There’s no doubt that hybrid products are in and that too in a major way. It’s 2023, and lengthy, multi-step routines have given way to quicker, more efficient, multi-tasking skincare. This has been enabled by the influx of hybrid products in the beauty market. A moisturiser that doubles up as a skin tint or a lip stain with the hydrating benefits of a lip balm – innovation-led products are aplenty.
While hybrid products work wonders if you’re always in a hurry (go ahead and ditch layering multiple actives for a single serum supercharged with multiple actives to target all your concerns), does the logic also apply when it comes to sun protection?
If following up your face moisturiser with sunscreen is a must, can we mix sunscreen with moisturiser before application? The short, simple answer? You really should not. Below, we break down how a moisturiser and sunscreen work for your skin and how it’s not advisable to mix them into a single product before applying.
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The long and short of it
Every skincare product in your routine plays a unique role — a cleanser cleans, a serum treats, a moisturiser hydrates, and sunscreen protects. Since it's always advisable to follow up your moisturiser with sunblock, it may seem like an efficient idea to just mix the two products before application. We’re here to tell you not to.
The main reason that this does not work is that diluting the sunscreen with your moisturiser decreases its efficacy, meaning that the moisturiser-sunscreen concoction does not provide as much sun protection as is recommended.
Remember, the two-finger rule (as you may have seen floating across your IG feeds) states that you need at least two fingers (right from the crease of your palm to the fingertips for both the index and middle fingers) worth of sunscreen to give your face adequate sun protection. For maximum defence, reach for a sunblock with SPF 30 to 50, and reapply every 2 hours if stepping out in the sun (every 80 minutes if you’re going swimming or sweating a lot).
Don’t ditch the hybrid staples yet
If mixing sunscreen with moisturiser defeats the purpose, you may find yourself wondering about your SPF-infused face creams and makeup— are those any good for you? Well, yes, they are, but they are not adequate sun protectors to replace your sunscreen with.
Serums, face creams and makeup formulated with SPF promise an added layer of sun protection and are not substitutes for sunscreen itself. These are especially beneficial in the dog days of summer and can be used under your sunscreen to give you extra protection from the harsh sunlight.
On the other hand, plenty of sunscreens today are formulated to deliver hydration to your skin, making reapplications enjoyable and nourishing. But, similarly, these moisturising sunscreens are in no way an adequate replacement for your serums and moisturisers. Long story short, remember never to skip SPF, even if your moisturiser or makeup boasts of a strong SPF.
Does sunscreen come before or after moisturiser?
Now that we’ve established that both moisturiser and sunscreen are to be applied separately for maximum efficacy let’s move on to the correct order in which these products need to be applied. While you can apply sunscreen before moisturiser as well, this again decreases its efficacy. Your sunscreen must sit on the top of your skin (meaning it needs to be applied as the last step of your skincare routine) to perform to its highest ability. Make sure you apply your sunscreen after you apply your moisturiser, and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors.
