When should I apply my sunscreen?

An essential element in our beauty routine, and one that we sometimes forget (especially in winter), is Solar protection . Many people do not know when and how it should be applied. Is it necessary to apply it every day? If I wear makeup, will it be as effective as without makeup? Do you put it before or after moisturizer? Today we are going to solve these and many other questions so that you can start including sun protection in your daily life and, most importantly, know how to apply it.

To begin, we must know that sun protection or photoprotectors are all those products that are applied to the skin in order to prevent the harmful effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) and/or ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Thus, the main cause of UVB light is sunburn, while UVA rays have effects that penetrate more deeply into the skin such as the appearance of wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity and other factors responsible for skin aging. fur. The sun's rays can have very harmful effects on the skin and can sometimes lead to skin-related diseases, so it is very important to use protection all year round .

In fact, a study by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) ensures that only 42.2% of citizens apply protection to their face when carrying out daily outdoor activities. in summer, while 20.4% do not use any type of sunscreen.

We must be aware of the consequences that the sun has on our skin, and that it is not only in summer. UVA and UVB rays are present all year round, and our face is the most damaged part of the body because it is exposed to light in autumn, winter, spring and summer.

We want to propose a facial beauty routine that includes sunscreen, But first you must know the protection factor, or SPF (as reflected on the labels of sun creams and products) that you need. This number indicates how long a person can spend in the sun before getting sunburned . Each skin is different, and so that you can orient yourself a little, we leave you below a small diagram showing the factor you need depending on the solar intensity and skin type. If you are very interested in sun protection, types of filters and how each of them are similar and different, we recommend you this article .

Solar intensity

Source: Mentactiva Table: Own preparation

The order does matter: sunscreen at the end (or just before makeup)

After knowing what sun factor you need, you can start with the following daily facial routine that we leave you so that you can include sunscreen and apply it at the right time so that its substances have an effect and protect you from the sun's rays.

1. Clean your skin daily → The cleansing routine is a basic that will help all the products you apply later penetrate better into the pores of the skin and be more effective. Always make sure to use a specific cleanser for your skin that can remove traces of sweat, sebum, makeup and other elements that we may encounter. Rinse your face thoroughly and, if necessary, repeat the process once more.
2. Tone → The objective of toning is to finish cleaning the skin and clarify the pores , removing dead cells that will allow the moisturizer to be better absorbed into the skin.
3. Treatments → This step is not for everyone, only for those who are undergoing treatment for acne or blemishes , for example. It would be at this moment when you would have to apply it.
4. Serum → When we apply facial creams we should always start with the lightest one, so the serum will be the one that takes the initiative. Its function is to provide the skin with active ingredients in concentrated doses, so you have to make sure you choose the most suitable one for your skin .
5. The eyes → You are probably asking yourself this question: why does it come before moisturizer? The answer is because they are lighter creams, like the serum, and for this area of ​​the face, which is one of the most sensitive, we must also use a specific cream .
6. The moisturizing cream → This step is essential to have well-hydrated skin . The best option to apply moisturizer is by massaging in circular movements, from the inside out. This product is placed before the sunscreen because if we do it the other way around, the other products would not penetrate the skin and would have no effect. Instead of using moisturizing cream, a double serum is also valid, depending on each person.
7. Sunscreen → the last step of the routine. In this way, it will act as a screen that will prevent the sun's rays from damaging the skin and, therefore, you should apply it before going outside to protect your face.
8. Makeup → This step is for those who want it, it is not mandatory. Before applying makeup, wait for the sun protection to be absorbed by the skin . We recommend that you wait approximately 5 minutes. One piece of advice we give you is that to obtain good results and not wash away all the hydration products, apply the makeup with touches and always from the center of the face outwards. Likewise, there are tinted sunscreens that can be a good substitute for your makeup base.

Doing this routine every day will make your skin soft, hydrated and healthy. It will be protected at all times from the harmful effects of the sun's rays .

