Two staples reign supreme in a woman's face routine: sunscreen and makeup. But for as long as they have been together, one question remains: Sunscreen before or after makeup? On beach days, it’s easy: Slather on your sunscreen, toss your hair in a bun, and call it a look. On a night out, you can skip the SPF and focus all your efforts on your makeup. But it’s not always an either-or situation where you can make an obvious choice between wearing sunscreen and makeup. There are all the in-between moments, like your daily work commute or grabbing brunch on a sunny patio—times when protecting your skin and feeling put-together are both important. In these moments, you don’t have to pick one or the other. You just need to learn how to wear sunscreen and makeup together. That’s where this guide comes in. Ahead, we’re clearing up any confusion about whether you should apply sunscreen before or after makeup, how long to wait between steps, and how to reapply SPF without sacrificing your makeup look. You’ll discover the right order to layer your products, what types of formulas play well together, and tricks for staying protected and polished all day. Why Sunscreen Should Always Come First For the most part, there aren’t a lot of firm rules about wearing makeup. You can experiment and find what works best for you. But there are a few exceptions. For instance, there’s only one answer to the question, “Do you put sunscreen on before or after makeup?” And getting it right is key for keeping your skin protected. Sunscreen is meant to be applied prior to makeup. It should be the final step in your skincare routine before you apply any makeup primer or foundation. This is because sunscreen is most effective when applied directly to your skin rather than on top of makeup. Can makeup with SPF replace sunscreen? Makeup products formulated with sunscreen can be a great addition to your routine. But they aren’t a complete sun protection solution. Often, these products alone do not offer enough protection to prevent sun damage. At least not without an extremely heavy application. Instead of even attempting to apply enough concealer or foundation with SPF, which is sure to render your makeup look very cakey and overdone, it’s best to use a dedicated face sunscreen. You can use makeup products with SPF after for extra protection. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Sunscreen and Makeup Once you know whether to apply sunscreen before or after makeup, the rest of your routine should come together easily. Here’s a simple tutorial on how to wear makeup and sunscreen together: 1. Start with a clean face Layering skincare products on top of unclean skin won’t do you any favors. And applying sunscreen over dirt, oils, and other impurities may impact its effectiveness. Start your routine off right with a gentle face cleanser, like the La Roche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser. The cream formula with prebiotic thermal spring water, niacinamide, and ceramide-3, cleanses while maintaining skin's natural moisture barrier and pH. For extra cleansing action, you can follow your face wash with a toner. Swiping one over your skin can help remove any lingering impurities. Toner can also have quite a few other benefits, from reducing the look of greasy skin to boosting hydration, depending on the formula. While it’s an optional step, if you do include toner in your routine, pick one based on your skin type and concerns. We love Thayers’ Hydrating Milky Cleanser for dry skin and the brand’s Blemish Clearing 2% BHA Toner for acne-prone skin. 2. Apply moisturizer If you ask us, any good skincare routine should include moisturizer, and this one is no exception. To help nourish and prep your skin, smooth on your favorite face lotion or cream (if you need a recommendation, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane is a classic). Beyond the skincare benefits, this step can also help your makeup apply more easily and sit better on your skin. After applying moisturizer, wait a few minutes before proceeding to the next step. You don’t want your skin to be so slick that the rest of your products can slip right off. Pro tip: If a face serum is part of your everyday routine, apply it after cleansing and toning but before your moisturizer. And if you use multiple serums, apply them in order from thinnest to thickest consistency. 