How Much Sunscreen To Use On Face?
You should apply sunscreen liberally to cover the face, reapplying every two hours, or more frequently after swimming or sweating.
The skin on your face is thinner than the skin on the rest of your body, making it a prime area for sunburn. You want to give this delicate skin the best protection possible, but you might wonder exactly how much sunscreen to use on your face.
It’s important to make sure you’re applying the right amount of sunscreen (and the right kind of sunscreen!) every day. If you feel you’ve been applying too much sunscreen, too little, or you just aren’t sure, you’re in luck.
In this article, Babo Botanicals tells you just what you need to know when it comes to protecting your face’s sensitive skin.
Sunscreen Application Tips
In order to reap the full benefits of sunscreen, you need to know how much sunscreen to use on your face & body. Applying too little sunscreen won’t provide you with adequate sun protection and applying too much is just a waste of product, so make sure you follow these sunscreen application tips so you can put on just the right amount.
1. Find The Right Sunscreen
So you know how much sunscreen to use on your face, but now you may be wondering “What sunscreen should I use?”
In addition to putting on sunscreen every day, you have to invest in the right type of sunscreen. There are a myriad of different kinds of sunscreen out there, but it’s imperative to choose one that is made with natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin.
There are two main kinds of sunscreen: mineral vs. chemical sunscreen.
- Mineral sunscreen is a type of physical sunscreen that includes ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreen works by creating a physical barrier on your skin that reflects UV rays away from the skin.
- Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, is typically made with ingredients like avobenzone and benzophenone. Chemical sunscreen blocks UV rays by absorbing them into the skin and then releasing them.
For the most part, mineral sunscreen is the better option of the two. Mineral sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB light rays, which is very important. UVA rays are what can cause long-term skin damage and UVB rays are what cause sunburn, so it’s crucial to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from both.
The sunscreen you use should be made with natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin, like fragrance-free sunscreen. You’re going to be using this sunscreen every day, so it’s crucial to use one that contains ingredients that are good for you.
2. Know How Much Sunscreen To Use On Face & Body
It’s important to know how much sunscreen you need on your face and body so that you don’t apply too much or too little. The amount of sunscreen needed will vary from person to person, but ultimately, sunscreen should be applied thoroughly and evenly across the face and body for full coverage.
3. Follow Proper Sunscreen Application Techniques
So now that you know how much SPF for your face and body is necessary, let’s discuss how you should actually apply that sunscreen.
Instead of squirting a dollop of sunscreen in your hand, distribute it evenly by dotting it on your face and then massaging it in. Applying this way keeps most of the sunscreen from ending up on the palms of your hands and gives your face much better coverage.
If you’re using a spray sunscreen, shake well and do not spray it directly onto your face. Instead, spray it on your hands and then apply it to your face.
Hopefully, by now, we’re all on the same page about the importance of sunscreen in your skincare routine. But do you know when to apply it? More specifically, which one goes first — sunscreen or moisturizer?
Applying sunscreen should be the final step (after cleansers, exfoliators, serums, moisturizers, etc.) in your skincare routine, before applying any makeup.
To avoid adding another step to your skincare routine, you might be tempted just to mix your sunscreen with your moisturizer. Surely this will save you some time, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t a good idea. Remember that each product was formulated to work on its own.
Mixing these two (and any other skincare products) may lead to the products losing their effectiveness. When it comes to your skincare, this is a risk not worth taking!
Even if you’re not in direct sunlight, you’re still catching some UV rays while walking to the mailbox, driving in your car, or walking to work.
For women, apply an even layer of sunscreen under your makeup. Make it a habit of adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine. Layering is important, so use makeup products that have an SPF factor on top of your sunscreen.
Just like you would touch-up your makeup throughout the day, sometimes you need to touch-up your sunscreen. This is especially true if you find yourself at an outdoor activity in the afternoon.
4. Remember To Reapply
Just putting on sunscreen once in the morning isn’t good enough. You need to remember to reapply! Apply liberally to exposed areas 15 minutes before sun exposure.
You should reapply sunscreen every two hours. If you take a dip in the pool or ocean or are sweating a considerable amount, then you need to reapply sunscreen even more frequently. Not reapplying your sunscreen means you aren’t getting sufficient protection and will be susceptible to sun damage.
5. Practice Additional Sun Safety Measures
It’s imperative to put on sunscreen every day, but sun protection doesn’t just stop there. There are additional sun safety measures you should practice to ensure you’re getting excellent protection from the sun.
