Hi everyone,

I think, like many of us makeup fanatics I tend to take annoyingly good care of my skin. I just want it to be happy and healthy and look the same. Sooo you’ve probably just like me have been asking yourself, should I apply my sunscreen before or after my moisturizer. I know many of today’s moisturizers have an SPF of 15, but…. well….. I kinda want more on my face.

My skin tends to freckle, and not only that, but hyper pigmentation is a HUGE problem for me, especially in areas where I reallllyyyyyy don’t want it. Now I know there are many creams for hyper pigmentation, and trust me, I’ve used them all, and none of them have actually made it disappear. Soooo until I have enough money and can go to a professional and have it lazered off, I just have to make sure the sun does’t make it worse and this means a sunscreen. I love the Peter Thomas Roth sunscreen and I also always have the powdered version in my bag for really sunny days and for when I have the freak occasion of hitting a terras when it’s sunny out.

The powder goes over my makeup which means over my foundation, but what about the normal sunscreen? Do I apply sunscreen before or after my foundation? I happened to browse the internet and found my answer on Oprah’s website. Here is the answer:

“Always apply sunscreen first, says Robyn Gmyrek, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Apply it to clean skin, and allow it to penetrate for 20 minutes before sun exposure. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, and reapply it at least every two hours if you’re outside. Gmyrek recommends those with Mexoryl SX (found in La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen, $30), Helioplex (in Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 90+, $9.50), and any sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (like Dr. Perry’s Natural Block, $20, or SkinCeuticals Daily Sun Defense SPF 20, $30).

Bottom line: If you use a cream sunscreen, you may be able to skip moisturizer; be sure to use enough (about half a teaspoon) to get adequate protection.”

Well, this made things more difficult for me. I tried the Peter Thomas Roth without the moisturizer but this just makes my makeup slide off so that’s great for the no makeup days (and I do have them). Also I’m currently using a Eucerin eye cream that has an SPF in it, so I could still wear eye makeup and only the sunscreen. But then, I don’t really love the finish, even though it’s not oily, it is shiny. Next option, only a moisturizer with an SPF and no separate sunscreen….. results, not good for me, still shiny very quickly and I need to but a skin prepping product over it to make my foundation stick if I want this so that means lots of layers. I mean come on, who in their right minds 1) has time to let things sink in and layer upon layer of product. And 2) who wants that cakey feel that makes you feel like your skin can’t breathe. If I did it all and wanted it to look good, I’d have to:

1. clean skin
2. uhhmmmm how about serums??? Should they go before the sunscreen???? Ow darn…. another question
3. here’s another question, how about my under eye brightener, I usually do this before foundation because I need less concealer then and it helps with the bags under my eyes. should I apply this now? after sunscreen? argh, why is this so difficult?
4. apply sunscreen
5. let sunscreen sink in somewhat (or my skin prep would slide off)
6. apply foundation primer (current favorite: Make Up Forever HD primer because of the smell and the light feel)
7. apply foundation
8. apply concealer
9. apply contouring/bronzer
10. apply blush if needed
11. do my eye makeup
12. do my lips
13. apply powder (because with a sunscreen I always end up with a sweaty shine even if I don’t move and sit under an airco)
14. apply highlighter because of the powder making me look all cakey
15. spritz MAC fix plus to help with the cakey look
16. curse the sunscreen all day for making me sweaty and oily and for making my (waterproof) mascara stain my now very cakey looking and unbreathing skin.

Well, I think we all know I’m never gonna do that. Soooo, I’ve actually found my own way of dealing with this. If I’m actually going to the beach, the lake, sit on a friends balcony, something like that where I don’t have to wear a lot of makeup, I do the sunscreen, a little concealer where needed and then I powder slightly and think well, thankfully shiny is not completely out of fashion this summer.

If I’m going to the movies, work, lunch, anywhere where I won’t be sitting in the sun, I love using my Estee Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Release Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer SPF 15. This makes me look slightly more tan but in a very natural way and makes my skin look a lot more even. It’s like a new type of tinted moisturizer. It comes out grey and then when rubbing it in it turns an amazing shade of bronze on my skin. They say it’s for all skin tones but I’d warn the very fair and very dark, because for the fair it can make you look orange and the very dark it will not make you look more tan. My skin loves this moisturizer because I don’t get oily or sweaty or anything. It makes the skin resist the first signs of aging and it looks smoother and more even toned. It hydrates my skin perfectly for the day and makes my skin look happy and healthy which is my goal. I need only apply some concealer and powder where needed and add some mascara for a great day look. Adding a line of colour to your lower or upper lash line makes it pop and a full on makeup look over this base works amazing as well.

So my advise, find a great tinted moisturizer if you can pull it off and remember, makeup is to enhance what you’ve got and hide your flaws, it’s not here to make you a completely different person.

I hope you all have a great summer. I’ll be back to blogging more when my laptop is returned to me by Sony.

(Thank you dear Photographer )