Does Sunscreen Really Work in Make-up?

As more women become educated on the aging affects that the sun has on our skin, many make-up manufacturers have come out with SPF protection in their foundations, powders and lipsticks. I have often wondered if all those make-up foundations that claim to have SPF sunscreen protection really work as well as applying regular SPF chemical sunscreens. It would seem like such a great convenience for busy women to take care of applying sunscreen and make-up in one easy step. But is it too good to be true?

I did a little research and discovered that studies have shown make-up alone is not a sufficient sunscreen. The reason being that most foundations tend to move around and settle into pores and wrinkles over a couple hours, therefore, leaving the skin unprotected. Dermatologists agree that the added protection of SPF in make-up is great for very small doses of sun exposure and for a short period of time, but for longer sun exposure, applying a SPF 30 before make-up is the best protection.

Health and Beauty expert Sue Chung, from HealthCentral.com, recommends a layering effect for complete sun protection. Here is her recommendation: "After cleansing the face, first use a moisturizer with an SPF of 15. The most effective chemical sunscreens include avobenzone (which can be listed as Parsol 1789) and Mexoryl. These are also usually labeled as "broad-spectrum" sun protection.

Once the moisturizer gets absorbed, apply your foundation. Try to choose one that also includes an SPF of at least 15. Finally, apply powder. While the powder does not need to feature SPF, most cosmetic powders contain zinc oxide, a mineral that acts as a physical barrier against sun damage." (www.healthcentral.com)

So, while using make-up with SPF protection is definitely an added benefit that can only help maintain your skin's radiance, the continued recommendation is to use a lotion sunscreen first.