Everything You Need to Know Before Using SPF Moisturizers

SPF protection is essential year-round, and like clockwork, the shelves begin to fill up with new products during the summer. It’s not hard to find an SPF product fitting your routine, whether skin, makeup or hair. However, when it comes to SPF moisturizers, the lines often get blurred. For example, face creams packed with anti-aging ingredients can also include SPF for sun protection, but is it enough? There are countless ways to fight against the sun’s harmful rays, and in the case of sunscreen, it can be tempting to completely ditch it for a moisturizer that seems to offer the same level of protection. Below, we tapped three experts to determine if it’s actually worth it.

Featured experts

• Dr. Rachel Westbay is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Dr. Mona Gohara is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, CT
• Zion Ko Lamm, MD is a board-certified internist in Charlotte, NC
• Baylee Relf is an aesthetician and the co-founder of DIME Beauty

What’s the difference between SPF & SPF moisturizers?

While these two products may sound similar, the experts note they are far from interchangeable. “The difference comes down to formulation intent. SPF moisturizers are usually optimized for daily wear, layering under makeup, and provide a cosmetically elegant finish,” says Charlotte, NC internal medicine doctor Zion Ko Lamm, MD. “As a face lotion, it has added sun protection to hydrate your skin and block UV rays at the same time, while regular SPF, or sunscreen, focuses only on sun protection,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Rachel Westbay. Like any multitasking skin-care product, SPF moisturizers offer convenience, making your morning routine quick and streamlined. Dr. Lamm explains that SPF moisturizers lower the barrier to consistent sunscreen use, making them ideal for people who dislike layering or find sunscreen too heavy, greasy or uncomfortable to wear. “Many formulas include ingredients like antioxidants, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide, which can help address concerns like dryness or redness,” adds Dr. Westbay.

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Sunscreens, on the contrary, have one mission alone: to protect against the sun’s harmful rays. In that vein, they tend to offer more intense protection. Strength aside, several other factors separate the two. According to Hamden, CT Dr. Mona Gohara, traditional SPFs can provide full coverage protection and water resistance, which is not often the case with SPF moisturizers. Traditional sunscreens made for sports or outdoor use also tend to focus on resistance, durability or photostability in more extreme conditions.

Are SPF moisturizers enough to protect your skin?

Ditching your sunscreen isn’t advised since SPF moisturizers don’t offer the same level of protection. As Dr. Gohara explains, an SPF moisturizer is a nice bonus, but it’s not typically considered enough on its own. Their ability to thoroughly protect your skin comes down to a few things, including your activities and sun exposure. “A good SPF moisturizer can be an ally for daily commuting, working indoors, or a short time outside. But if you’re spending hours outside, sweating, swimming or at the beach, you’ll want to use a proper sunscreen. The main factor contributing to protection levels is the amount of SPF you’re using. As a general rule of thumb, you should be applying a generous amount of SPF, usually two fingers’ length, to receive adequate protection.

The same rule applies to an SPF moisturizer, which means more often than not, the full protection level isn’t being activated. “Studies show most people apply less than half of the recommended amount. With multitasking products like SPF moisturizers or foundations with SPF, people tend to use even less,” says Dr. Lamm. Even if you apply enough to begin with, aesthetician Baylee Relf adds that you’ll still need to reapply SPF to maintain the protection levels throughout the day. Bottom line, while SPF moisturizers are tested like sunscreens, they’re rarely used like sunscreens. As Dr. Lamm explains, it’s not only the SPF number on the bottle that matters, but also how much you actually use. If you’re relying on makeup or a tinted SPF moisturizer alone, you’re likely under-protecting your skin.

What to look for when shopping for SPF moisturizers

Broad-spectrum coverage and a minimum of SPF 30 should be top of the list when shopping for an SPF moisturizer. “SPF 30 or higher is ideal for solid daily defense, while a broad-spectrum product will protect against both UVA and UVB rays,” says Dr. Westbay. However, finding a formula that works with your skin type is just as important. “Not all SPF moisturizers are created equal, and finding one that suits your skin type can make a big difference in comfort and effectiveness,” says Relf. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, she suggests looking for lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas, while richer moisturizers with hydrating ingredients are more suited for drier skin.

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