Sunscreen applied at 7.30am has had a long day by 1pm. Sweat, a hot car, blotting and the odd hand to the face all wear it thin, and in a Waikato summer, the UV is often at its strongest right when that morning layer is at its weakest.
New Zealand's SunSmart advice is to reapply at least every two hours outdoors, and straight after swimming or heavy sweating. Few want to cleanse and redo their foundation this often, however, you don’t have to.
When You Need to Top Up
If you're at a desk away from windows all day, a thorough morning application usually carries you through. Top-ups matter when you head outside between 10am and 4pm from September to April, the period SunSmart flags for sun protection.
School pick-ups, lunchtime laps of Hamilton Lake, Saturday mornings standing on the sidelines and enjoying some rest and relaxation at the beach. These are the times when a top up is needed.
Start With Sunscreen Under Your Makeup
Top-ups only work if there's a base underneath. Apply a dedicated sunscreen before makeup, give it a few minutes to settle, then go in with foundation.
Our Vagheggi sun care range includes an untinted, water-resistant SPF 50+ face cream for this step. Despite the word "tanning" in its name, there's no self-tan in it.
SPF in your foundation is a useful extra, but it can't replace that morning layer, because most of us never wear enough foundation to reach the number on the label. Our SPF makeup range, including Jane Iredale's Skintuition SPF 30 foundation, adds protection on top of your sunscreen.
Using a Sun Stick Over Makeup
A stick is the easiest way to get SPF 50+ back on over makeup. The Vagheggi Transparent Face Sun Stick SPF 50+ has a clear, melting texture, so it doesn't leave a white cast over foundation, and it's water resistant.
Press, don't swipe. Dragging a stick across your cheeks moves foundation around and leaves streaks. Press it onto the high points that catch the most sun: forehead, nose, cheekbones and the tops of your ears. Then pat it in with a clean fingertip.
It's made for lips too, and lips burn more easily than most people expect. At 25ml, it's well suited for being carried in a pocket or bag.
Powder SPF for Office Days and Touch-Ups
If you mostly top up between meetings or before heading out after work, powder is the tidiest option. Powder-Me SPF 30 dry sunscreen is a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen in a refillable brush, available in Translucent or Tanned. It also softens shine, so it doubles as your afternoon touch-up.
Be generous with it. One light dusting won't give you SPF 30, so build it up with several passes over your face. While you're there, run it along the parting in your hair, which burns easily and rarely gets any protection.
Treat powder as a top-up over your morning sunscreen, never as your only protection on a long day outside.
Reapplying Cream Sunscreen on Bare-Face Days
At the beach or the lake, when makeup isn't part of the plan, go back to cream. Reapply it properly every two hours and after every swim.
On a made-up face, you can pat a thin layer of cream over foundation with a clean, damp sponge. It works, but it leaves a dewier finish and takes more care than a stick.
A Simple Routine for a Summer Day
Here's how we suggest putting it together:
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Morning: SPF 50+ cream, a few minutes to settle, then mineral foundation
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Midday outdoors: sun stick pressed over your forehead, nose, cheekbones and lips
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Mid-afternoon: a few passes of powder SPF before you head back out
On the days UV is extreme, add a hat and find some shade. No amount of reapplying makes up for three hours in full sun.
Keep Your Top-Up Kit in Your Bag
Put a sun stick and a powder brush in your handbag for Labour Weekend and top-ups become a 30-second habit instead of a chore. If you're unsure which suits your skin and makeup best, ask us at your next appointment and we'll help you choose.