Living in Malaysia means living with the sun 24/7, which makes sun protection more important than ever! With that being said, it’s always good to slap on additional SPF. One simple way to incorporate an extra layer of sun protection is with foundation. However, before you ditch your actual sunscreen, here are some crucial facts that you should know.
Is foundation with SPF enough to protect your face?
No, it's not enough. The longer answer is makeup does not provide sufficient protection and coverage against the sun. According to professionals, you would require seven times the usual amount of foundation and 14 times the average amount of powder to get the sun protection factor on the label. In other words, it's impossible to achieve the optimal amount of sun protection with makeup, and it should not substitute your actual sunscreen.
Then, why does foundation contain SPF? How much sunscreen should I apply?
The SPF in your foundation is no different from the SPF in your sunscreen. However, makeup with SPF works as an additional layer of protection or as a touch-up, not as a substitute. Before applying makeup, make sure your facial skin is well protected against the harmful rays, it would require at least ½ teaspoon of sunscreen for your face and neck. Now that we know what SPF in makeup is actually for, let’s dive right into the top 11 foundations with SPF for different skin types.
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Matte foundations can cause your skin to look flat and cakey. But with the Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, that’s not the case. Thanks to the infusion of oil-absorbing perlite and silica, your skin will look naturally flawless with its soft matte finish. That also means no more touch-ups throughout the day.
Do most foundations leave you looking like an oil slick at the end of the day? Don’t worry, Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation is a godsend for oily skin types. Waterproof, transfer- and humidity-resistant, this long-lasting, full coverage foundation is exactly what you need to keep shine at bay.
If your usual foundation leaves your skin looking cakey and shiny at the end of the day, fret not! The Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation is designed to keep your skin looking and feeling its best all day long. The full coverage foundation is infused with a hyaluronic acid complex to hydrate and nourish tired skin.
Does your dry skin leave your foundation patchy and flaky? What you need is MAC’s Cosmetics Studio Waterweight Foundation to keep your skin hydrated and flawless, from day to night. The moisturizing formula has a gel-serum texture that delivers moisture and nourishment to dry skin.
Living in a hot and humid climate makes powder foundations the perfect pick to keep your skin matte all day long. Maybelline’s Fit Me Skin Fit Powder Foundation is made with ultra-fine velvet powder for a smooth and poreless finish. It has SPF 32 and PA+++, which makes it suitable for a mid-day SPF touch-up too!
Always on the go? The 3CE’s Layer Covering Stick Foundation can surely catch up. Formulated with Centella and Portulaca extract, it can calm redness and soothe irritation. The travel-friendly, dual-ended product comes with a solid yet creamy foundation on one end and a built-in face brush on the other.
Combine skincare with makeup and what you get is Tarte’s Babassu Foundcealer Multi-Tasking Foundation. The nourishing formula’s main star ingredient, Babassu, is packed with antioxidants and fatty acids to protect your skin against free radicals, environmental stressors and premature ageing. It’s lightweight and will not leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy.
Can’t get enough of K-beauty? Treat your skin to Laneige’s Skin Veil Cover Foundation that provides SPF 50 and PA++. Unlike most full coverage foundations that have a thick formula, this lightweight product has a milky consistency that glides onto your skin effortlessly. It also has a comfortable, soft matte finish that’s long-lasting.
Don’t let dry skin stop you from wearing foundation. The Etude House’s Double Lasting Serum Foundation is infused with their very own moisture serum complex and Double Glow Technology for that chok chok dewy skin finish. It also provides up to 24 hours of high coverage while keeping dryness and flakes at bay.
Keep your routine short and simple with Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20. Formulated with chamomile, sodium hyaluronate and vitamins A, C and E, the water-based moisturizer works by soothing and nourishing your skin. Moreover, it’s buildable so you can properly cover up marks and spots.
Cushion compacts are known to be light in coverage, but not with A’pieu’s Wonder Tension Pact. The high coverage cushion compact can cover imperfections and wrinkles in just a few taps. It also has a highly moisturizing formula to provide your skin with anti-ageing and brightening benefits for smooth and flawless skin.