose of the primer a bit i think?!!)
Primer last.
I have a LRP tinted factor 50 and it is fab. Don’t bother wearing any make up over it, bar a little dusting of powder over it as the tint is lovely and takes the haunted Irish paleness off my face.
I have some factor 15 from New Zealand based company Living Nature and it states to apply after moisturiser on the bottle. And they do the most fab manuka honey shower gel. Must order some soon.
This chat has all been so enlightening because I’m totally clueless about sunscreen, especially the everyday type stuff. To me sunscreen is still that horrible greasy stuff you have to slather on whenever you have to go abroad or the sun peeps out and it makes my skin feel icky, greasy and spotty!
I’m 26, pale and freckly and starting to get a bit worried about sun protection as I noticed a huge change in my skin after I spent a year travelling a few years ago (lots of time in asia so lots of sun) …despite lashings of sunscreen (or maybe because of it?)I love the sun and my worries are scaring enough to have me hiding from it. Can you help me choose a good sunscreen?
My dilemma is that at the moment I’m trying to go organic/chemical free as much as possible…is there such a thing as a good natural sunscreen, I didn’t notice any mentioned in the previous reccommendations? Are they just no good? Should I use a seperate sunscreen for body and for face?
Thats not a real person in the pic is it??
missmilki – Lavera, the german organic range, and any pro mineral brand like eminence, jane iredale susan posnick and bare escentuals all have physical sunscreens included as part of their powder foundation products.
the NZ brand I mentioned is organic also. You can order it online, but the others are more widely available.
thanks guys that was quick!
Hi Lana – I have the LRY factor 50 in the tinted which I bought by mistake (I am making a lot of little mistakes lately – found out about 2 before 9.40 today) and am happy enough with it.
I put a little foundation over it and then powder etc. I was as happy as I can be with my face at lunch time.
Becks – i’m just after seeing your post (lines so deep she could sow spuds in them lol) I too have met some fools that sit in the sun not only with no SPF BUT with cooking oil on to get ‘a colour’!?! What the? What is that all about?
KellBell – why stop with an oily basting? One could add chili for extra redness, maybe cinnamon and cumin for that rich brown (or a dab of Bisto/Marmite/Vegemite), and I think turmeric would do wonders for a mouth-watering golden glow.
And a hearty second for Admin’s recommendations on physical-only sunscreens from “more natural” companies. Big thumbs up to Lavera – both the kids’ 30 spray and the Sensitive 40. Though only TiO2, no ZnO.
Be careful though, Missmilki, and read the ingredients lists even if something’s from a company you love and trust: “natural” isn’t necessarily “mineral/physical-only.” A lot are physical/chemical combinations, often using methoxycinnamate (to which I for one am highly allergic): ex. Jason, Kiss My Face, Green People. Otherwise they’re great sunscreens that many other people love! And as with any sunscreen, check what they have to say about SPF/PPD ratings (and indeed check them online too).
Lavera’s reliable though, and I found it Good Stuff. Didn’t burn, didn’t break out, happy skin, and happy wallet.
Origins have an SPF 25 that’s mineral-only (Out Smart), it’s like a slightly cheaper, slightly scented version of Clarins’ SPF 25 City Block (and both of them are tinted).
I haven’t seen them here, but when I was in the US, I had some lovely physical-only ones by Badger and Caifornia Baby. DDF Organic is another “good” one, and Peter Thomas Roth might qualify? I get confused about what counts as what here…
Gingerrama – Sounds truly crazy – people cooking themselves but hey whatever floats your boat (the scary thing was some of them were actually student nurses that i was training with – the mind boggles, or fries)
i’ve seen the sunscreen you mentioned by Badger and you can get it online from the UK. It sounds really lovely – if you find somewhere here in Ireland that stocks Badger and there are a few healthfood stores in Dublin that definitely do they should be able to order that in if you request it. That’s if you want it..
Wow Thanks Gingerrama, That was good indepth advice…I’ve lots to look into now!
we should alwayyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssssssss apply moisturiser before sunscreen…
Apply chemical sunscreens or serums that need to be absorbed first, barriers (like moisturizers, makeup, and physical block sunscreens) last.