Admit it – we are all in favour of shortcuts that make our lives just that much easier and more convenient. As far as mornings go, that may involve using a two-in-one product like a moisturiser or base product with SPF built in for sun protection, on top of having hydrated skin or sufficient coverage to help you look put together. Anything for that additional five minutes of beauty sleep, right?
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you may as well render your built-in SPF useless as a new study by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has found that the SPF contained in moisturiser may not be offering the UV protection we believe it is, regardless of the factor as per the product packaging. In short, most moisturisers containing SPF extend less sun protection that regular sunscreens of equal factor.
For the study, the researchers utilised a specially-modified camera to capture UV light to observe participants whilst they applied a regular SPF and moisturisers containing SPF. When the area of skin is covered efficiently with SPF, it appears black under UV light. However, the faces of those who had applied moisturiser with SPF appeared much lighter, attesting that SPF absorption is less effective.
Researchers concluded that using skincare and makeup equipped with SPF is better than having zero protection, though that is simply not enough sun protection. The verdict? Don’t skip out on regular sunscreen. It’s one more step in your routine, but it will be worth it. Also, the eyelids are often forgotten when applying sunscreen. In fact, people miss 16% of their face on average. Be more thorough and reap the benefits!
[Source]
