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Why And How To Reapply Sunscreen
by Bettina Miski on Mar 13, 2023
Okay, so regardless of the weather and your itinerary, you apply sunscreen to all exposed parts of your body every single day. But how consistent are you with reapplying? Consistency in your morning routine, and finding the sunscreen that best fits your skin’s needs aren’t enough if you don’t ensure continuous protection throughout the day.
Why Do We Need To Reapply Sunscreen?
Sunscreens either reflect or absorb UV, so they slowly break down and become less effective as they work through more of those ultraviolet rays. And products naturally get brushed off by wearing a mask, touching your face, sweating, water, and other outer forces. Making consistent reapplications are necessary throughout the day. Otherwise, you are still exposed to the potential danger of sun damage, hyperpigmentation, premature aging, and worst-case scenario even skin cancer.
The general recommendation is to reapply every two hours if you are outdoors. That doesn’t only mean outdoor activities directly under the sunlight. But for example, also includes the time you spend in your car whether that’s a casual drive or a road trip because car windows won’t keep out the UV rays either. And you should also reapply immediately after swimming or sweating, even if you’re using a water-resistant sunscreen to avoid the chance of rubbing it off with your towels. So essentially, the frequency depends on your day, but the more sun exposure you get, the more often you should reapply. And it never hurts to be generous with your sunscreen.
Tips To Reapply Sunscreen
The way you start your skincare routine with cleansing, you should also make sure to start with a surface as fresh as possible before reapplying sunscreen. It’s definitely easier when you’re not wearing makeup. But even if you do, try to wipe off the sweat and other residues that sits on top of your makeup with a tissue or blotting paper. This ensures more even and longer-lasting protection from your sunscreen.
When your base is ready, you can go ahead and reapply sunscreen the similar way you do your skincare. Starting from the center of your face, working the product into your skin with outward and upward motions until your hairline. And do not forget the neck, ears, and eye area when you reapply either!
Most sunscreens are safe to use around the eye area, but if you're still skipping because your eyes are sensitive, we suggest switching to a mineral product. The I'm From Rice Sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++) uses non-nano zinc oxide providing even less chance for irritation than chemical sunscreens, making it perfect for your eye area. (Including your eyelids!) Just when applying makeup or eye cream with your fingers, use your ring finger to tap in the product without rubbing the skin in this area.
Reapplying is a bit more challenging on top of makeup without rubbing off that makeup. If you go in with your regular sunscreen, we suggest using a beauty sponge, and just lightly tapping it on top of your skin. As this only provides a light layer of protection, make sure to repeat the process often! Or touch up your makeup with a cushion foundation that has high SPF. In this case, don’t forget to reapply regular sunscreen to other areas that are exposed to the sun but have no makeup on, like the neck, behind the ears, or arms.
