The one skincare tip all dermatologists can agree on is the importance of sunscreen. For real, every derm we’ve ever spoken to has told us that sunscreen is one of THE most essential products if you want to keep your skin looking young, fresh, and damage-free. They also insist that for SPF to be effective, it needs to be re-applied every two hours. When we first heard this, our beauty brain went into a frenzy… How are we supposed to reapply sunscreen over makeup – what about our freshly caked face? Well, don’t sweat it guys, because the beauty world came through with a solution. Here’s why you need to be applying sunscreen every day, and how to reapply sunscreen without messing up your makeup:

Why Sunscreen is Essential?
Realistically, reapplying sunscreen every two hours is a pretty high maintenance habit. But, when you consider that sun exposure causes the premature formation of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, pigmentation, the deconstruction of collagen that results in sagging skin, not to mention skin cancer, it’s totally worth it. In fact, 90% of how your skin ages is within your control and is directly linked to sun exposure, which is why it’s SO important to keep it protected against harmful UVA and UVB rays.

The Base Layer
For your first layer of protection, make sure you find a good sunscreen. Dr. Friedmann from the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic told us; “Choose one that not only has a high SPF (to protect against the burning UVB rays) but one that also has at least a 4-star UVA rating, preferably 5 stars [PA +++]. We know that UVA rays can cause skin cancer, and so sunscreens that protect against UVB only, are not good.”

Apply two fingers’ worth of SPF (a dime-sized amount) to your face, neck, and décolletage once you’ve completed your skincare routine and before you start applying your makeup. Now, you’ve got your base layer of SPF, if you’re out and about in the sun, then here’s how to reapply sunscreen once your face has a full beat…

Use a Setting Spray with SPF

A setting spray that contains SPF is the easiest way to top up your skin protection throughout the day. It won’t mess up your makeup, and most formulas also have hydrating ingredients to refresh and rejuvenate your skin – it’s a win-win!

Key tip: When you’re applying a spray-on sunscreen, you need to be generous with how much you use to guarantee you’re actually getting the SPF protection it promises. We like to spray for 3-5 seconds – it may sound like a lot but it’s totally necessary. Keep your eyes shut throughout the misting, and don’t open them for at least a few seconds.