Do I need to remove makeup after applying sunscreen?

The topic of sunscreen makeup removal has always been a long-standing myth for many people. In Asia, most people still do double cleansing: first use makeup remover to remove sunscreen, especially waterproof sunscreen, and then use ordinary facial cleanser to clean. The concept of double cleansing comes from Japan because many people are worried that if the sunscreen is not removed thoroughly for a long time, it will cause rough skin, acne and other problems. So does the residual sunscreen really cause these skin problems? Do you need to remove sunscreen makeup? This question is indeed difficult to explain clearly with a yes or no, but I think most people do not need to remove makeup.

First of all, it is unnecessary to worry that a little bit of sunscreen residue will cause skin problems. A small amount of sunscreen ingredients, metal oxides such as zinc oxide, or organic sunscreens such as avobenzone, will remain in the epidermis. Facial cleansers and even facial cleansing tools can never completely wash away the residue in the stratum corneum or below. If they can be washed away, the face will probably be rotten... Besides, many products have sunscreen ingredients. Estee Lauder's Little Brown Bottle has sunscreen added to stabilize the antioxidant ingredients. Many creams or eye creams also add a small amount of titanium dioxide to give the skin a lightly covered, radiant effect. So the idea that a little bit of sunscreen residue will cause "stress" to the skin is completely untrue.

Whether you need to remove sunscreen makeup depends on the individual. When deciding whether you need to remove makeup, you need to consider the following main factors:

1. The waterproof strength of the sunscreen. Needless to say, the more waterproof the sunscreen, the harder it is to clean.

2. How long should you wear sunscreen? The water-resistant ingredients in sunscreen—mostly polymeric film-formers—degrade over time due to attacks by UV rays, moisture from air, and oxygen radicals.

3. Cleanser strength or formula. If formulated (emulsified) correctly, some mild cleansers can also have good ability to clean waterproof ingredients.

4. What other skin care/makeup products are you using? If you use primer, cream, or powder before using sunscreen, it may help or make it more difficult to clean.

5. Skin oiliness. If you have oily skin, you should understand the meaning of "makeup removal", and if you only use sunscreen, it means "sunscreen removal".

6. How much sweat you produce.

After considering these six factors, you can decide whether you need to remove your makeup and waterproof sunscreen. If you don't have very oily skin, use a very strong waterproof sunscreen, need to wash your face after only one or two hours, the cleanser is transparent gel and the cleaning ability is not very strong (such as Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser), stay indoors without sweating, and put on a layer of powder, then you may need to remove your makeup. Although I use an extremely waterproof sunscreen, my face is very oily, plus the air humidity in Florida is high, the UV rays are very strong, and I choose the right cleanser, so the sunscreen can be completely washed away every day.

Removing makeup every day may remove too much natural lipids on the skin, which may damage the skin barrier and lead to problems such as increased TWEL values. It is necessary to choose a suitable sunscreen according to your living habits and region. Instead of removing makeup, you can consider using a facial cleanser to wash your face twice in a row, gently rubbing your face in circles for about 20 seconds each time before rinsing it off. This can generally ensure that waterproof sunscreen and even waterproof makeup are cleaned.