SEVEN SPF HACKS that make sun safety a breeze
Try these tricks to amplify your sun protection, including how to reapply sunscreen over makeup
In theory, experts usually recommend avoiding direct sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when rays are strongest. In practice, we live in Canada where sparkling summer days are few and precious and so, naturally, we want to make the most of them. Hello, lake swims, bike rides, barbecues and juicy paperbacks best enjoyed on a beach towel … Luckily, there are ways to enjoy the season’s many pleasures all while keeping our skin safe and sound. Here, we round up seven sunscreen tips that make staying protected easier than ever.
Start with a vitamin C serum
Like many great pairings — oysters and chilled Sancerre, Bennifer … — vitamin C and sunscreen are good on their own, but even better together. That’s because while sunscreens absorb rays (in the case of chemical filters) or deflect them (in the case of mineral filters), vitamin C neutralizes free radicals caused by sun exposure, something that sunscreen alone can’t do. Those free radicals are responsible for signs of photo-aging like wrinkles, dark spots and sagging.
Research has found that layering vitamin C under SPF helps boost sun protection. In lab testing, a 10 per cent topical vitamin C under sunscreen helped reduce UVB-induced erythema (a.k.a. sunburn) by 52 per cent. And as board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kavita Mariwalla told The Kit last year, sunscreens are typically effective for about two hours, but vitamin C protects you for a full 12. Also good to know: Studies have shown vitamin C is even more potent when combined with vitamin E, like in IT Cosmetics’ reasonably priced Bye Bye Dullness serum, as the two antioxidants synergistically combat UV damage in the skin.
Skip moisturizer
Moisturizer is often viewed as an essential building block of any good skin regimen, something not to be missed under any circumstances. Not so, says Toronto dermatologist Dr. Renée Beach. “This time of year, I’m not putting a moisturizer on my face in the morning. I’m just going with my sunscreen,” she says. It depends on your skin type, she says, but if you feel your sunscreen is providing sufficient hydration, then go ahead and give your moisturizer a break during the daytime. This can also be helpful if you find applying moisturizer and sunscreen makes your skin too oily or leads to breakouts. The trick is finding a formula that’s moisturizing, like this vitamin-E-infused facial sunscreen from Neutrogena. It maintains the moisture barrier yet is oil-free and feels absolutely weightless on skin.
Keep your under-eyes protected
It’s a well-known fact that the skin around our eyes is extremely delicate and thus tends to show signs of aging quicker than the rest of our face. And yet, many of us fail to properly protect the area from UV rays. Maybe we’re afraid of getting sunscreen in our eyes (in our defence, many of them do burn like hell) or our skin tends to be more reactive to SPF in those spots. A few things to know: Most sunscreens are safe to apply around the eye, but mineral options banking on zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are your safest bet as they suit even the most sensitive skin. You can also look for a product specifically formulated for the eye area, like this one from beloved sunscreen brand Supergoop! It’s 100 per cent mineral and laced with caffeine and pomegranate extract to de-puff and reduce dark circles, making it a terrific daytime eye cream.
Layer a tinted SPF over the untinted kind
In 2020, a study found that “broadspectrum sunscreens protect against ultraviolet radiation but do not adequately protect against visible light.” Just like UV rays, visible light can cause sunburns and hyperpigmentation. But for a sunscreen to protect against it, the study stated, it must be visible on the skin. In other words, it needs to be tinted.
Now, it’s common knowledge that most people use less sunscreen than they’re supposed to. “So an SPF 15 becomes more like a SPF 7 because they didn’t get a good layer,” says dermatologist Dr. Nowell Solish. But the issue is even bigger when it comes to tinted formulas or products like foundations with SPF because their pigments make them more apparent on skin. So to benefit from the full SPF listed on the bottle, we’d have to use way more than we likely are. Like to the point where we’d probably feel like we have way too much on and our skin looks all greasy and overly made up, which, of course, none of us wants.
To circumvent that problem, avoid using a tinted SPF product in lieu of the regular stuff and instead use both in conjunction. Start with an untinted sunscreen first, making sure to slather on enough of it — many experts recommend about half a teaspoon for your face and neck — then apply your tinted product on top. (Consider trying Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint with SPF 40. It comes in 30 shades and provides light, natural-looking coverage.) The combination will safeguard your skin from both ultraviolet radiation and visible light, while also helping to correct any cast caused by your sunscreen.
Powder your sunscreen
Feel like your SPF makes your face too greasy? Just add some powder over it. Not only will this help get rid of unwanted shine, it’ll also help your sunscreen stay in place. It’s a particularly useful tip for ensuring sunscreen doesn’t migrate into your eyes and sting them.
While you’re at it, why not go the extra mile and look for a powder with SPF in it? Since a lot of us fail to apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen, many experts promote a layering method. It’s not that the sun protection adds up (for example, an SPF 30 sunscreen with an SPF 35 powder over it does not amount to SPF 65), it’s more that by combining multiple products with sun filters, you’ve got a better chance of achieving adequate coverage. Use the powder as the last step in your makeup routine (it’ll also help set it) or dust it on directly over your sunscreen if you’re going makeup-free.
Use a setting spray with SPF
A setting spray spiked with SPF is a super easy way to layer yet even more sun protection. Simply spritz over sunscreen or foundation for a veil of added defence. Most are completely invisible on the skin, so don’t be afraid to mist them on generously to really get that full SPF rating. This one from Coola dries down to a matte finish, helping to control excess oil and keep your makeup from melting down your face — two much appreciated benefits in the height of summer.
Use the right tools
It’s one of the biggest sun protection conundrums: How to reapply sunscreen — which most dermatologists advise doing every two hours — without messing up your meticulously applied makeup? A lot of people are fans of powder sunscreens, but as board-certified Calgary dermatologist Dr. Susan Poelman told The Kit, “The jury is still out in terms of the efficacy of coverage.” See, creams and lotions are specifically designed to provide uniform distribution of sun filters. With powders, it may not be as easy to get an even application, says Poelman. And again, most people don’t tend to use enough, because they don’t want a thick coat of powder on their face.
Setting sprays, given their featherweight formulations, might be preferable for some in that respect. Just make sure to spritz them in a place where there’s no wind blowing so that the droplets land where you want them to. But the best way to stay protected remains a cream or lotion. Here’s what you want to do: Squirt out half a teaspoon of sunscreen on the side of your hand, then use a sponge such as a Beautyblender (a makeup artist favourite) or a foundation brush to press the product into the skin. Don’t rub! Just pat it in to prevent smearing your makeup. It’ll keep everything in place and top up your sun protection. Finish with a dusting of translucent powder (with SPF, natch) to nix excess shine and keep everything put.