It’s easy to feel like you’ve got sun protection covered when your makeup has SPF in it. After all, if your foundation or BB cream says SPF 20 or 30 on the label, isn’t that good enough?

The truth is, not quite.

While makeup with SPF is better than nothing, it’s rarely enough to fully protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. 

Most people don’t apply nearly enough product to get the coverage listed on the label. Plus, your skin needs more than just a morning layer of foundation to stay protected throughout the day.

Here’s why layering your SPF matters and how products from Colorescience make it easy to protect your skin and enhance your look.

Why Makeup with SPF Doesn’t Cut It

Let’s say your foundation includes SPF 30. Sounds great, right? But in order to get that full level of protection, you’d have to apply a quarter teaspoon of it just on your face—that’s a lot more product than most of us use.

On top of that, sunscreen (even in makeup) wears off throughout the day due to sweating, touching your face, and just everyday life. So if you applied it in the morning and haven’t touched up since, you’re likely walking around with little to no real protection by lunchtime.

That’s where layering your SPF comes in. Think of it like building a shield, each product with SPF adds another layer of defence against UVA and UVB damage.

What You Should Be Doing Instead

Start your day with a dedicated SPF—ideally one that’s lightweight, broad-spectrum, and designed to be worn under makeup. Then, use makeup products that contain SPF for an extra layer.

But the thing that will make the biggest difference is to reapply SPF throughout the day, especially if you’re spending time outdoors. 

That’s where most people get stuck, because who wants to smudge their makeup halfway through the day?

Colorescience Makes It Easy

That is why we love Colorescience, they are a skincare-meets-makeup brand. 

Their multi-purpose SPF products are designed to layer effortlessly over your makeup, giving you protection that actually works and keeps you looking fresh.

Some of our favourite options:

• Colorescience Total Protection Color Balm SPF 50
  These gorgeous, tinted balms come in shades for lips, cheeks, and even eyelids. They add a pop of colour and a powerful dose of sun protection, and they are perfect for touch-ups on the go.
  
• Sunforgettable® Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50
  A mineral powder sunscreen in a mess-free brush format. Just put it on over your makeup, and you’re good to go. There is no greasy residue, no clogged pores, and no excuses not to reapply.
  
• Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35
  An eye treatment to visibly improve the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles while protecting the delicate eye area against photoaging with 100% SPF 35 mineral sunscreen.
  

Final Thoughts

Makeup with SPF is a great bonus, but it should never be your only line of defence. 

Your skin deserves better, and luckily, layering SPF has never been easier or more beautiful thanks to products like Colorescience’s colour balms and brush-on shields.

If you’re heading to the beach, going out for lunch on the patio, or just running errands, don’t forget to touch up your SPF throughout the day; your skin will thank you now and years from now.

Want to find the perfect SPF routine for your skin? Come visit us at Ageless Living. We’ll help you build a simple, skin-protecting ritual using products that do double-duty for beauty and health.