Can you mix sunscreen with moisturizer?
I did it all the time when I was younger. I thought I was so clever, too.
Most sunscreens back then were so thick, they’d turn my face into a greasy, shiny pan… or Caspar The Ghost. You’d think someone as pale as me wouldn’t even notice the white cast some sunscreens leave behind. Oh boy, you’re wrong…
Mixing a few drops of sunscreen with my fave moisturizer seemed like the perfect solution. I’d get sun protection without all the aesthetic side effects. Plus, I’d cut my skincare routine shorter to boot.
If you’re thinking, “That’s a great idea, why haven’t I thought of that myself?,” I’ve got bad news for you. Mixing your sunscreen with moisturizer is a crappy idea. Here’s why:
- What Happens When You Mix Sunscreen With Moisturizer?
- Can You Mix Sunscreen With Moisturizer?
- Why Is It Bad To Dilute Sunscreen?
- Can Certain Sunscreen Ingredients Be Deactivated by Mixing?
- What About Foundation, BB Cream, And Other Skincare And Makeup Products?
- What About Tinted Sunscreens or Makeup with SPF?
- The Bottom Line
What Happens When You Mix Sunscreen With Moisturizer?
Mixing sunscreen with moisturizer seems such an innocent thing. But two nasty things happen when you force them to mingle so close together:
- You’re diluting your sunscreen: Think about it. To get the SPF level stated on the packaging, you need to apply 1/2 teaspoon on your face. If you mix your sunscreen with your moisturizer (or any other skincare product, for that matter) there’s no way you can apply that much. You could be turning a SPF30 into an SPF15 or lower!
- Conflict of ingredients: Sunscreens are delicate things. Some of the ingredients in your moisturizer or foundation may compromise their UV filters, making them less effective.
Translation: when you’re mixing sunscreen with moisturizer, lotion, serum or whatever, you’re compromising its effectiveness.
Related: How Much Sunscreen Do You Really Need To Apply?
Can You Mix Sunscreen With Moisturizer?
Mixing your sunscreen with moisturizer, foundation or lotion may seem like the perfect solution to all your sunscreen problems, but in reality, it does your skin more harm than good.
When you’re mixing them together, you’re compromising the effectiveness of your sunscreen, leaving your skin prone to sun damage, wrinkles and dark spots. Not a risk worth taking, is it? 😉
Instead, look for a sunscreen you love using. These days, you can easily find sunscreens with lightweight textures and in-built tint to avoid both the greasiness and the white cast. Phew!
Related: What Goes First: Moisturizer Or Sunscreen?
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Why Is It Bad To Dilute Sunscreen?
Let’s dig into this a bit more. Sunscreen is formulated to create a protective barrier over your skin that absorbs or reflects harmful UV rays. This barrier relies on a precise concentration of active ingredients to work effectively. When you dilute sunscreen with moisturizer, you’re reducing the concentration of those active ingredients. Even if it feels like you’re applying enough product, the protection is no longer at the level it’s supposed to be.
Imagine going out in the sun thinking you’re wearing SPF 30, but in reality, it’s acting more like an SPF 10. Scary, right? That’s the risk you take when you mix.
Can Certain Sunscreen Ingredients Be Deactivated by Mixing?
Absolutely. Many chemical sunscreens, for example, rely on ingredients like avobenzone or octinoxate, which can destabilize when combined with other skincare ingredients. Physical sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide aren’t immune either. Mixing them with emollients or other actives can reduce their ability to form a proper shield on your skin.
What About Foundation, BB Cream, And Other Skincare And Makeup Products?
I’ve already touched on this above, but I’ll say it again just to make sure: you CAN’T mix sunscreen with anything.
You can’t mix sunscreen with lotion.
You can’t mix sunscreen with foundation.
You can’t mix sunscreen with primer.
You can’t mix sunscreen with serum.
You can’t mix sunscreen with BB Cream (or CC Cream).
I’d even be wary of mixing sunscreen with another sunscreen (not all UV filters play well together).
Use sunscreen alone, on top of moisturizer, serum, or clean skin. Wait 15 minutes to give it time to settle and then apply makeup on top (if you don’t wait for it to settle, you’ll just rub it right off!).
What If Your Sunscreen Feels Too Thick or Greasy?
Good news: Sunscreens have come a long way! If you’re struggling with thick, greasy formulas or ones that leave a white cast, there are so many options now:
- Lightweight gels: Perfect for oily or acne-prone skin.
- Tinted sunscreens: Avoid the white cast while evening out your complexion.
