The One Mistake You’re Probably Making With Your SPF Every Day

Yay! You've picked up a healthy SPF habit. But are you remembering to reapply? Here, we tell you why reapplication matters and how to make it part of your routine.

We're tackling the big questions like why do you need to reapply sunscreen? How often do you need to reapply? How can you get in the habit of reapplying? And what's the easiest way to reapply, especially when you have makeup on?

So here’s the deal… Any type of sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly. This is because sunscreens wear off throughout the day and some can be broken down by the sun’s rays.

Because of this, it's important to reapply at least every two hours, or immediately after toweling off or being in water. Speaking of water, if you're spending time in the pool or ocean (or working up a sweat during any type of physical activity), you should use a water- and sweat-resistant sunscreen and apply as often as it says on the pack, which is usually every 40 or 80 minutes. 

How to reapply your sunscreen is entirely based on personal preference and the situation you’re in.

When we’re at the beach, we love applying and reapplying PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 on our face and body. It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, smells good and is fast-absorbing. You can also reapply with PLAY Antioxidant Body Mist SPF 50, which is super fast and easy, and can be applied to wet skin – just be sure you spray generously and evenly, so that your skin glistens afterwards.

For everyday reapplication, we’re all about these makeup-setting superstars with SPF: Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 and (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35. If you're for a mess-free, travel-friendly way to reapply, Unseen Sunscreen Stick is the way to go. It's completely invisible, glides on easily, and even helps reduce oil and shine. If you're looking for reapplying SPF and setting your makeup, then our (Re)setting Powder is your pick. It's formulated with mineral SPF, is recommended for all skin types (even sensitive skin!) and it’s available in four flexible shades!

An easy way to remember to reapply is to set reminders on your phone that go off at least every two hours. If you’re not an alarm type of person, then we also recommend pairing SPF reapplication with activities that are already on your daily agenda…a mid-morning meeting, running out to get lunch or grabbing an afternoon coffee.

We also like to keep SPF nearby at all times, like in our bathroom vanity, handbag or desk drawer. After all, one of the main goals at Supergoop! is to create sunscreen products that make it easy and fun to use all the time and at any point in your routine. “We’re a very solution-oriented brand and are very proud of the ways in which we deliver SPF so that everyone, no matter your skin type or tone or daily activity, can build an SPF wardrobe that is right for them,” says our founder, Holly Thaggard.

The good news: No matter how you choose to remind yourself to reapply, it doesn't take long to form a habit…so you’ll be on the road to SPF success in no time!