Even though it’s been raining more frequently recently, some days are plain freaking hot. I try to stay in as far as possible because I’m beginning to have this niggling fear that my current sunscreen may not be powerful enough to protect me from the high UV index.
I’ve been using the Derma e Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion for a few months now and I really love it. It seems to be working well but I often wonder if it’s protective enough. Okay, to be fair, this is a common thought I have with every single sunscreen I’ve ever used.
Anyway, while applying it to my face the other day, I suddenly remembered a reader’s comment in one of my old posts about sunscreen application. I can’t remember if she’d mentioned it was based on her own experience, or someone else’s but I recall reading that two different sunscreens were being used for daily protection.
Actually this was something I used to do when I had to be under the hot sun for some outdoor activities. I literally slathered two different sunscreens on myself!
So I decided to give this tip a try on my face, especially since Derma e Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion applies like a moisturizer without any trace of greasiness. I layered the MVO Everyday Coverage on top but definitely using lesser than a quarter teaspoon. I was a little concerned that it might all turn out too drying or flaky but surprisingly, I’d no issues whatsoever.
Skincare experts recommend double layer of sunscreen
I’m liking this whole idea very much now. I did a search online and it appears that other people are also doing this and recommending so. But some suggest that it’s best to layer a physical sunscreen over a chemical one which was what I did before. Apparently, even top dermatologist Dr Leslie Baumann recommends a double layer of sunscreen, first a chemical sunscreen to absorb UV light, and then a physical sunscreen on top to reflect rays, when spending many hours outdoors.
But because I use mineral (physical) sunscreen on a daily basis, I prefer not to layer with a chemical sunscreen. Also, I understand that some ingredients may get destabilized when you mixed a chemical sunscreen with a physical one.
My rationale for double layer of sunscreen
Alright, I’ve to admit that I don’t know for sure if using two different mineral sunscreens provides better protection too. I also know for sure that using two SPF30 sunscreens is not going to give me SPF60 protection. So what’s my rationale for layering two different sunscreens on my face?
A greater peace of mind.
I’m not gonna justify this one but I’ll just say that because the Derma e formula has lesser zinc oxide content, the idea of supplementing with MVO’s that has a higher zinc oxide sits well with me. Also, this is a way for me to apply more sunscreen.
Some of you probably don’t agree with me and that’s fine. In fact, I won’t recommend this for anyone else since using two sunscreens can be highly pore clogging. But I do want to state that I don’t do this every day but only on days when I know I need to be out and the weather is too hot.
Oh, just in case you’re wondering: using two different sunscreens at the same time is not quite the same as using a a foundation or moisturizer with SPF. Why? Well, it’s because both the foundation and the moisturizer do not contain sufficient sun protection active ingredients.
So anyone using two different sunscreens together too? Share your thoughts!
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Hello
Could you advise me if I can mix a physical and mineral sunscreen moisturizer together or should I just use a mineral sunscreen by its self for face?
Many thanks,
Thelma
Yes, according to the dermatologist. But avoid using a chemical sunscreen containing avobenzone with your mineral sunscreen.
I have recently found a series of natural products on mamilan.com which includes creams and soaps, I tried them and the results are amazing! The products clean the skin, give it moisture, clarify it, remove the dead layer of skin. I highly recommend you all to order the products and try them on , the sure thing is you won’t regret – because the results are absolutely amazing !
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I don’t normally post long comments but I think this will interest you.
I have tried sunscreens since 17 i’m now 34 and i was extremely pale and back in the days(before 17)when I was ignorant about the sun I never used sunscreens & rarely ever burned or tanned because I was so white I reflected sunlight for so long.
When I finally started burning it would be awful.
Anyway after years of experimenting I can say that some of the chemical sunscreens burned, tanned, and or irritated me faster than if i hadn’t worn any at all. Now to the physical but not too natural blocks, the physical blocks are superior period hands down even with all the yucky sounding inactive ingredients. I used to get sick off one though everytime i used it I felt ill. Then I tried a few all naturals like badger and they too tanned me faster than none at all. I’d rather burn a little than tan because when you start burning you know to get out of the sun. When you subtley tan you can’t tell until it’s too late. I think I may have finally found out why this happened to me. On this site down in the comments this lady speaks of poor dispersal regardless of the zinc percentage and how some don’t protect even with minimal exposure.
http://gingerrrama.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/burnout-sunscreens-an-update/
So I know everybody’s skin is different but since I was(still am considered) so pale I think I’m a good sunblock test subject, better able to tell what’s working right off and what isn’t whereas my mom is darker and can’t see subtle changes as easy but just hopes it’s working.
