Is a day cream with SPF as effective as a sunscreen?

The daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen (UVA/UVB) with an SPF of at least 30 is widely recommended to protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation, whether you plan to intentionally expose yourself to the sun or not. To be applied all year round, in all weather conditions and not just during sunny summer days, it is a preventative measure against skin cancer and premature ageing.

Beyond traditional sun care products, you can now find a SPF in many alternative formulations, including in daily moisturising creams. This type of product appears to be an effective, convenient, and simple way to incorporate sun protection into your daily skincare routine. However, many believe that this hybrid skincare product does not provide sufficient coverage and protection compared to standard sun creams, but this is not the case.

Although they have different textures, with a day moisturising cream with SPF being thinner and lighter, and a sunscreen being thicker and richer, these two types of care are identical from a formulation standpoint. Contrary to what has been said, a moisturising cream with SPF provides the same level of sun protection as a sunscreen. If a product claims a certain SPF, regardless of the type of product, it means that the SPF has been tested in accordance with standards.

Australia, which has some of the strictest sunscreen regulations in the world, regards moisturisers with an SPF as a "secondary sun protection" product, as it is presented as having a primary function other than sun protection, although it does provide some skin protection against UV rays. Furthermore, it cites moisturisers with an SPF lower than 15 as an example of a "non-sunscreen" product.

However, this only works if you apply the correct amount of product (2 mg/cm2 of skin) to achieve the same sun protection factor as indicated on the label, which few people do, and even fewer with a moisturising cream with SPF. Consequently, the many potential benefits that this type of cream can offer may be offset by incomplete coverage.

Furthermore, a clinical study from 2019 aimed to compare the application habits of a moisturising cream with SPF to that of a traditional sunscreen among 84 participants. They found that a greater number of facial areas are not covered when using a moisturising cream with sun protection compared to a conventional sunscreen.

Just like standard sunscreen, a day cream with SPF alone is not sufficient to fully protect the skin from the sun's rays. Additional sun protection measures (seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, etc.) should always be followed.

However, mixing a moisturiser with a sunscreen yourself is not a good idea. This combination can dilute the SPF, not to mention potential incompatibilities of active ingredients. In this case, it is better to keep the two products separate and layer them during application in order to benefit from all the advantages of the SPF and the moisturiser.

All moisturising creams with SPF are not the same. There is a variety of formulas, but it is crucial to select a face moisturising cream with an SPF equal to or greater than 30.