Here’s How I Reapply SPF Without Messing Up My Makeup
I am certain that the SPF 50 I religiously apply all over my face at 7:30 a.m. does not give me enough protection to last throughout the morning and an entire 8+ hour workday. But that’s OK, because sunscreen never lasts that long. It's meant to be reapplied. The issue falls in that reapplying sunscreen in the middle of the work day, over top of your makeup, is totally unrealistic.
I've never actually tried to apply liquid sunscreen over a cat-eye and matte foundation, but I'm pretty sure it would only result in a cakey complexion and lots of smears. Luckily, we live in an age where beauty technology is ever developing, and there is a very real solution, thanks to the invention of mineral powders with SPF.
RELATED: The Best Sunscreens to Buy, Even If You Hate Sunscreen
These products (and there are several) are basically setting powders infused with mineral sunscreen. Most of them are packaged so they dispense through the top of a fluffy brush, so all you have to do to up your sun protection level is gently glide the brush over your skin.
Now that you know the answer to the problem, the next step is choosing which one to actually spend your hard-earned cash on, and that's where my recent discovery of ISDIN's Mineral Brush 50 comes in.
I was initially intrigued because I'm already a super-fan of the brand's sunscreen, ISDIN's Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+ 100 Percent Mineral Sunscreen. It's my all-time favorite facial sunscreen because it absorbs quickly, doesn't smell like SPF, layers well under makeup, is made with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, as well as an ingredient that helps repair previous sun damage.
The brand's new mineral brush is designed to supplement the fan-favorite liquid SPF — AKA your solution to reapplying SPF at 2 p.m. before your weekly staff meeting without messing up your liner.
The sun protection element comes from titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. But, what's really unique is that these two ingredients not only block harmful UV rays, but also protect against the blue light that's emitted from your phone and computer screens.
RELATED: 9 Facial Sunscreens for Every Summer Skin Concern
The powder looks slightly pigmented but is really translucent and leaves behind a matte finish, which, I have to tell you, is pretty convenient for controlling oil in the T-zone.
VIDEO: When You Apply Sunscreen in Your Skincare Routine Actually Matters A Lot
For the record, I usually hate setting powder, or really any powder-based product on my face, but it truly does not feel like there's anything on your skin. It's weightless and doesn't settle into and fine lines, which I think makes the $55 price-tag worth it.
As someone who's very strict about applying SPF every day and also curious about the potential ramifications of blue light on our skin, this little brush takes care of several of my needs at one time without, of course, messing with my strategically placed concealer.