4 Ways To Make It Easier To Wear Sunscreen Every Day

We all know we should be wearing sunscreen every day. If you’ve ever visited a dermatologist or an aesthetician, asked someone with amazing skin to spill their secrets, or read a skin care blog (hey there), you’ve definitely heard that advice and it’s no coincidence. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beneficial things you can do for both the beauty and health of your skin. And yet, as a skin care writer, I’ve found myself confessing to my aestheticians of the past that I didn’t use sunscreen religiously.

Why were there so many years when I couldn’t bring myself to do it? Why do so many other people have the same struggle, despite knowing how important it is? Honestly, it’s because with most sunscreens, it sucks. It’s one more step to cram in on busy mornings, and it leaves you with either that zombie-looking white cast or a face full of grease…or both. Then you have to spend even more time on your makeup trying to do damage control. And going through that whole mess to reapply multiple times every day? Forget it.

Here's the good news, though: skin care brands get it, and they’ve listened! There are now plenty of products out there that solve our biggest sunscreen frustrations so we can protect our skin with ease. Allow me to be your guide through the ways you can now use daily sunscreen more easily.

1. Use a Sheer Sunscreen

A lot of sunscreens leave a white residue on your skin’s surface – especially mineral sunscreens (AKA physical sunscreens) which are the safest sunscreens to use. Luckily, though, there are a select few brands that have cracked the code for truly sheer sunscreen. My personal favorite is EltaMD UV Sheer . It’s a mineral sunscreen that genuinely doesn’t leave a white cast so you aren’t stuck trying to put color back into your skin with makeup.

2. Try a Tinted Sunscreen

Did you know sunscreen can actually enhance your color? That’s exactly what you’ll get from a tinted sunscreen. Take Revision Intellishade for example. It has just enough color in it that it can easily blend with nearly anyone’s skin tone. Not only do you skip the white residue but you even out your coloration a bit in the process. There’s even a matte version of Intellishade so you don’t get the telltale sunscreen shine.

3. Carry a UV Stick

Part of keeping your skin protected is reapplying your sunscreen. No matter how amazing your sunscreen is, it doesn’t last forever – most need to be reapplied every two hours or so. Of course, carrying around a tube of sunscreen can be messy, and so can massaging the cream-textured sunscreen into your skin every few hours. But there’s a solution.

Grab an EltaMD UV Stick and stash it in your purse, in your desk at work, or wherever else you might need it (steer clear of storing it in your car, though, because it could get hot enough in the car to melt it. When you have the UV stick with you, you can easily apply a few swipes, rub it in, and get back to rocking your day.

4. Adjust Your Morning Routine

Most sunscreens leave a residue on your skin that’s not exactly makeup friendly. We’ve all felt the frustration of trying to apply foundation on top of a greasy sunscreen, and it’s not a battle you want to re-create every morning.

Here’s a trick, though: sunscreens typically sink into your skin over the course of about 15 minutes, and once they do, it will be easier to apply makeup. Tweak your morning routine to accommodate for that time. You might wake up and do your skin care first, ending it with your sunscreen. Then go eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get dressed, do your hair, or do whatever else you can in your routine while your sunscreen sinks in. After those 15 minutes, go back to the mirror and take care of your makeup.

All the Sun Protection, None of the Hassle

No matter how many other ways you try to protect your skin from the sun (wearing a wide-brimmed hat, wearing sunglasses with large lenses, setting up your schedule to minimize your time outside when the sun is at its peak) sunscreen is still essential. It’s the key to both healthier skin and skin that stays younger for longer, so the sooner you start making it a daily part of your routine, the better. The tips above can help you do that with far more ease and convenience. Check them out so you can live your best sun-worshipping life this summer.