dear asking for a friend,
i have read that sunblock should be worn all the time, even indoors. but i have spf in my moisturizer — is that enough?
signed, sensitive skin
dear sensitive skin,
dual-action skincare may be more budget-friendly than purchasing two separate products for your skin needs, but an spf moisturizer is not a substitute for sunscreen.
“my preference is to use separate products for moisturizers and sunscreens,” says dr. julia carroll, a dermatologist and member of the
canadian dermatology association
. “i don’t feel that people apply moisturizer in the same thorough way they do for sunscreen. also, the spf in moisturizer is often low. i generally recommend an spf of 30 or higher for daily use.”
in an ideal world, a single product would banish wrinkles and address all types of skin concerns, but that’s not the world we live in. luckily, we can expect to see more
streamlined skin care
in 2022. in fact,
products that multitask
are already simplifying beauty routines.
a
moisturizer
with
spf 15
is one such dual-action product that is meant to hydrate skin and protect it against sun damage — but the latter may only be true to a certain extent. one
study
found that while an spf moisturizer does offer a level of protection, some people may be hesitant to apply the product so close to the eyelids out of fear that it may produce a stinging sensation, similar to when tiny amounts of sunscreen get into the eyes. but this area is actually more vulnerable to
skin cancer
, so protecting it against sun damage is important.
3 minute read
