Confused by my sun cream.

[ilovecherries]

I've got Soltan 50spf BB cream for face. It's marketed and sold as sun protection rather than makeup, and I like it because in the summer I don't need a foundation or anything with it. But presumably it's chemical (can't confirm this as can't read teeny tiny print on ingredients list. But if it is, it should presumably go on underneath serum? But putting serum on top of your coloured 'base' also seems weird? I asked the 'sun care consultant' but she seemed confused and insisted sun cream always went on last. What do you think?

Dr Sam Bunting recommends the following:

1. Serum
2. Moisturiser
3. Sunscreen

You should apply your serum first and then the BB cream.

Is this right? I've always applied suncream before anything else. I use a normal one and not a BB one but I read that it's diluted u less you use it first! Everything is always so confusing

Kez, that's what I was told re chemical ones - put them on first, barrier ones to go on last. I'm assuming this is a chemical one, but it just seems odd to put a bb cream on before anything else. And the sun care consultant seemed equally confused.

How the heck do you know if it's chemical or barrier? I wear sunscreen everyday because I work outside so hoping I've not been doing it wrong all this time 😬 I've been doing sunscreen, serum, moisturiser then foundation. I'd always assume you'd do the same with a bb cream as isn't that like a lighter foundation?

You're right there! It's bloody complicated. Chemical ones have ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone, (apparently!). Physical ones have ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Some will have both types of ingredients. But really, I just can't see well enough to read the tiny print on the ingredient list, so that's not helpful. But (again apparently, I'm no expert) chemical ones go on better and are less likely to have that white sticky coverage, so I'm guessing most face ones will be chemical.