How to Incorporate Mineral Sunscreen into Your Skincare Routine

Mineral sunscreens, often referred to as physical or natural sunscreens, rely on mineral UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a protective barrier on the skin's surface to shield you from the sun’s harmful touch. Unlike chemical sunscreens, these minerals sit atop the skin, reflecting and scattering UV rays away.

The benefits of mineral sunscreen are plenty:

• Gentle by nature - Mineral sunscreens are known for being gentle on the skin, making them suitable for more sensitive or reactive complexions.

• Broad spectrum defence - Mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide broad spectrum protection, guarding against both UVA and UVB rays.
  
  
• Immediate action - Mineral sunscreens offer immediate protection upon application, effectively streamlining your skincare routine.

Here’s a refresher of the correct order of application. For the ultimate skincare enthusiasts, a comprehensive AM regimen might look like this:

01. Cleanser
02. Toner
03. Serums, concentrates or other treatments
04. Eye cream
05. Moisturiser
06. Mineral Sunscreen

Of course, this list is pretty extensive and you’re always welcome to tweak it, especially if you wish to simplify your routine to the foundational steps of cleansing, moisturising and SPF.

Just know that, as a rule of thumb, SPF should always be applied as the last step in your AM skincare routine, but before you begin applying any makeup.

If you’re a makeup wearer, it’s essential that you layer sunscreen beneath your makeup. To help you achieve a seamless look, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks:


01. Allow your sunscreen to set for a minute before applying any makeup on top. After it’s properly dried, go ahead with the products of your choice.

02. If you wear foundation, go for formulas that’ll be compatible with mineral SPF. We suggest opting for mineral foundations to ensure they pair well with your natural sunblock.

03. If you wish to avoid a heavy or cakey appearance, try applying your foundation in thin layers.

04. Double up on your protection. When it comes to sunscreen, more is more, so it’s a good idea to opt for SPF-infused foundations.

Apply sunscreen from the centre of your face, rubbing it outwards and fully into the skin to ensure you don’t miss any areas.

You should be liberal with your application and use around 1⁄4 teaspoon of sunscreen, or the amount to cover the length of two fingers, to ensure that your face and neck are adequately protected.

While reapplying might seem like a chore, you should ideally take the time to reapply every 2 hours if you are spending time outside. But if you are swimming or sweating heavily, sunscreen should be reapplied more frequently.

The answer’s yes, you definitely should. No matter the season, you should never leave the house without sunscreen.

In fact, foregoing SPF sort of cancels out the rest of your skincare regimen. Sun damage is cumulative, so use sunscreen with at least SPF30 all year round to protect your skin from premature ageing such as dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines.

If you’re curious about the science behind it, check out our full guide: Mineral Sunscreen: Your Skin’s Natural Sunblock →

✕ Missing crucial areas

We tend to focus only on the face, but the sun doesn’t discriminate. Make sure that you apply sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing—including:

• lips
• eyelids
• ears
• scalp

These often forgotten areas deserve to get the protection they need.

✕ Underapplication

Most people apply far less sunscreen than necessary to achieve the advertised SPF, so make sure you’re using the right amount.

✕ Not tossing old sunscreen

Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time. Yes, SPF does in fact expire, and when it does, it may leave you vulnerable to a sunburn and skin damage.

So pay attention to the product expiration date and get rid of that old SPF bottle that's been sitting in your beauty cabinet long after it’s already expired.

✕ Skipping additional sun-protecting measures

Go one step further with your sun protection and cover skin exposed to the sun with hats, long-sleeve shirts and trousers. Couple that with a stylish pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes, too.

You’ve got no more excuse for skipping sunscreen - it’s time to build your best suncare routine now ↓