Foundation with SPF: is it enough to protect the skin from UV rays?

To unify the skin while protecting it from the dangers of the sun, more and more foundations include sunscreen. But is it really effective?

Updated article, published May 10, 2022

Acne acne, dark spots, premature aging, sunburn, melanoma and carcinoma… As we know, the harmful effects of the sun on the skin are numerous and for the most part irreversible. To combine business with pleasure, many makeup brands now offer tinted creams and foundations with built-in sunscreen.

But if the idea is good, these products unfortunately cannot replace a classic sunscreen to protect the skin from UV rays. We explain to you.

Foundation with SPF: a makeup product rather than a sun product

In a video posted on her Instagram account, formulator Michelle Wong demonstrates a particularly eloquent demonstration: in order for her SPF 30 foundation to offer her the same level of protection as a sunscreen with the same SPF, she calculates thatmust apply thirteen doses of the product on the faceat the rate of 2 mg of product per cm² of skin (note, which corresponds to the method used by manufacturers to test their products).

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Obviously, the yield on the skin leaves something to be desired, which is still a shame for a product whose main purpose is to beautify the complexion – usually one or two pumps for the face and the upper neck are enough.

To protect your skin without having to wear a make-up mask, it is therefore more interestinguse two different products : half a teaspoon of minimum SPF 30 sunscreen and two doses of foundation or BB cream with SPF, knowing that the indexes do not return but that it is always interesting to complete the treatment of the anti-UV effects from those of the make up, however small they may be.