Using a high-protection, clean sunscreen is a daily essential but there are a number of other factors that will ultimately determine your level of sun and environmental protection.
Our first ever, clean sunscreen has finally landed —and our faces (and hopefully your faces ) couldn’t be happier. While Barrier Reef Daily Facial Shield SPF50+ offers triple-duty protection against UV exposure, pollution, and blue light, there’s a bunch of things you can do – and stop doing! – that will ensure your face gets the best protection possible.
DOs:
- Wait 15-20 minutes for your sunscreen to settle before you head outside. All sunscreens need time to dry down and settle to form an even, protective layer. Which also means you should give it a few minutes to do so before you apply any makeup over the top.
- Check the expiry date of your sunscreen. Once opened, most sunscreens have a shelf life of 6-12 months*. Using a sunscreen that’s out of date will definitely compromise your level of protection. Check the expiry date and toss it as soon as it’s out of date, while upgrading to a fresh, new bottle.
*[NB: Given our clean sunscreen is free of fillers and synthetic preservatives, we recommend replacing it after 6 months.
DO THAT NOW
Reapply. The longer you’re wearing it, the less protective your sunscreen is. You also need to factor in all the things we do subconsciously like blowing your nose, holding your phone up to your face, wiping or touching your face, or your clothes rubbing against your skin; all of which can wipe off sunscreen in certain areas and leave your skin unprotected. As a general rule, reapply your sunscreen every two hours and again after you’ve been swimming or if you’re sweating.
DON’Ts:
- Mix your sunscreen in with any other product like a moisturiser, serum, or makeup. For a sunscreen to deliver on the protection it promises on the bottle, it needs to form an even layer on your skin’s surface. You can’t magically turn an existing product like a moisturiser or a foundation into a sun-protective one by mixing two different products together. Make sure you apply each product you plan to use separately and with a little time for each to settle into the skin first. For example: your moisturiser goes on before your sunscreen and before your makeup.
- Store your sunscreen in direct light (which can cause it to heat up) or in your car. A sunscreen formulation can be sensitive to heat and so leaving it in your glovebox or car console for convenience or even having it lying next to you in the sun can cause the formula to separate, affecting application and ultimately your true level of protection
- Think that sunscreen is complete protection. Even though our Barrier Reef Daily Facial Shield SPF50+ offers very high protection against UVA/B and blue light exposure, it’s important to avoid too much time in the direct sun and to also wear protective clothing like a hat and sunglasses.
Want to know exactly what’s in our clean sunscreen? Check out Barrier Reef Daily Facial Shield SPF50+.
