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Sunblock, cream and makeup: order of operations

Aziraphale

Veteran

What order do you put them on? I'm interested to see what others do. I love smoothing on plain moisturizer, but I hate the feel of sunblock. Most of the time I compromise by wearing a moisturizer with SPF 30 in it, but my doc told me that if I'm going to be spending more than a half hour outside, I should really wear a designated sunblock. So on sunny outdoorsy days, I put on moisturizer, then sunblock, then any makeup over top of that. It seems laborious and the makeup is much more likely to slide around. Can you put sunblock on top of makeup?

General

37 replies

Latest reply was from BrieN

Anonymous

From what I've read, it's moisturizer, then sunblock, then your makeup.But lots of products combine sunblock with - say moisturizer, and even foundation. I'm not crazy about 3 different layers of product, so I get my sun protection with my moisturizer and in my face makeup. If it's a weekend outside day - it's full-on sunblock only.

Anonymous

I follow the same order you do, but I let the sunblock settle in a bit (for 10 minutes or so) before applying makeup. I've never tried putting cream sunblock over makeup as I'd worry it would rub off the makeup. I do use a mineral sunblock powder over my makeup, though--and my makeup has SPF 20. I'm a bit nutty about sun protection!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm horrible because I hate it so much...sunblock I mean. Ugh. Horrid stuff.

But my usual is moisturizer with some sunblock plus an added stick block for sensitive areas (nose, top of ears, back of neck, neck). Then such makeup as I wear...which isn't much.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks Lisa and Aliona. Sounds like I'm doing things in the same order you are. I know lots of makeup has SPF in it, but I don't put it all over my face -- just a little around the nose and chin, so I can't depend on it for sun protection.

Aliona, maybe I'll start waiting longer to put on my makeup after the sunblock has sunk in.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I hate most sunblock. i use tinted moisturizer with 20 spf. I have my eye out for something primer, moisturizer and non-chemical spf in one.

I've considered trying Colorescience on top of everything for very sunny days. Has anyone else tried it?

ColoreScience Colorescience Pro Sunforgettable SPF 50 Brush-Fair

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Aziraphale

Veteran

Suz and Ummlila, I hate it so much too. I'm pretty good about wearing it -- I've done it for decades -- and I've tried every brand. They are all greasy and gross. The SPF-enhanced moisturizers are much nicer, but inadequate for when you're really out in the sun!

K. Period.

Veteran

I do the same order: skincare first, then sunblock, (then wait) then makeup. I try to wait 10 to 15 minutes between sunblock and makeup to allow the sunblock to sink in. I agree it can be bothersome, but I subscribe to the theory that sunblock is the cheapest anti-aging product you can buy, so I'm diligent about it. However, I'm a bit of a rule breaker in another respect. I've been buying Japanese sunscreens (which use ingredients approved there and in Europe). I don't have good luck with US approved sunscreens. Mineral ones cause serious congestion for my skin and many of the chemical formulations seem to sting and irritate my skin too. The ones in Japan and Europe are less irritating and honestly I suspect they are more effective and innovative blocks that US blocks. They also feel a lot lighter.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I do moisturiser, sunblock, wait a while, then make up. I am manic about sun protection. On the weekends I usually do invisible zinc instead of make up to my forehead, nose and upper cheeks so I end up with 2 layers of protection there. It has a tint to it so is similar to wearing a BB cream but not as full on as make up.

Colette

Veteran

I do not like the extra steps but the sun reeks havoc on my already poor complexion so I use sunscreen religiously. When I wear makeup I follow the same order as you; moisturizer, sunscreen (Josie Maran SPF 47), LM Primer, and LM Tinted Moisturizer. I have dry skin so the extra moisture doesn't cause a problem for me. I used to wear the Josie Maran universal tinted moisturizer but I realized it was a bit too dark for my pale skin tone so I switched.

Anonymous

I need a recommendation for a good physical block that is chemical free. I should be more vigilant and I need to get serious about this. I wonder if I'm not getting enough coverage relying on a combo of sunscreen in my moisturizer and my makeup.....

Colette

Veteran

This is the sunscreen I use:

http://www.sephora.com/argan-d.....Id=1585264

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Anonymous

Hmmm. Product not authorized for sale in Canada, according to this link.

Colette

Veteran

Oh great, does that mean my face is going to fall off? I use tons of this stuff.

Anonymous

Oh who knows. Our FDA is notoriously stringent though....

Colette

Veteran

Lisa, check out the EltaMd line. I used that previously and liked it too.

rabbit

Veteran

If it's overcast winter/spring sun I do moisturizer with a low SPF included (or just use no-Ad SPF 15 sunscreen instead of moisturizer). If it's summer sun I skip the moisturizer and go straight to the 50 spf sunblock, let it dry, then do concealer and powder. I use No-Ad sunscreen almost always, which was actually my only moisturizer for years and seems to work fine as a makeup base.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks ladies. I might try applying the sunscreen without any moisturizer underneath at all. Maybe it's my skin that is greasy and gross. I've been so conditioned to using moisturizer because in my early 20s I went to a dermatologist to ask about a dry red patch on my temple, and she told me it was dry skin eczema -- which would be handily solved by (a) not scrubbing with soap, and (b) using moisturizer. She was right. (I had oily skin as a teen, and was religious about washing my face, but by my 20s I guess I no longer needed to be quite so gung ho with the soap). I've been using moisturizer ever since.

rachylou

Veteran

So...I have never figured this out because sunblock has to be reapplied frequently...

