Sunscreen should be used throughout the year to protect your skin from aging, free radicals, and sun damage. During the summer, sunscreen use is even more crucial: UVA and UVB rays are harsher and the intensity of the sun rays is greater.
When organizing your skincare routine, you need to establish the right skincare order to take full advantage of all the beneficial ingredients of your facial products.
When applying their sunscreen, people often stumble on the following issue: should sunscreen be applied before or after the moisturizer?
Dermatologists have reached a consensus regarding the sequence of application between sunscreen and moisturizer and how the type of sunscreen you are using may affect the correct answer.
Join us for a quick briefing on how to take the best possible care of your skin before escaping to the outdoors.
The Differences in Sunscreens
There are two major types of sunscreens: chemical sunscreen and physical (or mineral) sunscreen.
Chemical sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. These penetrate the skin and absorb the UV rays, preventing them from damaging your cells. Specifically, to protect the skin from sun damage, chemical sunscreens turn harmful UV rays into heat, which is then dissipated through the skin pores.
Mineral sunscreens follow a different approach. They contain minerals like zinc oxide and titanium oxide instead of chemical compounds. These minerals create a protective layer; a barrier that reflects the harmful UV rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin instead of penetrating it.
The difference between these two sunscreen types is sometimes described as the difference between armor and a sponge. Chemical sunscreen is the sponge that penetrates the skin and soaks up UV rays. Mineral (or physical) sunscreen is the armor that creates a barrier against the sun’s harmful rays.
Your Choice of Sunscreen Affects Your Skincare Routine
Your sunscreen choice matters because chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin. The only way for your chemical sunscreen to penetrate your skin is to apply it first, before your moisturizer, so that it manages to enter the skin, unhindered by the ingredients and texture of the moisturizer.
On the other hand, mineral sunscreens reflect the UV rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens need to sit at the very top of the skincare layers. Therefore, your mineral sunscreen should come after your moisturizer and should be the very last thing you apply before leaving your home, office, or any other indoor space.
Should I Mix My Moisturizer with My Sunscreen?
It is generally advised not to mix your moisturizer with your sunscreen. These products contain different ingredients and compounds which, when blended together, could reduce each other’s efficiency. A moisturizer should hydrate and soak the skin with healthy nutrients, while sunscreen should protect it from the sun’s rays.
If they cancel out each other, then you risk diminishing the beneficial effects of each individual product.
Where Should I Apply Sunscreen?
To enjoy the sunshine, you need the right skincare routine. You should apply your sunscreen on all skin that remains uncovered by clothes. That includes your face, ears, neck, and chest if you are wearing a low-hanging top.
Your hands, too, need sunscreen to protect them from developing dark patches and spots. If you will be wearing sandals or any other open shoes, remember to apply your sunscreen on the top of your feet and your toes, as they burn very easily.
What Is the Right Skincare Order?
When it comes to the right skincare order, our skin experts have studied the skin’s health and concluded that the order in which you apply your skincare products matters to your skin’s wellbeing and absorption potential. Our research has concluded that, if you’re using mineral sunscreen, you should:
- Start with your cleanser.
- Continue with your toner.
- If you are using a serum or skin medicine (e.g. for acne or other skin condition), you should apply it after the toner.
- Then, apply your moisturizer.
- Finish off with your sunscreen.
If you’re using a chemical sunscreen, then start with that and continue with the rest of the products.
How Long Should I Wait Between Skincare Layers?
We advise you to wait for each skincare product to dry before applying the next one. This usually takes from 30 seconds to one minute. By waiting for absorption, your skin gets all the beneficial effects of the skincare product before moving to the next one.
Which Type of Sunscreen Is Best?
Our Synchronicity Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil Sunscreen is a mineral, non-chemical sunscreen that contains zinc oxide.
We believe mineral sunscreen is better for your skin and for the environment. Certain compounds in chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone are harmful to the oceans and marine life. They are just as detrimental to human health: chemical compounds from such sunscreens have been found in breast milk and urine. The scientific community is still trying to evaluate how these affect the human body.
Our SP30+ Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil Sunscreen Lotion is brimming with CBD and other cannabinoids as well as moisturizing and hydrating natural nutrients like aloe, jojoba, orange peel wax, and olive oil.
Instead of loading your body with chemicals, Synchronicity has chosen the botanical, holistic way. Our sunscreen outperforms others in terms of UVB and UVA protection and skincare. The natural ingredients we have included ensure your skin will retain its moisture and subtleness even under the sun.
Our partnership with nature is leading our research: we are constantly looking for ways to dive into the wellness provided by nature and deliver the hardest-working skincare products.
Our Sunscreen Lotion protects your skin in the most skin-friendly way while our Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil makes sure your skin is fed with the nutrients and antioxidants it needs for optimum skin wellness. As a big bonus, our sunscreen product does not harm the oceans, marine life, and coral reefs. It’s our pledge to our partner, nature.
For healthy, radiant, sun-kissed skin, your best choice is Synchronicity Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil Sunscreen Lotion.
Synchronicity makes Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil by gently hand-pressing whole Hemp plants and infusing them into coconut oil to maintain all the cannabinoid nutrients of the plant. Like CBD, our Hemp Oil comes in many forms, from oils to tinctures to topicals. Unlike CBD, it’s not made by using harsh CO2 extraction processes. So, in the end, you get a cleaner, purer, more potent product. Synchronicity—the Hemp Oil producers you can trust.