- Sunscreen sprays: Great for quick touch-ups, but make sure you still rub them in.
- Powder sunscreens: Ideal for reapplication over makeup during the day.
Take the time to find a formula you enjoy using. The best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually wear every day.
What About Tinted Sunscreens or Makeup with SPF?
Ah, another common question! Tinted sunscreens and makeup products like foundation or BB cream with SPF can offer added sun protection, but they’re NOT a substitute for your regular sunscreen.
Why not, I hear you ask? Because most people don’t apply enough of these products to get the SPF level stated on the bottle. Think of them as a bonus layer of protection, not your main defense.
The Bottom Line
Mixing sunscreen with moisturizer, lotion or any other products may seem like a good idea, but it’s anything but. You’ll just dilute the SPF and compromise the effectiveness of the sunscreen. Instead, find a sunscreen you love, apply it correctly, and make it a non-negotiable part of your routine. Your skin will thank you!
Great post! I never mix my sunscreen and moisturizer 🙂 What’s your take on moisturizers/primers/foundations that contain spf? Many people don’t use a sunscreen because they think that the other products containing sunscreen is sufficient. I personally believe in using a separate sunscreen because I’ve been taught to do so but I’m still not too convinced as to why we need to use two separate products
.-= Connie´s last blog ..Eyeshadow Primers 101 =-.
I always used to mix my sunscreen with moisturiser as sometimes I felt that just sunscreen on its own used to still make my skin feel dry especially in the heat
Can I still use moisturiser for a bit let’s says half an hour before I put sunscreen on?
Tahira, yes, you can do that. Just don’t mix them together or you won’t be well protected from UV rays.
I also wonder about products that (claim to) contain sunscreen. I guess they are not as effective but which ones (foundation/primer) are the most effective?
Connie, I used to be one of those people when I was younger! I was like, I don’t need sunscreen cos my moisturizer has SPF but after learning more about ingredients and how products work, I think using a separate sunscreen is necessary, unless you’re spending very little time outdoors.
The thing is that, to get the amount of protection claimed on the label, you need to apply a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face and then you have to reapply often throughout the day. The same applies to foundation or moisturizer. They will protect your skin from the sun but only if you apply several layers (which noone does) and do regular touch ups.
So, basically, if you’re spending most of the day inside and only go out to walk to your car for instance, using a moisturizer or foundation with spf will do. Or if you can’t apply sunscreen every two hours, retouching your makeup with a foundation or powder with spf, always provided you don’t spend too much time outdoors, will do too.
But if you know you’re gonna spend lots of time outside, always use a sunscreen. Other products with SPF won’t offer enough protection against the sun, unless you apply a huge amount of them.
i know it’s a bad practice but i have done that. however, i do apply SS beforehand…
i just like to mix them so the foundation is sheered out and get extra SS. not sure if this was OK but it makes my face less fake looking especially when it’s one with heavy coverage.
oops you only mentioned SS with moisturiser. Nope, i don’t do that. i mix SS with foundations only. Still apply SS on my face before the mixture.
All Women Stalker, you’re right. Products that contain Spf aren’t as effective as sunscreen and shouldn’t be used instead of it, unless you spend very little time outdoors.
As for what the most effective is, it doesn’t really matter if it’s a foundation, a primer or a moisturizer. What matters are the ingredients and method of application. For these products to be effective, they need to contain ingredients that offer broad spectrum protection (like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone, tinosorb and Mexoryl) in sufficient amounts (if they are listed towards the bottom, it’s less likely they’ll offer enough protection).
Also, even if they contain good ingredients, you need to apply several layers of these products on your face to get the protection claimed on the label. If you’re using a foundation with SPF30 for instance and only apply one layer, you won’t get SPF30, but SPF15 or even less.
These products can be ok to do touch-ups throughout the day if you can’t reapply sunscreen frequently or for those that spend most of the day indoors. Otherwise, always use a sunscreen anyway.
Jojoba, if you apply sunscreen beforehand anyway, then you should be fine. You still have the protection from your sunscreen and if mixing the two works better for you, then I guess why not? As long as you don’t rely solely on the lotion you mix, there shouldn’t be any problems.
I don’t mix my sunscreen but sometimes it can get really really thick so I may drop a tiny drop of moisturizer to it.
.-= Dao´s last blog ..GILTY Pleasures Weekly Blog Tour: Vol 3, 2010 =-.