Style Fan

Veteran

I tried Colorescience a few times. I never felt like I was getting enough on my face to protect myself from the sun.
I use a sunblock when I am outside for long periods. I have tried everything. My skin is very sensitive. I am using LaRoche Posay Mineral sunscreen lately. Seems okay. I find the Mineral ones best.

Colette

Veteran

Rachylou, I didn't understand the re-application either. I found there are several factors that determine when you need to re-apply sunscreen. This FAQ does a good job explaining it.

http://www.paulaschoice.com/ex.....en#apptime

If you are outside sweating and getting wet you definitely need to re-apply often.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don't use a separate sunblock -- I use a moisturizer with 30spf (Avalon Organics) and then instead of foundation I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer which also has 30spf.

If I'm really going to be out in the sun for hours, on a long bike ride or something, I might smear an extra application of sunscreen, especially if I've been sweating, but that is rare because I'm usually also wearing a cap or helmet or something that helps shade my face. I can't remember the last time I got sunburn on my face. I know I already have sun damage so I want to be careful about this, but I feel like a third layer of protection might be overkill? I find that the more products I put on my face for a day, the more clogged my pores get and my skin breaks out. YMMV of course.

LaPed

Veteran

My favorite everyday product is an all-in-one from Andalou. I only use zinc sunblocks, and I'm finding that to not look like a ghost I need something tinted. Before I found this one, I was using Aubrey's mineral sunblock with Hauschka tinted day cream on top, so two steps. I don't bother with a pre-moisturizer but use a pretty intensive moisture cream at night. Anyway, highly recommend the Andalou -- as someone with very fair, cool-toned skin, the tint in this one is pretty good for me. Obviously if I'm going to be outside all day and moving around a lot, I opt for something more heavy-duty, like Badger Sport Block, and in that case I'm reapplying regularly and not worrying about the washed-out color of my face. Zinc-based sunblocks are the worst in photographs too, but oh well.

Andalou Naturals Andalou Naturals Roses Color Plus Correct Sheer Nude Peels Neutralizer, 2 Ounce

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JAileen

Veteran

If it's an ordinary day I just put on makeup which has SPF20. If I'm going out for anything - hiking, gardening, dogwalking, I wear a hat. If we're going out all day I put on sunscreen on everywhere, and wear a hat. I always wear a hat.

After a discussion here about hands looking old, I started putting sunscreen on my hands. We were having dinner out and I looked at the back of my hands in the fluorescent lights and they were grey! It was alarming, actually. It turned out to be the sunscreen. I looked for an expiration date on the bottle (Neutrogena ultra sheer dry touch) but couldn't find one. It apparently worked because I wasn't burned.

Anonymous

I have extremely sensitive, breakout probe skin. Neutrogena makes a sunscreen for the face that I really like. I also like mineral makeup like Jane Iredale that also acts as a sunscreen. For my trip to Coumel, I also bought a translucent mineral sunscreen powder from Jane Iredale.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Order = hydrating serum, moisturizer, sunblock, tinted moisturizer

Daily.

Anonymous

My order, daily, is skin Rx meds + moisturizer + mineral makeup with SPF 30 + setting spray. When out in the sun at the beach or whatever, the Neutrogrna sunscreen replaces the moisturizer because I'm not wearing makeup, but r this next week I plan to add the translucent mineral powder over the Neutrogena.

Vix

Veteran

>>>moisturizer, then sunblock, then any makeup over top of that

Yes. And my makeup is mineral so I get a little extra boost.

I love love LOVE my sunblock. Epionce, an MD-created brand that's lower in price than many similar. The zinc is actually good for my mild rosacea and it doesn't clog pores.

The SPF 50 is scentless to me so that's what I use; the 35 is a bit smell. But it's the cheaper Neutrogena for non-face/chest areas!

rabbit

Veteran

Colette - thanks, that link is very helpful. I also wear a hat with a brim anytime I'm doing stuff outside for awhile rather than just spending 20 minutes going back and forth from the car to indoors -- and for outdoor sports wear much heavier duty sunscreen.

Aziraphale - yeah, I've only really gotten the greasy feeling when I think my moisturizer and separate sunscreen aren't meshing or drying well together because of some clashing ingredient issue, so that's why I usually just use the sunscreen, which for higher SPFs especially seems to have plenty of moisture. Then I let it dry before putting on any makeup so it doesn't get moved around or mix with it. Usually a light dusting of Aveda powder also 'sets' everything and prevents sunscreen creep later on in the day.

Gigi

Veteran

This is a question that has bothered me for a long time. I recently bought a Badger SPF 30 tinted sunscreen that is quite a good match for my skin, so on days when I am outside a lot, I use that as my moisturizer (it is quite rich). For makeup, I switched to a mineral makeup (Jane Iredale), so that is easily applied over the top of the sunscreen. The mineral makeup also has SPF 20 in it, which helps.

If I want to use my regular moisturizer, then I follow it with the DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 (https://devitaskincare.com/sto.....17534.html). This is not heavy at all--but it is not waterproof. It also leaves a whitish cast to the skin, so I mix it with a little Dr. Hauschka bronzer. I don't recall putting makeup on over the top of it, so I don't know how well it plays with, say, an oil-based liquid foundation. I would think that the DeVita, being water based, would cause a problem if your foundation was oil based.

In the end, I ultimately decided I wasn't going to go outside without a hat on. But now my problem is hat hair. Guess I can't win.

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