The Right Way To Wear Sunscreen With Makeup

You know how important it is to protect your skin from the sun, but when makeup and busy schedules get in the way, what is a girl to do? We tapped Josie Juncal, CCO of Colorescience—a makeup brand that builds SPF directly into its products— for tips on wearing sunscreen sans the thick, greasy layer that sometimes accompanies it. Now you don’t have to choose between beautiful makeup and healthy skin.

Pretty And Protected

Photo: Vanessa Jackman

Know The Dangers Of Skipping Sunscreen

"Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis, and most cases are caused by exposure to UV light. The good news is skin cancer is also the most preventable type of the disease. Another negative side effect of the sun is it causes more than 80% of the visible signs of aging. While sun exposure causes lifelong damage like freckles, brown spots and wrinkles, it accumulates over time so it's never too late to start protecting yourself from future damage."

Layer SPF Makeup

"Unfortunately sunscreen doesn't add up–for instance an SPF 15 primer under SPF 30 foundation doesn't equal SPF 45 protection. However I am a strong supporter of layering sun protection because it gives skin more lines of defense as each product wears off throughout the day."

Stay On Top Of Touch-Ups

“The American Academy of Dermatology recommends nothing less than a broad spectrum SPF 30 for daily use and reapplication every 2 hours. If your makeup includes SPF 30, it offers just as much protection as any other lotion sunscreen–as long as you are touching up your makeup throughout the day. Reapplication is the most critical component of good sun-protection habits.”

Find Alternatives To Traditional Lotion Sunscreens

"Most sunscreens leave my face white and greasy, which looks and feels terrible under makeup. Use a powered sunscreen, like Sunforgettable SPF 50, to dust a layer over your foundation like a setting powder. Apply a primer or foundation with SPF 30 as another alternative to thick sunscreen."

Choose Broad-Spectrum Protection

"It is essential you not only get protection from UVB (skin-burning) rays but also from UVA (aging) rays. Always look for a sunscreen that's labeled 'broad spectrum,' as that lets you know it's protecting you from both types of rays. The best ingredient to look for is zinc oxide because it covers the entire spectrum of UVA and UVB rays."