Applying sunscreen is important to protect our skin, but knowing the best order for applying skincare and makeup can be hard. Most of us slap on our primer and sunscreen without thinking about whether or not we should put the primer or the sunblock first.
That’s a mistake! The effectiveness of your sunscreen could be impacted depending on which order you layer your products. You could be missing out on some key benefits by putting sunscreen in the wrong order. So, should you apply primer before or after sunscreen?
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The Best Order to apply Sunscreen, Skincare, and Makeup
Get your summer makeup look of the day started with sun protection! Before applying your primer and makeup this summer, a good sunscreen is an essential starting point. So the general rule is that sunscreen comes before primer.
After washing your face, start with sun protection and apply a good sunscreen like this oil free one.
You can also use a moisturizer with SPF, like this oil-free face moisturizer. To avoid a sunburn, it’s important to get your face covered up with sunscreen in a generous even layer. Let it dry before starting your makeup look.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays.
There’s nothing worse than spending hours creating a nice makeup look only to find out later that you didn’t protect your skin from the harmful UV rays, which can cause more wrinkles and lines.
Waiting for a few minutes before applying your primer is important to allow your sun protection to penetrate the skin.
You can choose a sunscreen with a light formula that wears well under makeup. This sunscreen has a thin texture that blends easily into the skin.
It doesn’t leave a white cast on the face, and it absorbs quickly too. It wears well under foundation, and it doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or oily.
A primer will make your makeup last and not slide off during the day. It provides that barrier between your skin and any sunblock you’ve applied, so all of it stays in place! You spend a lot of time and money on your makeup, so don’t let the sun ruin all that hard work. The primer will allow your makeup to last longer. Choose a sweatproof and waterproof primer that can perform well on hot summer days.
This primer is one of the best affordable primers on the market. It has a silky formula that smooths the skin and minimizes the look of the pores.
A little bit goes a long way with this product, so you only need a tiny amount to cover the entire face. It wears well under makeup and doesn’t crumble when applied after sunscreen.
If you prefer vegan and cruelty-free formulas, this primer is a great affordable option. It helps to hydrate the skin while keeping the makeup in place.
For high-end primers, this pores refiner is the best! It has a silky formula that blurs fine lines and wrinkles. It helps to minimize the excess oils so it’s a great choice if you have oily skin.
Choosing a good primer is a very important step. Bad primers can make your foundation look worse and cause the makeup to separate.
Related: Primer vs Moisturizer
Moisturizer Before or After Sunscreen?
Wondering whether moisturizer should be applied before or after sunscreen? It depends on the type of sunblock you’re using. There are two types of sunscreen; physical sunscreen and chemical sunscreen.
Physical Sunscreen vs Chemical
Physical or mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin to reflect the sun rays, so they need to be applied as the last layer in your skincare routine.
Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin, convert the rays into heat, and release them from the body. That’s why chemical sunscreens work the best when applied as a first layer.
To sum it up, If you want to be fully protected from the sun, apply sunscreen directly onto the skin, underneath any primer or foundation. Tinted sunscreens work best when applied before any other makeup product too.
Chemical sunscreen needs to be applied first, and mineral sunscreen can be applied after moisturizer.
See Today’s best moisturizers List
How to Reapply Sunscreen With Makeup?
If you’re going to be in the sun for a long time, ensure your skin is protected and reapply sunscreen every few hours. Even if you are wearing makeup, you can still reapply sunscreen on top. Ideally, you should wash your makeup off and reapply sunscreen, but we know this can not be done when you’re outside.
If you spend a long day in the sun, it might not be the best time to wear a full face of makeup. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen and a thin layer of foundation. Protecting your skin from the sun is much more important than achieving a full-coverage makeup look.
Many BB creams include an SPF, but they can’t offer full protection from the sun. using sunscreen before bb cream is always a good idea for protection.
Is Spf in Primer Enough?
There are a lot of makeup products available in the market that contain sunscreen. Unfortunately, all these beauty products can’t replace good sunscreen. While many primers, foundations, and powders have sunblock included, these products don’t provide enough coverage to protect the skin.
Even if your primer or foundation has SPF, you need to wear sunscreen under your makeup. You need to apply a nickel-sized dollop of sunscreen to the face to protect it from harmful rays.
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Jennifer
Curated By Jennifer