Unlock the potential of multitasking skincare with moisturizers featuring SPF. These products serve a dual purpose: providing hydration and sun protection. But how exactly do they work? Consider a moisturizer with SPF a multitasking product. The intent of the product is twofold: to provide both hydration and sun protection. Read more...
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What is a moisturizer with SPF?
Consider a moisturizer with SPF a multitasking product. The intent of the product is twofold: to provide both hydration and sun protection. It's designed to deliver hydration while shielding your skin from harmful UV rays. SPF is a regulated term- if it is listed on the product, then the product has been tested for its ability to protect your skin from UVB rays.
How can a moisturizer with SPF provide protection from the sun AND hydration?
SPF, regulated by the FDA, validates standardized sun protection. When SPF is paired with moisturizing ingredients, these products not only safeguard your skin from UV damage but also replenish moisture, restoring your skin's natural barrier function. I may differ from some of my peers in that I am a fan of these products. There is a very practical reason as to why.
Let's break this down by claims.
SPF
SPF is a standardized measure that is a regulated claim by the FDA. SPF is not a marketing term, it has substance. If a sunscreen has an SPF of 30 and a moisturizer with sunscreen has an SPF of 30, then these products offer the same sun protection benefits if adequately applied and reapplied.
Moisturizer
The intent of a moisturizer is to add hydration to the superficial layers of the skin. This can help the skin restore its natural barrier function. I often give the analogy of a cobblestone street or a brick wall. If you think of our skin as a brick wall, when exposed to harsh conditions or excessive exfoliation, the mortar that holds the bricks together starts to dissolve leaving the skin vulnerable. This makes our body and skin far more sensitive to the environment. Moisturizers act as the "mortar," replenishing hydration and reinforcing the skin's defenses.
Most moisturizers with SPF will contain some ingredients focused on hydration. For most people with normal skin types or oily skin types, this will likely be adequate. Adding a second product may actually make the skin feel oily or greasy. However, those with dry skin may feel the need for an additional moisturizer to supplement the hydration.
What are your top picks for moisturizers with SPF?
It seems like offering a body moisturizer with a sunscreen would make so much sense however these products are not as common as you may think. The reasoning behind this is likely the challenge faced to produce a product that both hydrates the surface of the skin while also creating a barrier to protect it from UV. These products will often have a reduced SPF to accommodate the use.
Be sure to visit our posts evaluating each product individually.
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