If you’re makeup has SPF in it, do you still need sunscreen?

In Australia, the sun is harsh and the UV rays are strong, even in overcast weather. And while we all know about slip, slop, slapping in summer, many of us forget to protect our skin from harmful UV rays year round. In fact, research by Neutrogena has found that only 30 per cent of women apply facial sunscreen on a daily basis, even though studies have shown UV rays cause DNA damage and premature ageing.

However, simply purchasing a foundation or BB cream with SPF in it will not do the job. As it turns out, the only way to wear sun protection correctly is by using a dedicated sunscreen. We spoke to dermal specialist Lucy Kuper from natural skincare company Biologi, about why those hybrid products don’t quite cut it.

If makeup has SPF in it, do you still need to wear sunscreen?

“Yes, I think you still should, only because it can be really hard to tell the amount of SPF that’s in the product,” says Lucy. “While SPF might be present, if the portion is small then it really isn’t going to provide adequate protection. Prevention and protection is always better than cure.”

Is SPF protection diluted when in makeup?

“Yes absolutely!” says Lucy. “Any ingredient is essentially diluted when mixed in with other ingredients. The biggest concern is that although the SPF may have been tested prior to adding it into the cosmetic product - and would have initially provided a level of protection on its own - once it’s added in with other ingredients we don’t really know what the level of protection is afterwards. Depending on where the product is made, many brands aren’t required to test the final product for efficacy, just the ingredients before they were mixed in.”

What level of sun protection should we be wearing daily?

In an interview with BeautyCrew, Professor Pablo Fernández Peñas, who is a Professor in Dermatology at The University of Sydney, a Senior Medical Practitioner at Westmead Hospital and the Director of the Centre for Translational Skin Research, explained exactly what level of SPF you should be wearing everyday, regardless whether you’re going to be outside or in the office.

“It’s my preference, as a dermatologist, that my patients wear the highest SPF. Dark skin could have enough protection with a SPF 15, but for most white skin SPF 50+ would be better. If you want to minimise sun damage, ageing and skin cancer, the highest the better.”

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Laura Barry

Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.