Makeup with sunscreen is enough sun protection?

A dermatologist explains how SPF works in makeup and how to find out if you get enough UV protection from the sun for your skin.

Have you ever wondered, “is there enough makeup with sunscreen to protect against the sun?” Do you want to prevent premature aging and sun damage for your face skin, and is this SPF makeup you love enough? In my last video, I explain how makeup and sunscreens work to protect against the sun so that you can make the right choice regarding skin care.

First, you must understand that the SPF in any product is determined by the correct dosage of the amount of product applied to your skin. This means that you need to put enough of this product to get the full SPF from your product. If you do not use enough sunscreen containing sunscreen, you do not get the full SPF protection that is written on the label and your skin is probably not well protected.

How much sunscreen do you need to apply to get the full SPF from your product?

The SPF sunscreen test is performed using 2 mg / cm2 of sunscreen applied to the skin. This applies on average to mid-size adults using a 1-ounce glass or sunscreen if they were in an average bathing suit. It's a lot! We know that most people use much less sunscreen than is used to determine the SPF of a product.

If you do not use enough SPF, you will have some protection, but not the one you expect. Ideally, you need to use the right amount of product for the surface of the skin that you are covering.

How to find out how much sunscreen to apply on the face?

We teach our patients that for the head and neck you should aim for about a third or half a teaspoon to protect this surface from the sun. And again, your surface area will depend on the clothes you wear, the amount of skin that stands out from your hair, hat, etc. Therefore, ideally, you can reduce it by simply applying sunscreen to your skin. your face because you use face makeup. But you want to keep this ratio in mind. Another simple trick is to aim for a nickel-sized spoon for your face. Are you ready to apply so much makeup? If so, you can get the full SPF from the product. This is one important way to determine if your makeup provides sunscreen with adequate sun protection.

How do sunscreens work to block ultraviolet rays?

It is important to understand that there are two mechanisms of action of sunscreen, and you need to know which filter contains the UV filter in your product, whether it is cosmetics or sunscreen.

Firstly, these are chemical UV sunscreens. They include everything except zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These UV filters should bind to your skin. Chemical UV filter molecules block ultraviolet rays by absorbing them. When they absorb ultraviolet rays, the molecule decomposes, so those who really wear it out protect the skin. If you plan on wearing a chemical sunscreen product all day in the sun, you probably won't have protection.

Secondly, these are mineral UV sunscreens. These are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. (My favorite is zinc oxide for a number of geeky scientific reasons and the fact that it has more UVA protection.) Mineral filters actually reflect light from your skin. In the end, after many leaps, they will deteriorate, but they work on the principle of scattering or reflection of ultraviolet rays. Mineral UV filters will be there for you a little longer, because they do not decompose so quickly. If you add a creamy mineral filter product to your makeup mineral powder, you get even more protection. Find my favorite mineral facial products here. I am a big fan of mineral products for the face, because they are hypoallergenic, non-irritating, look great and provide amazing protection!

So, are there enough cosmetics with sunscreen to protect against premature skin aging?

The key factors for successful sun protection are knowing which UV filters you use, making sure that you apply enough sunscreen to your skin, and applying the right type of sunscreen for your activity!

Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey

Thus, if you are dependent on the SPF in your sun protection cosmetics, you need to know which of the two types of UV filters your makeup product contains, and you must be sure that the dosage (the amount you apply) matches your activity. For example, if you are just going to carry out several tasks in your car and get out of it, and you will not be in the sun for too long, you may be able to avoid chemical sunscreen in your cosmetics. But if you are going to go out to the wedding all day, you need to be more strict regarding sun protection.

How to be sure that cosmetics with sunscreen provide sufficient protection from the sun – think outside the box!

Thus, the SPF in your cosmetics can be good enough if the filter is durable and appropriate to your daily activities. Alternatively, if you are going to walk a lot, you can use a sunscreen, which, as you know, you will use (dose) in the prescribed amount so that it protects you from the sun. It can also be painted, which is my personal favorite way, so that it can double as makeup! My best bet is to use a tinted sunscreen that I like so much that I know that I will apply the prescribed amount on my skin to get the full SPF dosage. Then, if I also want to wear makeup, I can apply mineral powder on top for added protection from the sun.

So, is sunscreen makeup enough? It is up to you, and you should think about what your filter is, whether you use it enough and what your daily activities are.

To see all the sunscreens for the face and sunscreens that I use in my dermatological practice, click here.

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