3. Apply sunscreen Now, it’s time for sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF value of 30 or higher to help protect your skin. If you’re partial to chemical sunscreens, try the La Roche Posay Anthelios UV Hydra Hydrating Face Sunscreen SPF 50 With Hyaluronic Acid. It helps protect against 98% of UVB rays with Cell-Ox Shield® Technology, and it blends invisibly into all skin tones. For those who prefer mineral sunscreen, opt for the CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion instead. The oil-free sunscreen forms a protective barrier on your skin’s surface to help reflect the sun’s UVA and UVB rays without irritating sensitive skin. Once you have your product sorted, make sure to use enough of it. How much you need may vary depending on the size of your head, but a common guideline is to use one teaspoon for your face, head, and neck. Alternatively, some sources recommend placing a stripe of sunscreen down one finger (index or middle) and using that amount to cover your face. Pro tip: Make note of when you finish applying your sunscreen. You want to wait at least 15 minutes before going outside. This will give it time to absorb and ensure you’re protected. 4. Apply makeup Makeup is all about enhancing your features while expressing yourself. But its uses don’t stop there. As we touched on earlier, some makeup products can offer additional sun protection. And there are all sorts of formulas with sunscreen, including primers, foundations, tinted moisturizers, blushes, and more. To simultaneously prime and help protect your skin, use the NYX Professional Makeup Blurscreen SPF 30 Primer. It blurs imperfections, grips makeup for up to 18-hour wear, and offers SPF 30 protection—all without leaving behind a white cast or making your skin look greasy. After your primer, you can complete your makeup routine however you like. Experiment with a new look or apply your go-to products. Either way, just try to avoid rubbing your face too much, as you may disturb your sunscreen. Use gentle tapping motions for application instead. How to Reapply Sunscreen Over Makeup Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. This is a little trickier when wearing makeup, but there are a few ways to make it work. While you should do your initial sunscreen application before going near your makeup bag, touch-ups are a different story. With the right product, you can reapply sunscreen on top of your makeup. Use a setting spray with SPF Setting sprays are designed to be spritzed over top of makeup and not disturb your look. For that reason, a spray formulated with sunscreen ingredients is a great pick for reapplying midday without ruining your makeup. It’s also a convenient option for on-the-go touch-ups. Try SPF powder or cushion compacts In the same vein, powders with SPF can be dusted over your skin without wiping away makeup—it’s just like using a finishing powder. They’re also handy for hitting small, sensitive areas that you don’t want to get greasy, like your hair part. If you mostly wear cream or liquid makeup, a cushion compact is a good alternative. They’re good for a quick fix and won’t leave your makeup looking cakey. Touch up with a sunscreen stick or makeup sponge Reapplying a regular sunscreen over your makeup is more likely to lift and blur your base products (compared to using a finishing product with SPF). But there are a couple of things you can try to help preserve your look. For one, you can dab a sunscreen stick onto your face for minimal disruption. You can also try pressing sunscreen onto your skin with a makeup sponge. Just be sure to gently tap with the sponge until you’ve fully blended the sunscreen and no obvious product is left behind. 3 Tips for Seamless Sunscreen and Makeup Application Choose a makeup-friendly sunscreen Part of mastering wearing sunscreen and makeup together is using the right products. Some sunscreens are better suited to being worn with makeup than others. You want to look for formulas that are non-greasy and fast-absorbing. Gel-based sunscreens with a matte finish are also ideal, particularly if you have oily skin. For drier skin types, a hydrating serum sunscreen may be a better option. The It Cosmetics Hello Sunshine Invisible Sunscreen For Face SPF 50, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid, is one of our favorites. It also doubles as a skin-perfecting makeup primer. Let sunscreen set before makeup Don’t rush through your routine. Taking a few moments between steps gives each product time to set, which can help you avoid uneven blending. After smoothing on sunscreen, wait three to five minutes before starting on your face makeup. Use lightweight, layerable products Heavy creams and silicone-based primers may not be compatible with your sunscreen. Stick with lightweight, layerable products. You can also look for sunscreens that are specifically designed to be used with makeup. For glowy makeup days, the Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen with Collagen Peptide is our go-to. It helps boost radiance and layers seamlessly under makeup. Not only that, but it can be used on top of makeup for easy reapplications, too. Next Up: 15 of the Best Foundations With SPF for Spring and Summer 2025
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