How much sunscreen should I use on my face?
Did you know that 90% of visible signs of aging are from sun damage? And up to 20% of the sun's harmful rays can penetrate your skin--even on a cloudy day! The truth is SPF is your BFF and should be worn year-round.
It's common knowledge that too much exposure to harmful UV rays can cause skin damage, premature aging, wrinkles, discoloration, and more, especially if you've ditched the SPF. So applying sunscreen every morning is a must.
But just how much sunscreen should I be using on my face? Should I lightly tap it on like Gwyneth or goop it on? Keep reading to learn how much sunscreen to use on face.
What amount should I be using?
The sun is essential for your health and well-being. In fact, it promotes vitamin D production in the body, helps prevent diseases, and supports good mental health. However, when you've had too much sun exposure without wearing SPF, this is where it can become a problem.
So, sun safety rule #1: always apply sunscreen. Sun safety rule #2: apply the correct amount to ensure your skin is protected.
Experts recommend using 1/2-1 teaspoon on your face, neck, and décolletage (a.k.a. "the French face"), and 1 ounce of sunscreen when you're sporting a swimsuit or minimally dressed. Don't forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day as needed.
You can also follow the “two finger rule”, which involves measuring two lines of sunscreen across the length of your index and middle fingers, then applying to your face and neck. This is an easy way to measure out the optimal amount of SPF needed to ensure full sun protection.
How do I work sunscreen into my skincare routine?
Layer it! Typically, facial sunscreen should be the last step in your skincare routine, though some products allow you to combine your SPF and moisturizer in a single step (like our hyaluronic acid face cream featuring broad-spectrum SPF 50).
Improve your skin's natural defense in four simple steps:
- Apply your cleanser, serum, and moisturizer - always cleanse your face to remove excess dirt and oils, followed by a serum and/or moisturizer. No matter your skin type, don't skip this hydrating step—even if you have oily skin. Every skin type needs a proper moisturizer, whether that's to control excess oil or provide extra hydration, as in the case of dry skin types.
- Follow your moisturizer with our day eye cream - the skin around the eyes is very delicate and is often one of the first areas of the face to show signs of aging. Our Day SPF 30 & Night Organic Eye Cream Duo offers a vitamin C-infused day cream to brighten dark circles, along with a resveratrol-infused night cream to revive stressed skin while you rest.
- Smooth on your facial SPF - once you've cleansed and applied your serum and creams, it's time for SPF. An everyday facial sunscreen, like our Classic SPF 50 Face Cream, is the perfect go-to for the sun protection you need. If you tend to have more oily skin, our Mineral Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion Sheer Matte SPF 30 provides a soft matte finish to avoid the greasy feel of a heavy SPF.
- Apply your makeup - for optimal sun protection, we typically recommend applying sunscreen before your makeup. That being said, there are ways to refresh your SPF protection throughout the day without messing up your makeup.
Re-apply SPF throughout the day with a sunscreen spray that works with your makeup, not against it
Give your SPF a boost throughout the day with our mattifying, sunscreen-boosting Makeup Setting Spray Organic Sunscreen SPF 30. It's our SPF secret weapon spray. This will ensure your makeup stays put while maintaining full protection from UV rays and other environmental pollutants, all day long.
Looking for a more dewy finish? Hit refresh on your SPF with our alcohol-free, aloe and coconut water-infused hydration mist with broad-spectrum SPF 18.
Need more powerful protection for those longer days in the sun? Use our SPF 50 Face Spray that's 80 minute water and sweat resistant. To prevent sunburned lips, don't forget to finish off your SPF routine with a high-quality lip sunscreen.
Want to learn more?
We've done our research and would love to give you a sun science lesson.
