Face Sunscreen Q&A: Expert Esthetician Tips for Your Best Daily SPF

Ever wonder how much sunscreen you should use on your face or why sunscreen burns your skin? Licensed Esthetician Lynille Steffenhagen (20+ years experience) answers your top daily SPF questions with expert clarity.

How much sunscreen should I use on my face?

Generally, face sunscreen is the final step after your moisturizer. Unless your moisturizer already contains SPF, it shouldn't replace your dedicated daily SPF.

For your face alone, ¼ teaspoon is typically adequate. If you're applying sunscreen separately from your moisturizer, aim for that same ¼ tsp on top.

Remember your neck and décolletage! If including these areas, you'll need up to ½ teaspoon for full coverage. Always apply your face sunscreen at least 15 minutes before sun exposure for optimal protection.

How much sunscreen is too much?

Hmm, if you look like a ghost, then you've used too much. But in all honesty, the optimal amount will depend on the texture or viscosity of the product, your skin type, and the area included in application.

With regards to frequency, you will have to take into consideration the SPF of the product to work out the frequency of reapplication. To figure out the frequency, the number of minutes it takes your skin to burn needs to be multiplied by the SPF number. That gives you the minutes of protection you have in the sun before you need to reapply.

For example, if your skin takes about 10 minutes to start burning when you are in the sun without sunscreen, you would take 10 and multiply that by the SPF. So, if you are using an SPF 15 product, you would have 150 minutes when exposed to the sun directly before you need to reapply.

This is just a rough guideline, and you still need to be aware of your own skin’s ability to tan or burn. If you are out and about and are perspiring or swimming, you would of course need to reapply sunscreen more often for consistent daily SPF protection.

Why does sunscreen burn my face?

That stinging sensation is usually associated with sensitivity or dehydration. Skin that is more sensitive should use a physical sunscreen (also known as a mineral sunscreen), which will sit on the surface of the skin. A chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, will absorb rays from under the skin.

Why does my face burn when I reapply sunscreen?

Usually because of a sensitivity issue, but if the action of reapplication is painful, you may have already exposed your skin to too much sun. If you apply face sunblock to sunburnt skin, it would definitely sting. But I would say applying ANY product to sunburnt skin would be uncomfortable.

COOLA's Radical Recovery® After-Sun Moisturizing Lotion, with its aloe vera and nurturing lavender oil, can help with the discomfort. If the skin was not sunburnt prior to reapplication, then try a physical sunscreen instead of a chemical one.

What is the best sunscreen for my face?

The best sunscreen for your face varies from person to person, but usually a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is best.

If you’re looking for a physical barrier sunscreen, try COOLA’s oil-free SPF moisturizer. Bonus? This formula contains COOLA’s BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology, which helps mitigate the effects of skin stressors like blue light, infrared, and pollution.

Opting for a face sunscreen that soaks into the skin? Try COOLA’s Cucumber Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30. Made with an antioxidant-rich Plant Protection Complex, this silky sunscreen for the face provides light-as-air protection that is amazing on its own or layers perfectly under makeup.

How should I remove sunscreen from my face?

It will depend on whether you are using a chemical or physical block. Chemical sunscreen actives will simply expire since they have previously been absorbed into your skin. Just cleansing your face with a product like COOLA’s Glowing Greens Detoxifying Facial Cleansing Gel in the evening will take care of that.

The physical sunscreen may still be sitting on the skin, depending on how many times you reapplied and how active you’ve been throughout the day. You would usually need an oil-based cleanser for effective sunscreen removal. Again, it depends on the ingredients in the sunscreen, but oil attracts oil. Using a water-based cleanser alone may not get the skin squeaky clean.

You could use your exfoliator as well, like COOLA’s Pacific Polish Gentle Seas Salt Facial Exfoliator, but you do not want to fall into a pattern of exfoliating every day simply to remove your sunscreen. This will have other repercussions, like over-stimulation of the oil glands, which can lead to breakouts and dehydration.

How should I apply sunscreen to my face?

Techniques vary from person to person. I love to dot my forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck and then gently spread it over my face. This way, you have less of a chance to skip an area. And don’t forget your neck and décolletage! An upward motion towards the chin and face works best here - any opportunity to fight gravity is always a bonus in my book when applying face sunscreen!

What’s the best way to apply sunscreen on my face when I’m wearing makeup?

Your sun protection should go on prior to applying makeup. The correct steps are: moisturizer, sun protection, and then makeup. This ensures your face sunscreen creates a proper protective layer before cosmetics. If you want to reapply SPF over your makeup throughout the day, try COOLA’s Makeup Setting Spray with SPF. It delivers refreshing, weightless protection without disrupting your look.

What is the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin?

For the best face sunscreen for sensitive skin, I always recommend a physical sunblock with ingredients like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It does not absorb into the skin but rather acts as a barrier on the surface of the skin, making it less likely to cause irritation for delicate complexions.

Lynille's Favorite COOLA Sunscreen Essentials

Ready to make SPF protection a part of your summer (and every day) facial routine? Here are a few of my go-to COOLA products for ultimate skin health and glow.

• Refreshing Water Mist SPF 18
• Rosilliance® Tinted Moisturizer
• Day SPF 30 & Night Eye Cream Duo
• Original Liplux® Lip Balm Sunscreen
• Clear Sunscreen Stick
• ALL the Classic Sunscreen Sprays, but my personal favorite is the Piña Colada!

Mastering your daily sun protection is truly the best gift you can give your skin. With these esthetician tips on face sunscreen, you're now equipped to make informed choices for a healthier, more radiant complexion year-round.

Ready to discover your perfect match?

Explore COOLA's Full Range of Face Sunscreens today!

About the Expert: Lynille Steffenhagen

Lynille Steffenhagen is a Licensed Esthetician and Licensed Massage Therapist with over 20 years of invaluable experience in the spa and wellness industry. Her extensive skills and knowledge have taken her expertise around the world. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, and continues to be a passionate Brand Educator.