Should you apply sunscreen before or after the moisturizer?

The moisturizer hydrates the skin, while sunscreen protects against UV damage and can reduce the risk of cancer, regardless of the season. Dermatologists recommend using both daily in the right order for the best results.

What is the right order to apply a moisturizer and sunscreen?

For most people, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises to apply a sunscreen as the last stage of your morning care routine.

• The application of the moisturizer before sunscreen allows your moisturizer to penetrate directly into your skin, preserving its natural humidity balance.
• In addition, the superposition of sunscreen on the moisturizer guarantees that nothing interferes with the protective barrier that your sunscreen provides from the UV radiation of the sun.
• The application of a sunscreen on a moisturizer aligns with the advice of dermatologists to superimpose skin care products from the thinnest to the thickest.

During the day, when the sunscreen is necessary, this implies using care products in the following order:

1. Cleaner
2. Toner
3. Spot treatments
4. Serums
5. Eye cream
6. Moisturizing cream
7. Sunscreen
8. Make up

How to superimpose according to the type of sunscreen you use

Although the general rule is to apply a sunscreen on a thin layer of moisturizer, you can benefit from a different approach depending on the type of sunscreen you use. Generally, sunscreens can be classified as one of the following types:

• Mineral sunscreenalso known as Physical sunscreens generally contain zinc oxide and / or titanium dioxide, which form a physical barrier with UV rays of the sun. Dermatologists often suggest mineral sunscreens for people with sensitive skin.
• Chemical sunscreen Contain chemicals such as avobenzone or octinoxate that absorb the sun’s rays by penetrating your skin.
• Hybrid sunscreen Contain one or more active ingredients that combine the advantages of chemical and physical sunscreens.

Superposition advice for mineral sunscreens compared to chemicals

For improved protection, consider the following superposition order depending on the type of sunscreen you use:

• Mineral sunscreen on moisturizer: Since the mineral sunscreen provides a physical barrier with UV rays, you can obtain optimal protection by applying it directly to your skin, which allows it to reflect the sun.
• Chemical sunscreen under hydrating: Since the chemical sunscreens work after being absorbed by your skin, they can offer better protection if they are applied directly to the surface of your skin before the moisturizer, which allows adequate absorption.

The two types of solar screens have advantages and disadvantages. Consult a dermatologist or health care provider for personalized advice on the best type of sunscreen and the superposition command with hydrating for your specific skin type.

Are there advantages regardless of the superposition order?

The evidence also suggests that using an appropriate sunscreen can provide advantages regardless of the order in which it is applied.

• In a study, the researchers used a UV reflectance analysis to observe whether the application of the moisturizer before or after a sunscreen had an impact on the effectiveness of the sunscreen.
• The results have shown that a moisturizer applied shortly before or after solar screens has not changed the effectiveness of low and high protection solar screens used in the study.

How do you choose a sunscreen?

Whatever the type of sunscreen you use, the AAD advises to choose products with the following properties:

• Large spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
• SPF 30 or more
• Water resistance

Generally, the crushing message of dermatologists is that the best sunscreen is the one you use regularly, because consistent use is the key to UV protection.

Tips for using a moisturizer combined with SPF products

• The use of a moisturizer with SPF can save time, but it can often offer less protection than dedicated solar screens, which makes it unfit for prolonged exposure to the sun.
• If you are considering a combined product, make sure it follows the AAD guidelines for solar screens.
• To replace sunscreen, a combined product must have a SPF cover of 30 or higher or more spectrum with wide spectrum (UVA and UVB) and water -resistant properties.
• If you choose a combined moisturizer / sunscreen, use enough product for appropriate protection.
• The sunscreen is more effective when applied generously and consistent.
• Reappear a sunscreen every two hours in the sun and after swimming or perspiration.
• However, anecdotal evidence suggests that people often underestimate the products because they don’t like the process of superposition of the moisturizer every two hours.