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Australians are becoming more serious about sun protection, and rightly so — considering we have some of the highest UV levels of UV radiation on the planet (not to mention some of the scariest ads). Not only have we become more diligent about wearing an SPF50+, but we’re also looking for easy ways to re-apply throughout the day.
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Cue Australian skin scientist, author and influencer Hannah English and her hack for applying sunscreen over your makeup. The self-proclaimed Sunscreen Queen (a title she has rightly earned) has come up with an easy smudge-proof solution to our SPF problems, and we bow down to her expertise.
Do you put sunscreen on before or after makeup?
Typically, sunscreen should be applied after skincare products but before makeup. It's recommended that you let your moisturiser sink in for about 20 to 30 minutes before applying SPF (and mixing moisturiser with SPF is a big no-no).
How do you reapply sunscreen over makeup?
After seeing Hannah's viral hack, many other beauty creators have since showcased their own techniques of reapplying sunscreen over makeup. One such person is Dr Michelle Wong, an Aussie chemistry PhD, cosmetic chemist and science educator.
"You can gently pat a sunscreen lotion on top. I like to use a cushion puff because it's portable and doesn't soak up much sunscreen. Use a bit extra to make up for what absorbs into the puff," she says.
Hannah recommends using a sponge such as the Juno & Co. Microfibre Velvet Sponge ($9) to gently dab SPF over your makeup. "This sponge doesn't absorb like a Beautyblender would, so it just presses SPF back into your skin. You're not going to lose product because obviously, we want to get as much sun protection as we can,” explains Hannah.
If you use a sponge, make sure to avoid using a dragging motion so you don’t wipe off your base. Just keep gently dabbing until it's completely blended into the skin. While your foundation will stay intact, Hannah warns that you may lose your contour, a problem she assures us is easily rectified by re-applying it over the top of your sunscreen.
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The end result: a dewy, sun-protected finish. Of course, this method doesn't guarantee full, long-term sun protection for a day out in the direct sunlight, but it does provide a simple yet effective solution to your usual midday re-application struggles.
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