Sunscreen is an essential part of any skin care regimen, for people of every age, gender, and skin color. Applying sunscreen daily helps protect your skin from sun damage that can contribute to visible signs of premature aging and cause skin cancer.

But when you combine sunscreen with other skin care products, like moisturizer — something else to consider using on a regular basis — the order of application does make a difference. 

Here's why this order matters, plus a few tips for maximizing the impact of sunscreen in your daily skin care routine.

You should apply chemical sunscreen before moisturizer and mineral sunscreen after moisturizer.

You can tell which kind of sunscreen you have based on its ingredients: Mineral sunscreen, also called physical sunscreen or sunblock, will contain the minerals zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreen contains chemical ingredients, such as avobenzone, octinoxate, and oxybenzone.

Chemical and mineral sunscreens protect your skin in different ways.

This type of sunscreen works by absorbing damaging UV rays from the sun before they can harm your skin. Its active ingredients absorb the UV rays and turn them into heat.

In order for chemical sunscreen to work effectively, you need to rub it into your skin and give your skin time to absorb it. That's why you should apply it before using moisturizer. 

Important: After applying chemical sunscreen, you should wait 15 minutes before going out into the sun. This type of sunscreen can't protect you until your skin has fully absorbed it.

Mineral sunscreen will contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These minerals act as a shield that blocks the sun's rays from damaging your skin. 

Since mineral sunscreen needs to sit on top of your skin in order to block UV rays, you should apply it as the last step in your skin care routine. In other words, you'll apply it after any moisturizer you use.

Any skin care products you use as part of your facial cleansing routine — like toners or serums — go on before either type of sunscreen. 

Dr. Alpana Mohta, a dermatologist and board member of Better Goods, suggests applying products in this order:

1. Skin care actives like serums 2. Toner 3. Chemical sunscreen, if using this type 4. Moisturizer, eye creams, and topical treatments 5. Mineral sunscreen, if using this type 6. Makeup, like foundation 

After applying a product, you'll generally want to wait at least 2 minutes before applying the next product in your regimen, Mohta says. 

Mohta also recommends waiting for 3-5 minutes to put on makeup after you apply your mineral sunscreen. This is because makeup can act as a barrier and prevent sunscreen from fully protecting your skin.

Some facial moisturizers and makeup products contain sun protection factor — known as SPF — so they may help prevent some sun damage. However, these products often have a lower SPF than sunscreen, so you'll also want to apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30, says Dr. Alain Michon, Medical Director at the Ottawa Skin Clinic.

Medical term: SPF, or sun protection factor, measures how effectively a sunscreen or other skin care product blocks radiation from the sun. 

When choosing a sunscreen for your face, you have plenty of options. These expert-recommended tips can help you choose the most effective protection and the best sunscreen for your skin type. 

Our guides to the best sunscreens and tinted sunscreens have options for every skin tone and type to provide you with UV protection.

Applying sunscreen during your morning skin care routine, as well as throughout the day, will help protect you from harmful radiation that can cause skin cancer. 

If you prefer chemical sunscreen, make sure to apply it before moisturizer or other skin care products. Use mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, as a top layer — apply it as the last part of your skin care regimen. 

With so many sunscreen options on the market, you'll more than likely have plenty to choose from, no matter your unique skin care needs — but whatever type you choose, you'll want to make sure it has an SPF of 30 or above and offers broad spectrum protection. 

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