In addition to wearing sunscreen, you should also stay in the shade under a tree or umbrella, wear protective clothing like long-sleeve shirts and pants, wear wide-brimmed hats that protect your face, and wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Doing all of this, especially when the UV is high, will protect you from harmful UV rays and prevent you from getting sun damage.
The Importance Of Sunscreen
One of the most common reasons why people wear sunscreen is for protection against sunburn. You’ve probably experienced sunburn at least a couple of times in your life.
And no one likes red or peeling skin! Sunscreen, when applied correctly, can help prevent you from experiencing sunburn.
We’d also like to highlight that all skin tones can get sunburn. A big myth is that darker skin tones won’t burn in the sun. But that’s exactly what it is — a myth.
The truth is, while darker skin tones may have more natural sun protection (mainly because of melanin), it’s important to wear sunscreen because the risks of sunburn are still there. Sunscreen for dark skin is just as important in order to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and other sun damage.
In addition to preventing sunburn, wearing sunscreen helps to prevent your skin from aging prematurely.
That’s because every time you get sunburned, the harmful rays of the sun damage your elastin and collagen, which help to keep your skin looking youthful for longer.
The most concerning side effect of sunburn is, of course, skin cancer. In a nutshell, the more sunburn you expose your skin to the more you increase your risk of developing skin cancers like melanoma.
Most people will focus on applying sunscreen on their arms, legs, and other exposed body parts to protect themselves, but not their faces. That’s because not all sunscreens are great for the face.
Some will leave your facial skin dry, irritated, breaking out, or with other problems. What can you do? Well, you have to find the right sunscreen, of course!
Facial Sunscreen FAQs
How Much Sunscreen Should You Put On Your Face?
The FDA recommends applying sunscreen liberally to exposed areas 15 minutes before sun exposure, reapplying every 2 hours or more frequently if swimming or sweating. Just make sure you rub it in well and get all parts of your face, including your nose, forehead, cheeks, and ears.
What Is The Two-Finger Rule For Sunscreen?
The two-finger rule for sunscreen is an easy way to remember how much sunscreen you should use. The two-finger rule recommends using enough sunscreen to span the length of your pointer and middle finger to cover your face and body. This should provide enough coverage, assuming you’re using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF.
What SPF Should You Use On Your Face Daily?
Using an SPF of 30 on your face is crucial. When shopping for facial sunscreens, you should also choose one that is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
How Much Spray Sunscreen Should I Apply To My Face?
With spray sunscreens, things can get a little tricky. How do you know you’re applying enough? This is an important question to ask because if you aren’t using enough of the product, you won’t be protected from the sun.
We mentioned above that the best way to apply spray sunscreens is not to spray directly onto your face but, instead, to first spray onto your hands and then apply to your face (and other exposed areas). When using sprays, be generous with the amount you apply. This will ensure that you’re protected from the sun.
Spraying the sunscreen onto your hands first is also a safety precaution. It protects you from inhaling the spray or accidentally getting some of it in your eyes.
Do I Need To Apply Sunscreen On My Face While I’m Indoors?
The short answer to this question is: yes! This answer might come as a surprise to you. If you’re indoors all day, why would you need protection from the sun?
Here’s why it’s essential to always wear sunscreen, whether you’re indoors or outdoors:
While you might think you’re protected from the sun, windows from your car, home, office, etc. let harmful UVA rays pass through, and this, unfortunately, can expose you to sun damage.
In addition, you might have to pop outside to grab some lunch or fetch your mail from the mailbox, even when you’re mostly having an indoors day.
Sun protection is also essential during cloudy or cool days. Just as the sun can penetrate through windows, it can also do so through clouds.
Finally, if you’re sitting under a tree, you can also get exposed to direct sunlight. That’s because trees usually don’t offer complete protection from the sun. There are always snippets of sunlight seeping through the branches and leaves.
Whether you plan on going outside or staying indoors, the safest way to protect your skin is always to ensure that you have sunscreen on!
Face The Day
So now that you know how much sunscreen to use on your face, you should be ready to take on the day, no matter how hot it is outside. Using the right amount of sunscreen on your face is essential to ensure you’re getting excellent coverage from the sun and protecting yourself from irreparable sun damage.
If you apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every 2 hours, you should be set for sun protection. Just make sure you choose a good quality mineral sunscreen that is made with natural ingredients, has at least 15 SPF and provides broad-spectrum coverage.
And if you’re looking for a sunscreen that provides exactly that, look no further than Babo Botanicals. Babo Botanicals has a variety of natural sunscreen products that offer excellent sun protection and are made with natural ingredients that are safe for the entire family to use. So whether you’re looking for sunscreen for yourself or for your family, we have all the natural sunscreen products you could ever need at Babo Botanicals.
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