By now, you probably know the importance of sun care and applying sunscreen on the daily. But while you may recognize sun protection as a necessary step in your skin care routine, knowing when to apply your SPF is another story. More specifically, you need to know if you should apply sunscreen or moisturizer first. Lucky for you, we’ve taken away the guesswork—because sun safety definitely isn’t something you should be hoping you’ve made the right call on. Below, find the definitive answer on whether you’re supposed to apply sunscreen before or after moisturizer.
SHOULD YOU APPLY SUNSCREEN OR MOISTURIZER FIRST?
As a rule of thumb, you should always apply sunscreen as the final step in your skin care routine. And knowing that, the answer to the debate on applying sunscreen or moisturizer first is quite simple: Sunscreen should always be applied after moisturizer!
CAN YOU COMBINE SUNSCREEN AND MOISTURIZER?
You may be wondering if you can mix your sunscreen and moisturizer together to form one holy grail formula. After all, who wants to add yet another step to their routine in the a.m.? Unfortunately, you won’t want to mix the two formulas. Playing mix master to concoct a sunscreen moisturizer can result in products not working as intended, and that isn’t a risk you want to take with sun protection.
If you prefer to multi-task and are feeling pretty crestfallen about not being able to mix sunscreen and moisturizer into one, there is a solution: moisturizer with SPF. This type of moisturizer is specifically formulated to both hydrate your skin and protect it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Want to tackle two steps of your routine in one? Take your pick from one of our best moisturizers with SPF, below.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30: This anti-aging face moisturizer is formulated with SPF 30, Pro-Retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. After using, your skin will be left feeling soft, smoothed, and refreshed. After one week, the appearance of wrinkles will be reduced, and skin will be firmed and brightened. Not to mention, the formula is dermatologist-tested, free of dyes, mineral oil, and parabens, and suitable for sensitive skin.
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Moisturizer: As skin matures, its ability to renew surface cells slows down, causing a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. As a result, the complexion becomes dull, losing its natural rosy tone of youth. This ultra-hydrating cream, which is infused with imperial peony extract and LHA, instantly revives skin’s rosy tone while protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer SPF 30: Brighten up the appearance of your complexion with this moisturizer with SPF 30, which visibly corrects the look of dull, uneven tones, lines, and wrinkles to reveal radiant, youthful-looking clarity. The moisturizer with SPF is formulated with glycolic acid, vitamin C, and Pro-Retinol.
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Day SPF 15 Cream: This anti-aging cream is formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 15 and has a rich, silky texture that delivers replenishment. Immediately, skin feels smoother while skin looks refreshed with continued use over time. The formula maximizes skin’s power of rejuvenation by stimulating surface skin cell renewal to reveal more youthful-looking skin while keeping skin hydrated all day long.
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Anti Wrinkle Firming Day Cream SPF 25: This firming moisturizer is formulated to deliver firmer, smoother skin in just four weeks along with providing UVA/UVB SPF 25 sun protection. The moisturizer is fortified with Pro-Retinol A and Stimuplex and increases cell turnover, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, firms skin, and provides long-lasting hydration.
L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Vita Lift SPF 15 Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer: This moisturizer is formulated with fortified Pro-Retinol A, a form of vitamin A, and helps the appearance of wrinkles, sagging skin, and loss of firmness on the face and neck. It contains SPF 15 to protect your skin against damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Next up: Now that you know if you should apply sunscreen before or after moisturizer, perhaps you’d like to clarify the best order to apply the rest of your skin care products. For your next lesson, check out our article, How Do You Layer Skin Care Products?
