Is mixing sunscreen with another product a good idea or a bad idea?

To combine the benefits and effects of its cosmetics, they can sometimes be mixed before applying to the skin. But is it really a good idea for sunscreen products? We explain.

To save time and multiply the effects of their cosmetic products, some people have the habit of creating their own beauty blends starting from existing formulas. Add a few drops of serum to your day cream, mix a pipette of highlighter to your foundation, put a teaspoon of vegetable oil in your body care or face mask… If some of these “homemade” cocktails » they work perfectly, others are however to be avoided. Sunscreens, to name just one, are not meant to be mixed with another cosmetic product. We explain why.

Do not mix sunscreen with another cosmetic product

Sunscreen, whether it’s a daytime SPF or a product to apply before sun exposure, it must not be mixed with foundation, highlighter or moisturizer. For what ?

Mona Gohara, a dermatologist, explains to the magazine GOOD + GOOD :

Don’t mix your SPF with your makeup because you don’t want to dilute it. Layering ensures that each product retains its potency [ndlr, et dans le cas du SPF, et s’agit de la protection anti-UV].

By diluting the sunscreen, and even if one gets the impression of having mixed the formulas well, there is a risk that the protection is no longer uniform and that certain areas of the skin are not protected. There is also a risk of the mixture fraying, as the two products may be incompatible.

Information confirmed by the cosmetic chemist and skincare influencer Amoudax, who recently commented on the beauty routine of the famous Hailey Bieber:

See this post on Instagram

What if the product selected to make the blend also contains an SPF? Well, that doesn’t work either! To really take advantage of the properties of your sunscreen, you must apply it alone, without adding any other product, after the moisturizer if it is a physical filter (also referred to as a mineral filter), and before the cream in the case of a formula of chemical protection (also called organic) but after the serum.