Do I need separate SPF or is moisturiser with SPF enough?

[peppermintteadrinker]

Can someone explain all this spf stuff?

I thought we were just supposed to use moisturiser with an SPF in it but now I'm seeing we're meant to have a separate one.

An influencer I like had an SPF spray but then she said it was just a top up.

We used to just wear suncream didn't we? I can't keep up! 🙈

Nip and fab do a nice peptide and spf mist. Also Naked Sundays do a great spf mist for top ups.

Aesthetic nurse here - seperate spf and moisturiser as most moisturisers don’t have enough! Ideally should use factor 50 daily but at least 30

I just use Superdrug's SPF30 Face Fluid but don't bother with a separate moisturiser.

I had a melanoma last year - my skin cancer nurse told me to use the facial spray on product for over make up - even showed me the Garnier one which she uses. She said there is very little difference in the protection levels between SPF 30 and 50. 50 is obviously better but people who use 30 tend to reapply more frequently which can be more effective. The important thing is to always wear SPF, esp on the face and try to wear a hat too.

People heavily influenced by the manufacturers will tell you you need both, but I only do in very strong sunlight when I'll be outdoors all day.

I also go out of my way to find a moisturiser without sunscreen in winter. I'm barely outdoors in daylight, why would I be slathering unecessary chemicals on my skin?

Fwiw, I'm 56 and often told I look a lot younger.

A moisturiser with SPF 50 will give you the same protection as a sunscreen labelled SPF 50. In the UK the use of SPF labels is very tight regulated and the product will have been tested to very high standards to prove its claims.

it is safe practice to reapply any SPF product regularly. On a cloudy day in the winter I don't generally bother with this but as the days get sunnier and longer I will top up. I have three top up sunblocks, a mineral powder to brush on which is really good for sweaty days, a spray mist which is useful if I'm wearing make up and a Korean clear stick that swipes on for bare faced days.

If you apply 2 different types of Factor 25 you don't end up with Factor 50 level protection, just two layers of Factor 25. Equally than if you layered 2 x SPF50 you don't get SPF100.

on the advice of my Botox doctor I only ever buy Factor 50. I find brands marketed for children are often nicer to use than more expensive adult brands.

I use SPF moisturiser and a gentle (baby, childrens) sun cream. I am outside a lot and have sensitive skin so I need a sun cream that doesn’t cause my eczema to flair up.

Altruist Factor 50 face fluid is brilliant. It's the only suncream that doesn't set off my redness or irritate my eyes.

I use this as well. Every day, year-round.

which order should they be applied in? And roughly how long between each application?

SPF only tells you protection against uvb which is the type causing burning. UVA is more responsible for aging skin even without obvious damage right now. A lot of moisturizer or makeup that advertises spf will only have protection against uvb, and likely it’s not as strong as they claim if you use a normal amount.

In the UK there’s a star rating for uva protection. If it doesn’t show at least 4/5 stars then maybe look for something else. There are other international standards non uk brands or at least find something that claims to be “broad spectrum”.

In the end, the most effective sun cream is the one you actually wear. I’ve opted for neutrogena clear face factor 30 even though I know it’s not the best because it works for my acne prone skin and doesn’t look too greasy and it’s better than the nothing I wear otherwise.

Apparently it’s needed all the time and indoors too. Doesn’t have to be sunny to get skin damage

Another altruist fan here! Been using it for years.,

I couldn't tolerate all that on my skin

Are Most of you using retinol or tret or whatever? Is that the reason SPF advice is so full on on this board?

They've done a number on you if you really think you need spf all year round, even indoors.

I use tret but I’m also incredibly pale, burn in 10 mins and my mum had skin cancer
and I’m vain so

This is true, UVA rays are present all year round and can pass through clouds/windows eg if you sit in an office near a window you should be wearing it

True, and the light from laptops,phones, computers also affect the skin.

https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/blogs/the-beauty-hub/should-i-wear-sunscreen-indoors
Plus, my skin speaks for itself! For 78 years it’s better than some much younger!

Huckleberries

I couldn't tolerate all that on my skin
Are Most of you using retinol or tret or whatever? Is that the reason SPF advice is so full on on this board?

I don’t use anything skincare wise except face wash, moisturiser, spf, primer and make up. My skin is sensitive and I’ve found a nice balance where none of this irritates it- glossier primer and Roche posay spf, avene moisturiser and rimmel make up- took me years to perfect this and pretty content with it all!!

I use proper sunscreen if I'm going to be sitting out in the garden, going for a hike or any other activity that means I'll get a lot of sun exposure. For day to day occasional exposure I use a moisturiser with SPF (precise SPF depends on the season).

Separate spf 50 with 5 star uva protection. I’ve used it every day since I was 22. I was still getting id’d for alcohol at 47.

Well this is a revealing thread! I can't believe the amount of products people use now. No idea what tret is and peptides is in the same vague category as retinol, aha dooda, and the other gubbins they mention when advertising stuff...it generally goes over my head.

I have good skin at 52. I have started using vit c serum under moisturizer. That's as much thought as I give it.

The idea of all these layers is mind boggling. I don't think I've ever thought about SPF. I don't even know what I normally do. I think I used moisturiser with SPF in and maybe stick some suncream on my face if it's very sunny but generally don't sit in full sun anyway. I wear a hat if I'm reading in the garden.

So it could be people are doing serum then moisturizer then SPF then primer then makeup? Then spraying stuff during the day to top up?

Primer is still a new product to me. It didn't used to exist so I don't really know why I need it now.

I shall buy some of that altruist stuff I think...but then there's a load of products from them all with SPF in...!

Thank you all. Genuinely baffled by all this.

Might have to start another thread about my recent puffy eyes 👀 😄

Ha... No idea how you have been doing that when you're not much younger than me. Thought this was a recent fad!