A common misconception about sunscreen and SPF is that you can add them up to ensure the greatest protection. Some might think, “My sunscreen has SPF 40, my foundation SPF 20, and my powder SPF 20… I’m getting SPF 80 protection – yay! No wrinkles ever!”
…But I wouldn’t do the happy dance just yet, though. The SPF on your face is as good as the highest ‘number’ you put on your face. Bummer, eh? The recommended SPF is 30, and as you can tell from my little collection of past sun lotions, SPF 40 is the ‘minimum’ I’m looking for. (And yes, after my confession the other day that I stopped wearing sunscreen, I went on a hunt around my room and found these babies! Safe to say I am back on track with daily sunscreen application.)
Have you ever had this misconception about sunscreen? I did a few years ago, but really, as long as you are 1) applying sunscreen daily, 2) moisturizing daily and 3) avoiding sunbathing and long periods in the sun, you are definitely doing great things to prevent premature aging for your skin.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s always been a struggle for me to wear SPF. I just want to be tan all the time! However, I’ve started using a Neutrogena moisturizer that has SPF in it. I almost forget I’m wearing anything! =)
xx
That’s the best: feeling like you’re not wearing anything at all!
i am pretty sure that is the reason why here in Australia the maximum spf a product is allowed to say they have is spf 30 it may actually be spf 40 it could be spf 80 but because of the harshness of our sun the government only allows things to be labelled spf 30 thereby not giving people the sense that they need not reapply
I used to HATE wearing sunscreen! It felt sticky and icky on my skin and I just didn’t like piling on more than the usual toner + moisturizer. I didn’t even like applying sunblock on my arms and legs when I do sports because it felt so “unnatural” when I sweat, like I’m sweating some creamy nonsense or something, haha! Then one day I was watching America’s Next Top Model and all these pretty models with (seemingly) perfect skin go for a skin checkup and ALL of them have really scary sun damage despite it not being completely visible yet! Freaked me out enough to start making sure I apply sunblock daily without fail! Even when I dont leave the house I slap some on just in case. And after reading your post on protecting out hands from aging, I’ve started to apply sunblock on my hands too! Some people recommend reapplying sunblock every 2 hours but I haven’t been so diligent about that part heh heh heh..
I use Clinique’s Sun SPF50 Face Cream now and so far so good. Not oily and icky! And I like to use a minimum of SPF50, considering how harsh the sun feels here in Malaysia and in Singapore too, I know. I have seen the Clinique Derma White Brightening City Blocker (far left in your pic above) around tho.. Is it any good? And does it have a tint? I like the one I’m using now because it doesn’t have a tint. Otherwise I’d have to use a makeup remover to get it off everytime I use it!
Clinique’s sunblocks tend to have a tint but honestly when you apply it, it doesn’t cover anything so I think it’s more like the formula has a color, and that’s about it. Clinique’s sunscreens are good, I used to use them, but are a little greasy. :/
I try to always wear some sunscreen – usually SPF30, I read somewhere that going higher doesn’t help. The only problem is that my face becomes so oily from the sunscreen! Whatever I try, at the end of the day my face is like an oil slick – though a well-protected one
I used to have this misconception about sunscreen too. If you mix two sunscreens together, common sense would tell you it wouldn’t increase the SPF, but if you put one on and wait, and then layer a second one on, it seems like it would increase the SPF, but supposedly it doesn’t! In the summer I sometimes layer sunscreens because I use the Anthelios one with mexoryl in it, and then I put a sunscreen with zinc oxide over it. Again that seems like a good idea, but I could be messing up the way they work for all I know. I am constantly testing sunscreens in the summer to find one that causes the absolute least amount of color on my face on the rare occasion I actually go outside and go to the pool/beach.
Haha, seems like I’m not the only one who had this misconception! I have been testing out a sunscreen recently and I think I found the perfect one. I’m serious – this is the first sunscreen that doesn’t make me look greasy and nasty, very impressive! Will review it next week, look out for it!
Another misconception about SPF is that if you apply it in the morning, then you’re covered for the rest of the day. Wrong!! You have to reapply at least every hour an a half to two hours. Even more so if you’r ein direct sunlight. It took me awhile to catch on and wrap my head around that one.
Wearing SPF on a regular basis is really the best way to prevent premature aging and fine lines. Great post!
Thanks so much for your added tip, Kathleen! So true – sunscreen should be re-applied AND sunscreen is the best way to prevent wrinkles and premature aging. A great moisturizer at night helps as well!
xx
Wow! I thought it was just me! LOL. I used to have this misconception, too. But after developing melasma, I started reading up more and more about sun protection tips and myths. I also found out that layering products with SPF just improves sun protection in terms of layers/amount of sunscreen applied because we usually (always) fail to apply the recommended amount of sunscreen on a daily basis. Come on, who wants to look like she used ice cream on her face, right?
I’m having a hard time finding a mosturizer with SPF that doesn’t cause my skin to break out
But I don’t want sun damage!
i’ve been using Olay sensitive moisturiser with spf 15 for around 2-3 months and it has yet to break me out
just make sure you use clean fingers or a clean foundation brush to apply it and put any spot treatments on first 
Very confused about sunscreen. So you have to keep reapplying? But what if you have makeup on? Ok on an average day at work when you only see the sun during lunchtime let’s say and you are wearing makeup say foundation or BB cream or primer that has SPF 30 do you still need to apply proper sunscreen first before that?
Actually when it comes to sunscreen I must say, I’M GOOD hahah. I have been wearing daily since I can’t remember, my mother was really obsessed with sunscreen, sun protection in general. She would always buy me good sunscreens, so I’ve used many different ones. I think I never had this misconception, because all my sunscreens are 40 or 50 SPF so I never worried about putting more SPF in any other way. When I turned 15 I had the WORST skin problems ever, really severe cistic acne, and since then I’ve been even more careful about it, so I use it everyday, it doesn’t matter if it’s rainning or if I’m going to stay home all day…. I’ll apply it. When my skin is behaving good, people usually compliment my skin and ask me what I use, what face creams or whatever, and when I tell them I only use sunscreen religiously, they don’t believe it!!! I only use other products when I breakout. I think sunscreen/sunblock it’s the one product I couldn’t live without and don’t mind spending on. If only I could be like that when it comes to dieting, and u know, doing everyday hahaha.
Hey! I was just wondering, I know I should probably put sunscreen on my hands… And I’m young so while I’m at school I use my hands a lot, so it would just all fade away. If I added sunscreen to some hand lotion and put it in a jar and used it, would that be alright? I don’t know if the sunscreen would lose any of its protection qualities because of the lotion but I just thought it may be a good idea. Thanks!!