Brian Jeffrey
When you’re spending every minute of every day indoors (thanks, social distancing), it can be all too easy to let your beauty routine slip. The first two things to fall by the wayside? SPF and makeup. You might think: Why put on sun protection when I’m indoors? Why swipe on makeup when no one will see me? But skipping sunscreen and makeup altogether is decidedly the wrong approach, according to experts.
First things first: Sun protection is important all the time—whether you’re trapped inside or not. UV rays can penetrate through your windows, which means you’re still at risk for sun damage even if you aren’t actually in the sun. What’s more, new science is emerging that points to the importance of protecting skin from visible light streaming out of bulbs and computer screens. One of the best ways to do this is via iron oxides found in complexion products, such as foundations and tinted moisturizers.
Luckily, over the last few years SPF-spiked makeup has become decidedly elegant on skin. In addition to sophisticated foundation formulas that melt into your face, SPF has now taken over the makeup aisle, showing up in lip balms, eye shadows, and more. “It is important to wear SPF in makeup to provide sunblock,” says Michele Green, MD, board certified dermatologist and RealSelf contributor. “It’s a great way to get some sun protection daily.”
While it’s a good idea to wear sunscreen all over your face, it’s especially important to apply it to the areas that are at higher risk for sun damage, like your lips and eyes. And with that, keep scrolling for makeup products with SPF to wear while working from home for every point of your face.
If your makeup and skin care had a baby, it would be this glow-getter. It offers sun protection with SPF 45, protects against pollution with antioxidants, and hydrates skin with IonCharged water. Think of its buildable coverage as a layer of defense between your skin and the environment that still gives you a breathable, natural-looking finish.
Hydrate and protect lips with a single swath of sheer color, thanks to this tinted balm. “The lips are one of the most likely areas to get skin cancer, so lips need to be protected carefully,” says Joel Schlessinger, MD board-certified dermatologic surgeon. This balm has SPF 15, and comes in 15 shades, ranging from light petal pink to bold, poppy red. It’s made with sugar, which is known for its moisture retaining properties, plus ultra-soothing meadow foam, black currant, and grape seed oils to aid with hydration.
The other area that’s most prone to skin cancer? Your eyelids. The ultra-delicate skin is particularly sensitive to sun damage, and can be difficult to apply sunscreen to. “It is nearly impossible to wear SPF around the eyes since it can burn and be very irritating,” says Dr. Schlessinger. This SPF-infused eyeshadow, however, fits the bill. In addition to offering SPF 30 sun protection, it adds a dash of shimmer to lids.
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Written by: WellGood