Dao, thick sunscreen is a pain! I guess a tiny drop wouldn’t lower the spf that much, but I’d be more worried about some of the ingredients in the two products to cause problems when mixed. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it, not with a chemical sunscreen anyway. I’d get another sunscreen with a lighter consistency though.
good point gio! hmm let’s say, if i use a moisturizer with SPF15, then foundation with SPF15, do you think i still need to pile on a SPF50 moisturizer? or just go with a SPF29 or something?
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Awww! Thats actually was so helpful. But I really don’t like mixing any of products together…
.-= Anastacia´s last blog ..Neutral Eyes Using Two Faced Naughty and Nice Palette =-.
yeah I mix before as sunscreen very dry up my face
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..Firefox crashed?! =-.
Prettybeautiful, personally I wouldn’t rely solely on foundation and moisturizer with SPF, especially SPF15, which is not very high. And besides, you’d need to apply a lot of product (just one layer is not enough) on your face to actually get the protection it claims on the label. You can still use them, but I’d apply a sunscreen of at least SPF30 beforehand. Unless you’r spending most of the day indoors, other products with SPF won’t offer enough protection.
Anastacia, I’m glad you found it helpful. I’m with you there. I don’t like mixing products together and I do that as littl as possible. I like mixing blush and lipbalm to create lipgloss but I wouldn’t mess with skincare or sunscreen products.
Sherry, I know that’s tempting to do esp if your sunscreen is greasy or dries up your face, but you’re actually making it less effective. I’d avoid mixing the two and just buy another sunscreen that suits your skin and needs better 🙂
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Gio! The most of us certainly don’t reapply our sunscreen! They really should make some sort of face mist that has spf. those spray sunscreens are usually too oily!
.-= Connie´s last blog ..Review + New Stuff: I Spot a Dupe! =-.
Connie, you’re welcome. I agree with you, a face mist with SPF would be great. Unfortunately it’s not always possible to reapply sunscreen, esp when you have a full face of makeup on, so on those days doing touchups with foundation or powder with SPF is an alternative. It will give a lower protection than sunscreen but if you’re not spending a lot of time outside, it should do.
Hellow Dear!
What if im using the Body craem with SPF(Vaseline Even Tone) already,and i want to put bit more of SPF to my Body cream??
And will be fine aswell to put bit Drops of SPF Cream inside ma my Facial product(PONDS)?,Because i want to remain matt yet not sun Burnt… 🙂
THANK YOU Indvance for your Advise.
Sethunya, hi! You should NEVER mix your sunscreen with your skincare products. You’ll just dilute and reduce its effectiveness.
Can I mix together 50/50., Pin Biun moisturizing sun lotion 30spf and 10spf to make it 20spf, will this work?
Barry, I’m not sure why you’d want to decrease the SPF of your sunscreen? But nope it won’t work. When you mix together two SPFs, you get the SPF of the highest product you applied. So if your SPF30 and SPF10, you get SPF30.
What’s the difference between mixing your sunblock with your moisturizer vs. layering products onto your face? Aren’t you still diluting it, if you’re applying the serum, moisturizer and then the sunblock on top of them? And then you put primer and foundation on top of that, aren’t you still diluting the sunblock? No one has time to wait 10-15 mins between each application in the morning for each product to sink in.
Florence, potentially what you apply over your sunscreen has the potential to dilute it. That’s why it’s best to wait a little before applying foundation and to use very gentle motions. If you vigorously rub your foundation on, you risk removing the sunscreen.
How do you feel about applying sunscreen OVER foundation? I know that wouldn’t be effective with a chemical sunscreen, but I use only physical filters and find that applying SPF over foundation (after letting it set, of course) looks and feels better.
Cassidy, if it works for you, I don’t see any problems with it.
hey there Gio, nice chat here on the sunscreen stuff, its really very effective and great, but, the first time i applied on my face, i was like grrrrrh, cos it was like i used nylon bag to cover my face and i actually wasnt comfortable with it, it was irritating me, buh, the truth is, its really great to use it… can you give me list of some nice suncreens to get for myself
Abigail, sunscreen can take some getting used to indeed. Can you tell me what your skin type is so I can point you in the right direction?
What if I wanted to apply a scented body butter or lotion? What would you suggest about the sunscrren and scented body butter or lotion?
Isabel, are you asking if you can mix body lotions with sunscreen? No, NEVER mix anything with sunscreen.
Hi,
Thanks for this post.
I’ve been mixing arrowroot powder with my sunscreen. is this also a problem?
Is blotting with tissue 15 mins after applying sunscreen a suitable alternative?
Dawn, as a rule, don’t mix anything with sunscreen. The alternative is better, yes.