When should you apply sunscreen?

No matter the weather conditions (summer, winter, cloudy weather, etc...) or your location (by the water, mountains, near the equator, in cold areas, etc...), always remember to use a sun protection product every day. Indeed, it should be an integral part of your morning skincare routine. Apply it after your day cream as a finishing touch or under makeup.

However, sunscreen alone is not sufficient for optimal protection if you wear makeup. Indeed, if you layer other products, you reduce the effectiveness of the sun filter.

That's why we advise you, in addition to sunscreen, to use either a foundation/powder with an SPF or alternatively a face mist containing sun protection. Similarly, sunscreen should never replace cautionary measures:

• Avoid prolonged exposure as much as possible, especially between 11am and 3pm. If this is the case, ensure you are maximally protected;

• Wear protective clothing (t-shirt, cap, etc...);

• Consider protecting your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses with a UV filter.

Furthermore, it is advised to wait 20 minutes before any exposure to the sun. For it to work, the sunscreen needs to form a uniform film on the skin and the 20 minutes represent the time necessary for its formation. More specifically, when you apply a sunscreen, the water, present in the product and necessary for its formulation, needs to evaporate and the other ingredients need to penetrate the skin so that a film composed of UV filters remains to protect you from the sun. However, many people make the mistake of only applying it once they have arrived at their destination (beach, mountain, etc...), by which time the skin will have already suffered the harmful effects of the sun during the journey. Therefore, using a skincare product early enough allows for deep skin protection and prevents sunburn.

Beyond the areas directly exposed to the sun, it is also recommended to pay attention to certain parts of the body, notably the ears, feet, eye contour, neck and even the lips. For instance, there are sun protection sticks available that allow for the protection and care of all sensitive areas, such as the lips and eye contour.

In theory, the more generously a sunscreen is applied in a thick layer, the longer its barrier effect against UV rays lasts. However, it should be assumed that no one applies enough sunscreen. According to estimates, it has been shown that applying half as much cream as recommended only assures us half the protection indicated on the label. Similarly, just because the protection factor of your cream is high, it does not mean its protection will last longer. Moreover, between perspiration, swimming and repeated rubbing on the skin, the protective layer gradually wears off. All these circumstances clearly demonstrate the need to increase the frequency of sunscreen application.

As such, it is strongly recommended to reapply as regularly as possible, at least every 2 hours or even more frequently, in order to optimise protection and avoid sunburn, regardless of the intensity of sunlight, whether in the city or at the beach, in summer or winter, even under a cloudy sky or in the shade. Furthermore, the lower your skin type, the higher the protection factor of your cream should be and the more frequently it should be applied regardless of the exposure time. Indeed, these skin types are very sensitive to UV rays and can easily get sunburned, even during short-term exposure.

• BUABBAS H. & al. Photoprotection: clothing and glass. Dermatological Clinics (2014).

• WULF H. C. & co. Sunscreen Application - Theory and Reality. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine (2014).

• LIM H. W. & others. Sunscreens: A Recent Update. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2017).