Does your daily SPF last until lunch? Find out if you need to reapply
It’s common knowledge that if you’re out in serious sun—the beach, the pool, hiking, etc.—you need to reapply sun-screen often. Surprisingly, many SPF lotions don’t last more than an hour in sunlight, so your daily put-it-on-in-the-am-and-forget-about-it SPF moisturizer would need to be completely reapplied if you were planning to go outside at lunchtime. Or if your office has a window. Or if you drive to work.
“We’re just now learning how unstable chemical sunscreens can be—and it’s distressing,” says New York dermatologist Marsha Gordon. Chemical sunscreens—as opposed to physical blocks, like titanium or zinc oxide—smooth into skin much more easily but can fade in sunlight.
WHEN THE DAMAGE HAPPENS
“It’s situations like shopping, driving, or sitting under an umbrella at an outdoor café,” says L.A./New York dermatologist Karyn Grossman. “It’s that, rather than the two-week vacation in the sun, that adds up. If you’re using chemical sunscreens that degrade in sunlight, you’re only protected for about an hour or two.”
LONG-LASTING?
The FDA recommends any sunscreen be reapplied a minimum of every two hours, but if the Lucky beauty department is any indication, many women who are perfectly happy to layer on sunscreen before makeup are unlikely to redo everything later in the day. With that in mind, we’ve tracked down formulas that should last for most of a typical (though not a beach or sports) day. —Jennifer Scruby
STRATEGY #1
Mexoryl- or Helioplex-bolstered SPF
These two ingredients take chemical sunscreen protection to a new, more comprehensive level. The benefit of chemic al formulas is that they sink into skin much easier than physical ones, making them easier to apply. While it’s hard to quantify how much greater the protection is, the dermatologists we consulted felt confident about these two additions.
Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF70 $10, drugstores (pictured left)
Lancôme UV Expert 20 with Mexoryl sx SPF20 $35, lancome-usa.com
STRATEGY #2:
Physical blocks
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on skin, blocking both UVA and UVB rays until you wash them off. They can be harder to rub in, but the protection is rock solid.
Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF40
$17, clinique.com (pictured right)
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream for Face SPF55
$33, sephora.com
Verdure Matte Moisturizing Physical Sunscreen With Antioxidants SPF28
$36, verdureskin.com
Jason Sunbrellas Mineral Based Physical Sunblock SPF30+
$14, jason-natural.com
My Blend by Dr. Olivier Courtin Power Veil SPF40
$75, saks.com
The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF25
$60, theorganicpharmacy.com
Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF30
$15, burtsbees.com
Prescriptives All-Weather Friend Daily UVA/UVB Sun Protection SPF40
$27, prescriptives.com
REAPPLY ANYWAY IF …
• You wash your hands. This St. Ives face cleanser is also a brilliant hand wash—it’s got SPF10 built in.
• It’s especially hot. You actually get more sun damage when the temperature is higher.
“It might be the UV index, or it might be the fact that you’re more likely to sweat off your sunscreen,” says New York/Miami dermatologist Fredric Brandt. “Either way, if
it’s hot, be even more careful.”
• You’re having sugar or alcohol (which is mostly sugar). “Both cause inflammation and release free radicals; sunlight suppresses your immune system,” says Dr. Brandt. “Want to age your skin instantly? Simply drink and smoke at the next outdoor barbecue.”
• You’ve got really oily skin or have perspired significantly during the day.
Even physical blocks can wear off, especially if you use blotting paper. Our favorite way to reapply without redoing makeup: a sheer physical-block face powder like the one above.
St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser, $7, drugstores (pictured above)
Innovative Skincare Powder Sunscreen SPF20, $40, isclinical.com for locations