SPF in Makeup: Is It Enough Protection for Your Skin? Expert Insights and Tips

From an early age, we’re taught about the importance of wearing sunscreen – especially during the summer months.

However, your daily sunscreen regime can become a little confusing if you’re using makeup products with SPF included. After all, it can be hard to figure out whether you then need to apply additional sunscreen!

What exactly is SPF makeup?

Whether you prefer to shop online for beauty products or visit stores in person, you’ve likely noticed that a growing number of products claim to include SPF protection. This means that the product, whether that be a foundation or primer, contains small amounts of sunscreen or similar ingredients, providing you with an extra layer of protection from the sun’s UV rays.

How do I know if my makeup contains sun protection?

Generally speaking, you’ll be able to determine pretty quickly if your beauty products contain SPF, as this will likely be incorporated into their packaging and promotional materials. For example, you’ll likely see the letters ‘SPF’ (Sun Protection Factor) featured on the packaging next to a specific number, typically ranging from 15 to 50. As a general rule, the number refers to the amount of time you can spend in the sun without getting burned, though you can find out more about that here.

Do I need sunscreen if my makeup has SPF?

Now, you may be asking yourself whether or not you need to continue applying SPF if it is already a key component of your makeup. After all, if you’re already dealing with a multi-step regimen, including both sunscreen and moisturizer, you may be wary of layering too many products on your skin.

However, the truth is you’ll likely need to continue applying sunscreen in addition to your SPF makeup. There are many reasons for this.

Firstly, it is important to note that the terms SPF and sunscreen are not synonymous with each other, though they serve a similar function. SPF products provide you with protection from the sun’s UVB rays. A broad-spectrum sunscreen, however, will provide ample protection from both UVB and UVA rays. Considering that roughly 95% of the radiation that we receive from the sun comes from UVA rays, this is something that you should not go without.

Furthemore, while the additional SPF contained within makeup products is useful, it is not as effective as sunscreen overall, based on the amount of protection they offer. For example, while your foundation may have the same level of SPF protection as your sunscreen, you’d likely have to apply layer upon layer of foundation in order to achieve the same level of coverage and protection.

As such, it is still worthwhile to invest in high-quality sunscreen, such as our Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30, even if you’re going to be wearing makeup that contains SPF.