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Whether you’re a card-carrying member of the skinimalism club or you swear by your 10-step routine, there’s one thing we can all agree on: moisturisers and sunscreens are MVPs of any skincare regimen. It seems like it was always only a matter of time before the duo decided to put their heads together and come up with one hybrid solution: moisturisers laced with SPF to address multiple concerns at once.
Having sun protection built into your moisturiser makes for a good-to-have option, but can it replace your sunscreen altogether? Here’s what you need to know.
‘Broad spectrum’, ‘UVA and UVB rays’, ‘reef-friendly’—you've heard the terms bandied about enough times. But what do these actually mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor—but you knew that already. Determining what level of sun protection your skin requires exactly is where things get interesting. A quick glance at suncare products, and you’ll find everything up to SPF 100 available. So, what should you be looking for? As a base rule, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends starting with a minimum of SPF 30, regardless of your age or lifestyle. If your schedule has you spending a major chunk of your time outdoors, you’ll want to dial things up to SPF 60 to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
As schedules get busier, it seems like it was only a matter of time before our skincare routines started getting more versatile. And the world of sunscreen was only too happy to deliver. Cue: hybrid moisturisers with SPF designed to help you save some crucial minutes while getting ready in the AM. Hydration with sun protection all at once; what’s not to love? There’s also the silver lining of minimising skin irritation from using several different formulas at the same time.
As moisturisers with SPF started flooding the skincare aisle, a pertinent question started popping up: does SPF in moisturiser work? While these SPF-laden formulations might have their heart in the right place, there’s the crucial subject of how much sun protection you’re actually receiving, to be addressed. Most moisturisers offer a token amount of SPF 15 that may not be sufficient to block out UVA and UVB rays simultaneously. There is also the matter of how much formula is being applied. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to apply enough sunscreen to cover the length of two fingers—a principle that may not always be followed with moisturisers.
And now, the million-dollar question: can you skip sunscreen altogether if you have applied a moisturiser with SPF? The answer lies in the fine print. For starters, what is the SPF listed on the label? Anything below SPF 30 cannot do an adequate job of shielding your skin. Next, can you spot the words ‘broad spectrum’ listed on the product? Any reliable sunscreen needs to block out both UVA and UVB rays—the former can cause signs of ageing, while the latter can nudge the door open for sunburn.
So, what should you be looking for when shopping for suncare products? Here’s what to consider.
‘Broad spectrum’, ‘UVA and UVB rays’, ‘reef-friendly’—you've heard the terms bandied about enough times. But what do these actually mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor—but you knew that already. Determining what level of sun protection your skin requires exactly is where things get interesting. A quick glance at suncare products, and you’ll find everything up to SPF 100 available. So, what should you be looking for? As a base rule, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends starting with a minimum of SPF 30, regardless of your age or lifestyle. If your schedule has you spending a major chunk of your time outdoors, you’ll want to dial things up to SPF 60 to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
As schedules get busier, it seems like it was only a matter of time before our skincare routines started getting more versatile. And the world of sunscreen was only too happy to deliver. Cue: hybrid moisturisers with SPF designed to help you save some crucial minutes while getting ready in the AM. Hydration with sun protection all at once; what’s not to love? There’s also the silver lining of minimising skin irritation from using several different formulas at the same time.
As moisturisers with SPF started flooding the skincare aisle, a pertinent question started popping up: does SPF in moisturiser work? While these SPF-laden formulations might have their heart in the right place, there’s the crucial subject of how much sun protection you’re actually receiving, to be addressed. Most moisturisers offer a token amount of SPF 15 that may not be sufficient to block out UVA and UVB rays simultaneously. There is also the matter of how much formula is being applied. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to apply enough sunscreen to cover the length of two fingers—a principle that may not always be followed with moisturisers.
And now, the million-dollar question: can you skip sunscreen altogether if you have applied a moisturiser with SPF? The answer lies in the fine print. For starters, what is the SPF listed on the label? Anything below SPF 30 cannot do an adequate job of shielding your skin. Next, can you spot the words ‘broad spectrum’ listed on the product? Any reliable sunscreen needs to block out both UVA and UVB rays—the former can cause signs of ageing, while the latter can nudge the door open for sunburn.
So, what should you be looking for when shopping for suncare products? Here’s what to consider.
‘Broad spectrum’, ‘UVA and UVB rays’, ‘reef-friendly’—you've heard the terms bandied about enough times. But what do these actually mean?
SPF stands for sun protection factor—but you knew that already. Determining what level of sun protection your skin requires exactly is where things get interesting. A quick glance at suncare products, and you’ll find everything up to SPF 100 available. So, what should you be looking for? As a base rule, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends starting with a minimum of SPF 30, regardless of your age or lifestyle. If your schedule has you spending a major chunk of your time outdoors, you’ll want to dial things up to SPF 60 to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
As schedules get busier, it seems like it was only a matter of time before our skincare routines started getting more versatile. And the world of sunscreen was only too happy to deliver. Cue: hybrid moisturisers with SPF designed to help you save some crucial minutes while getting ready in the AM. Hydration with sun protection all at once; what’s not to love? There’s also the silver lining of minimising skin irritation from using several different formulas at the same time.
As moisturisers with SPF started flooding the skincare aisle, a pertinent question started popping up: does SPF in moisturiser work? While these SPF-laden formulations might have their heart in the right place, there’s the crucial subject of how much sun protection you’re actually receiving, to be addressed. Most moisturisers offer a token amount of SPF 15 that may not be sufficient to block out UVA and UVB rays simultaneously. There is also the matter of how much formula is being applied. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to apply enough sunscreen to cover the length of two fingers—a principle that may not always be followed with moisturisers.
And now, the million-dollar question: can you skip sunscreen altogether if you have applied a moisturiser with SPF? The answer lies in the fine print. For starters, what is the SPF listed on the label? Anything below SPF 30 cannot do an adequate job of shielding your skin. Next, can you spot the words ‘broad spectrum’ listed on the product? Any reliable sunscreen needs to block out both UVA and UVB rays—the former can cause signs of ageing, while the latter can nudge the door open for sunburn.
So, what should you be looking for when shopping for suncare products? Here’s what to consider.
