What First? Moisturiser or Sunscreen?

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – Chaitanya We all know how important the application of sunscreen is. Sunscreen needs to be applied not just in summers but throughout the year, yes, even in winters. However, it might be confusing when you are layering your skincare products.

Let us throw some light on the most used products in any skin care routine, Moisturiser and Sunscreen. What is the order of preference? The answer isn’t exactly cut and dry, but the choice is justified by some scientific reasons based on their properties.

Application of the moisturiser first will bridge any gaps in the stratum corneum and make the skin soft and supple. Also, moisturizers are typically reapplied every 10-12 hours.

Sunscreens on the other hand, if applied directly over a dry skin would increase the dryness further leading to irritation of the skin. Additionally, sunscreens should form the outer layer as they can directly scatter/reflect/absorb the UV rays depending on their physical properties.

 And sunscreens should be reapplied every 2-3 hours for maximum efficacy, especially where there is increased sweating.

To keep things simple, there are 2 types of sunscreens, physical sunscreen, and a chemical sunscreen. You must apply your moisturiser first if you are using a physical sunscreen and for a chemical sunscreen apply the sunscreen and then over it you can apply your moisturiser.