Situations that can deceive or confuse

Once we have our facial routine that includes sun protection, it is important that you do not get overconfident and do not stop applying it in the following situations:

• If the day is cloudy , since 90% of solar radiation manages to pass through the clouds and reach your skin intact
• If you are in the water or it is windy , the lack of heat can make you think that the rays are not there, and in reality they continue to affect your skin.
• If you are already tan , don't forget to apply sunscreen. Tanning, although it prevents you from burning, will not protect you against UVB rays and the effects of UVA radiation.

It is difficult to say exactly what can happen if you do not use sun protection in your routines, and it will surely be reflected in your skin. The sun's rays are always present. We recommend a good dose of facial sun protection to properly care for your skin. In our catalog you can find a wide range of facial sunscreens, but below we leave you a series of them so that you can take a look at them and not miss out on protecting your skin well.

Our recommendations

From least to most protection:

1. Radiant Shield Brightening Face Cream SPF15 – A brightening anti-ageing face cream with SPF15. Moisturizes, firms, softens the appearance of fine lines and protects the skin from UVA/UVB rays. Its protection is very low. We do not recommend it for beach days or lots of sun. 100% mineral filter.

2. Regenerating facial cream with SPF30 Sun Guardian : this cream Odacite hydrates and regenerates the skin, in addition to protecting it from blue light. It has a fluid, non-greasy texture and is suitable for all skin types, including oily and/or acne-prone skin.

To use this product, you must have clean and dry skin. Then massage until completely absorbed.

3. Mineral Sun Silk Crème SPF30 : Fluid, oil-free anti-aging facial cream with SPF30. Mineral Sun Silk Crème protects your skin from pollution, UVA/UVB rays and blue light. Fluid texture, fast absorption, non-comedogenic and physical filters. Made with niacinamide. Ideal for oily or combination skin. 100% mineral filters.
   
   
4. SPF30 British Summer sunscreen : it is for body and face and also protects from blue light. Urban protection. To use this product, you have to apply it evenly on your face and body before exposing yourself to the sun. Reapply as many times as necessary throughout the day. Do not let more than two hours pass between applications.
   
   
5. If you have oily and non-sensitive skin, we recommend Urban Feel Good SPF30 , it is also a cream with urban protection. Their sunscreens are chemical. The texture is a delight, it is much more fluid than Pai's (in fact this cream is the most fluid and lightest we have tried). It absorbs in the blink of an eye and is not greasy at all. Of course, it doesn't leave your skin greasy or white either.
   
   
6. Facial stick SPF50 Pro-Active Mineral Sunscreen in stick : this mineral, natural and certified SPF50 facial sunscreen from Mádara comes in stick format to make it easier to use and transport since, in this way, you can carry it in your bag or pockets and that accompanies you in all your activities. Suitable for all skin types.

To use, we recommend that it be used alone or after applying your day cream (if your skin is very, very dry).

5. Sunset Sunscreen stick SPF50+ high protection for the face : this sunscreen Seventy-one protects from UVA and UVB rays and is water resistant. It has a creamy texture, a cola color, and has been created with surfers and people who practice outdoor sports in mind and who need resistant care for their skin.

To use this product, you just have to apply it with a gesture to all the sensitive areas of the face: cheekbones, nose, chin and forehead. Renew the application at least every 80 minutes.

6. SPF50+ facial sun protection with a little color : this facial sunscreen from Nuura It is water resistant and is recommended for those with sensitive, dehydrated or very dry skin. You can use it daily and it is ideal for sports and outdoor activities. Thanks to its soft pigment it manages to unify the complexion, but it is not a makeup. We do not recommend it for combination or oily skin.
   
   
7. Anti-aging facial cream with SPF50 and niacinamide: SPF50 Sheer Sunscreen Mineral Drops: current best seller at theCosmethics. A fluid day cream, with treatment and SPF50. It is absorbed quickly and does not leave the skin white. We recommend it for all skin types. 100% physical filter.
8. Sun protection for lips: without color and with color.
   
   
   During the last few weeks we have incorporated many new features with sun protection, check them all out here .