Feb 01., 2025 / Sun Care
How to Apply Sunscreen
It seems simple, right? Apply sunscreen to exposed skin before you go outside and you’re done. But it isn’t that simple: The when, where, and how you apply sunscreen is important, but often confusing.
We’ve examined all the latest research and have definitive answers to your most burning sunscreen questions. Get ready to keep your skin perfectly protected and looking younger, longer!
Why Sunscreen Is So Important
Nothing is as critical for keeping skin younger-looking, protected, and resilient as daily use of a sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater. This is something Paula’s Choice Skincare has embraced with every sunscreen we’ve created. If your skin is exposed to daylight, even indirectly (in the shade of a tree or through windows), it needs sunscreen! When used as directed with other sun protection measures, sunscreen decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.
BUT: If you don’t know when and how to apply sunscreen, you won’t get the protection of the SPF number on the label. We share how to do it right so you can save your skin!
What Step is Sunscreen in Your Skincare Routine?
Most medical experts, regulatory boards, and scientists agree: Sunscreen is always the final step in your daytime skincare routine. This is exactly how sunscreens are tested to earn their SPF rating: Nothing goes over them. Any skincare product you apply over a sunscreen dilutes and reduces its effectiveness.
Do you also need a moisturizer for under your sunscreen? Probably not. In addition to providing broad-spectrum protection, the best daytime moisturizers also have proven anti-aging and hydrating formulas. You shouldn’t need a second product if the one you’ve chosen is rated SPF 30 or greater, fragrance free, suitable for your skin type, and loaded with potent antioxidants and other skin-renewing ingredients.
Antioxidants matter: Research has shown that skin gets an extra boost by applying an antioxidant-rich serum before your sunscreen. Antioxidants help further shield skin from environmental factors that slowly chip away at its youthful appearance.
How Soon to Apply Sunscreen Before Heading Outside?
When to apply sunscreen? Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside and to be sure you let it absorb before you get dressed. If you get dressed immediately after applying sunscreen, much of it rubs off on your clothing, where it can’t help your skin.
We repeat: You must apply sunscreen before you go outside. Waiting until you get to where you’re going exposes your skin to an incredible amount of damage. Research has shown that sun damage begins the first minute your unprotected skin sees daylight—not sunlight, but daylight!
How Much Sunscreen to Apply
The common direction is to apply sunscreen “liberally,” but what does “liberal application” really mean? You’ll find measurement recommendations (1/2 teaspoon for your face, a shot glass full for your body), but they don’t really make sense. Why? Because not everyone has the same size body or face and not everyone has the same amount of skin exposed to daylight.
The best way to be sure you’re applying enough sunscreen is:
• Spread a layer you can see over the areas of your skin that will be exposed to daylight.
• Massage this layer into the skin.
• If you’re planning a long day outside, apply another slightly thinner layer.
When to Reapply Sunscreen?
The common recommendation is to reapply regular sunscreen every two hours. The advice for reapplying water-resistant sunscreens after swimming or sweating differs, but is at least every 80 minutes.
The issue of reapplication is about being outside in direct light, no shade. If you apply sunscreen in the morning and spend most of your day inside (without your skin getting wet or perspiring heavily), your sunscreen should still be effective by the end of the day. This is because sunscreen actives break down in response to direct exposure to daylight, not just from the passage of time.
But this advice assumes that you applied liberally in the morning! The “reapply every two hours” recommendation is based primarily on the fact that most people don’t apply sunscreen liberally. So, the logic is that reapplying sunscreen every two hours leads to a liberal application, resulting in better and longer sun protection.
Another tip: All types of sunscreens come off with soap and water, so you must reapply it every time you wash your hands. Keep a small container of sunscreen with you (Paula never goes anywhere without sunscreen in her purse).
Do I Need Sunscreen If I’m Inside All Day?
Yes! The UVA rays of daylight that are present year-round come through windows. If you think that just walking to your car and then into a store or office won’t damage your skin, think again; that few minutes of UV light exposure adds up over the years, causing your skin to age faster than you want.
Applying Makeup Over Sunscreen
We’re often asked if applying foundation that doesn’t contain sunscreen over the sunscreen you’ve just applied will diminish the sunscreen’s ability to protect skin. It won’t if you follow these guidelines:
• Wait 3–5 minutes for the sunscreen to set before applying foundation.
• Apply the foundation in smooth, downward motions, no rubbing back and forth.
• Do not use excess pressure or over-blend.
• The goal is to glide foundation over the skin, not to rub it into skin.
• It’s even better when your foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer contains sunscreen too— we love to layer sunscreen!
What about relying on foundation with sunscreen on its own? That’s a fine way to get protection for your face if you apply liberally. If you don’t like that much coverage or how a liberal foundation application feels, then go back to liberally applying a facial moisturizer with sunscreen prior to makeup.
A note on powders with sunscreen: Don’t rely on pressed or loose powders with sunscreen as your only sun protection. Getting to the point of achieving the stated amount of sun protection requires a lot of powder! Powders with sunscreen are a great way to touch up your makeup during the day, and for applying more protection at the same time!
