There are plenty of beauty bloggers and skincare enthusiasts on the internet raving about mixing sunscreen with their daily moisturiser. Although it does save them an extra step in their skincare routine, I don’t recommend it. The reason? Even though moisturiser and sunscreen share a similar consistency and texture, the chemical ingredients in both products are different. Let’s get into the details, shall we?
This Why Mixing Your Moisturiser With Sunscreen Ain’t A Good Idea
Shutterstock
So because of different chemical ingredients in them, they may not react well with each other. In fact, there’s a high possibility that they may interfere and degrade each other’s active ingredients, making both products less effective. Even worse, what if your skin develops an allergic reaction to them? Hence, it’s best to avoid mixing the two products.
If you really want to cut down one step from your skincare routine, pick a moisturiser that already contains SPF (check the packaging before you buy one). Now this will save you time and some moolah as well!
Note: Just like foundations, sunscreens aren’t a one-size-fits-all kinda product. To find your sunscreen or SPF moisturiser soulmate, you first need to know your skin type.
- For dry skin – pick an SPF moisturiser with a creamy texture.
- For oily skin – pick an oil-free SPF moisturiser with a mattifying formula.
- For acne-prone skin – pick a non-comedogenic SPF moisturiser or sunscreen gel.
- For sensitive skin – pick an SPF moisturiser or sunscreen gel with zinc or titanium dioxide.
It’s also important to know whether the SPF moisturiser that you have is formulated for your face or not. Many a time, people tend to use their SPF moisturisers for both, their body and face. An SPF that’s not formulated for the face can clog the pores and leave behind some greasy residue on your face. Hence, it always important to read the packaging and do a patch test before you apply sunscreen.
Know Your Sunscreen
shutterstock
Currently, there are two types of UV light that can harm your skin – UVB and UVA. UVB gives off more energy than UVA, and it directly affects the skin’s top layer. Frequent exposure to UVB rays can cause skin cancer. UVA rays, on the other hand, penetrate deeper into the skin, damage the skin cells and cause premature ageing. You want to keep an eye out for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that does the job of protecting your skin from both, UVA and UVB rays.
In a nutshell, avoid mixing sunscreen with moisturiser because it will do more harm than good. You either use them as individual products or find an SPF moisturiser that kills two problems with one product. Good luck!
Featured Image: Shutterstock