I’ve pretty much had the same pattern of life. I usually only get incidental exposure. I’m not much of an outdoors type of person. I only had incidental exposure no special beach days etc when some of these changes happened.
Example: I wore a ton of badger and another time burts bees each time I went out and it only took a few months exposures, no sweating etc, and I was darker compared to other blocks I tried for years and stayed the same color. Also I was darker in areas I applied the sunblock and stayed the same color on areas I purposefully didn’t put any at the same time. I forgot to mention I live in Texas.
Anyway it was shocking because I thought with such a high zinc percentage I would really be safe.
Now for a serious warning to everyone: Test your sunscreen on a small area of your face 1st.
I tried badger sunscreen lotion on my face and it gave me seborrheic dermatitis! It is awful!!! It gave me alot of instant permanent wrinkles mainly on the apples of my cheeks. I semi have the seb derm under control now but it was such a bad experience that I haven’t worn block in almost a year now and have been afraid of trying anymore or anything on my face at all. I got my hair hat and sunglasses I’ve been getting by on.
The reason I say try it on a small part of your face is because the block didn’t affect my other skin. At 1st I thought it was an allergic reaction but now I do not because if that were so then i think it would have affected the other areas I applied it to. So testing on your body may not be good enough. Face skin is different.
That is why I actually love oily/greasy sunscreens because after I apply them I just put a little powder and reapply ever so often if needed and its fine. A little powder controls the oily look.
The badger lotion was so drying it’s like it ate my face off like a chemical burn or like alcohol would. It changed my whole facial oil balance and allowed the yeast to go haywire.
I would describe my skin before this horror as a little sensitive and oily, overall pretty “tough” but I never had skin issues my whole life. Not 1 wrinkle until I used this block. So at 34 I went from no wrinkles to pretty much my whole face wrinkled. The texture and everything has changed.
No oily block ever did that to me. neutrogenas titanium oil free is the only other oil free I tried years ago and it didn’t do that to me. I’d rather apply oily block to my face than ever risk something drying again.
The dermatologist I read from because she has seb derm too said she checks scores of patients and it’s always the chemical blocks that fail. Normally when I read contradictions from experts I get overwhelmed like who do you believe? but I know by experience and agree with her. Anything turning you darker from incidental exposure and you don’t color easy is doing something wrong.
Anyway more on sunblocks, I don’t trust clear zinc either. It didn’t work for me. My guess is it should be seen there, a bit white to reflect just like my skin used to do.
I’m thinking of trying Derma E but if it’s anywhere near as drying or matte as that badger lotion NO WAY.
Worst part of all of this is I think I have no choice but to switch to a less natural block like blue lizard because according to some studies seb derm loves to eat oils like sunflower etc. but others say no… Not ready to test yet. I was excited to test more sunblocks but now I fear any with natural oils.
Anyway I hope this makes everyone think and be a little more cautious.
Hi Terry, thanks so much for your comment and your sharing! This is an eye opener but also quite disheartening. Nothing seems safe enough now. Geez.
On another note, Derma E has a better texture than Badger. But not too sure if you’ll like it. I feel it’s less drying. I actually like it very much.
I’ve been trying out the physical SPF from Bare Minerals and I really like it! It’s SPF 50 and hasn’t irritated me so far. I also developed eczema from the Kate Somerville Waterlight SPF because it dried me out so bad but I’m also acne prone so I don’t like anything that’s oily. The bare minerals sunscreen hasn’t broken me out so far and wears well under makeup! It’s at Sephora, check it out!
Hi There, been reading up and found that you are also using MVO’s tinting sunscreen, but are they only available online and the shipping to sgp is a whopping USD85? Is there other ways to get it? Thanks
Hi Jean, has the shipping cost increased so much? I don’t know of anywhere in Singapore that sells this but they do offer free international shipping for orders above US$250.
your love for MVO aside, I’ve read that vitamin A in sunscreens ought to be avoided, but it seems that the MVO sunscreen contains many ingredients that are high in Vitamin A, such as Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip etc. What would be your position on this?
I believe natural vitamin A are okay but the particular vitamin A that should be avoided is retinol and its derivatives.
Hi. I am also using Derma E Antioxidant Sunscreen but it seems to break me out. What do you use to remove it at night? I am acne prone with oily and sensitive skin and oils tend to clog my pores causing more acne.
I double cleanse with two cream cleansers.