BY DANIELLE SINAY
Now that summer is (finally) just around the corner, beauty lovers are frantically searching: Should I wear makeup to the beach? And, more important, if I do, will my skin be okay?
Thankfully, we're pleased to report that unlike working out with makeup on, dermatologists aren't completely opposed to wearing makeup to the beach: “Ultimately, wearing makeup to the beach or when outdoors in the heat comes down to personal preference,” Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s MDCS Dermatology, tells Glamour.
That said, there are best skin care practices when it comes to any hot and sweaty outdoor activity, as well as several lightweight and sunshine-friendly products you can try. “It is important to look for lightweight formulations that won’t feel heavy or clog the pores, especially for those who have oily skin or are acne-prone,” Dr. Garshick says.
Ahead, see the two most essential beach-day beauty rules to follow, so next time you're wondering, Should I wear makeup to the beach?, you know exactly how to go about it—and which products to stock up on ahead of time.
Long-lasting & water-resistant SPF
The first rule of beach-day beauty? Adequate SPF, of course—which your daily foundation might not already have. “Conventional makeup, without water-resistance properties, won't necessarily hold up in the water,” says Ryan Turner, MD, a board-certified New York City dermatologist and co-founder of TRNR Skin. “So even if it has SPF, you are quickly going to find yourself overexposed to ultraviolet light.”
Even if you don't go in the water, your go-to makeup still might not provide adequate sun protection. “The current recommendations and guidelines are to wear a minimum of SPF 30, yet I encourage the use of SPF 50+ to account for the fact that the average person does not use the recommended amount to attain the sunscreen label rating,” says Dr. Turner. “That little difference in protection adds up after long hours on the beach, day after day, year after year.”
Also of note? Which ingredients your go-to products do contain. “Some foundations may include other ingredients like salicylic acid to help with oil or acne, but it is important to remember that this can make you more sensitive in the sun,” Dr. Garshick points out. So be sure to skip the salicylic acid before and after beach day.
That's all to say: “Of course we want to look our best at the beach and appear snatched in photos, but the primary goal is sun protection at the beach,” Dr. Turner reiterates. “A broad-spectrum, water-resistant, tinted sunscreen is optimal.”
Dr. Turner's preferred water-resistant tinted sunscreens include EltaMD UV AOX Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 50, EltaMD UV Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen, and Isdin Eryfotona Ageless Ultralight Tinted Sunscreen.
Lightweight & breathable formulations
Mixing heat, sweat, and heavy makeup can and often does lead to clogged pores and breakouts, which is why, according to Dr. Garshick, “it's important to look for lightweight formulations that are oil-free and noncomedogenic so they won’t clog the pores. Tinted sunscreens and moisturizers with SPF can be a great way to provide natural and lightweight cosmetic coverage while still ensuring protection from the sun.” And since so many of them contain SPF, it's a win-win.
Dr. Garshick's recommendations? Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF40 and Neutrogena PureScreen Mineral UV Tint Liquid Sunscreen. You can also consider makeup primers with SPF, like Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer With SPF 50.
Celebrity makeup artist Natalie Dresher says the same regarding the importance of lightweight formulas. “Make sure your makeup is light, breathable, and SPF-heavy to avoid harming your skin on your beach day,” she says. “Just make sure to double cleanse at night and follow up with a hydrating product right before bed!”
Some of her must-have makeup products for the beach? “Naturium DewGlow Moisturizer has an SPF of 50, and is so dewy and beautiful it's one of my favorites right now for outdoor wear,” she says. “I love layering that with the tarte BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, which has a tint and really good coverage for a BB cream.”
Finally, if you don’t want to bother with layering SPF and makeup, “Cover FX has a really revolutionary product called SPF booster drops,” Dresher says. “You can mix a bit into your makeup and turn anything into a tinted SPF!”
Setting powder
As for how to ensure your makeup of choice stays on, should you go in the water? “Waterproofing products as much as possible with a little bit of powder goes a long way,” says Dresher. “I keep a powder foundation on me during beach days if I’m going full glam; a pressed powder foundation that is always in my beach bag is the MAC StudioFix Powder Plus Foundation. Layering cream and powder products is the best way to ensure longevity and endurance.”
For a double-duty product, consider setting with an SPF-spiked powder like those by Colorescience. “Their powders are by far my favorite to help set makeup,” says Dr. Turner. “They offer an easy way to touch up makeup, get SPF, and [are] water-resistant and sweat-resistant.”
If your base product already contains enough SPF, consider BareMinerals' cult-favorite Mineral Veil Setting Powder Broad Spectrum, which has SPF 25.
Setting spray
In terms of setting spray, Dresher and Glamour editors recommend One/Size by Patrick Starrr On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray. “It really makes makeup resilient,” she says. “An alternative for more sensitive skin types is MAC Prep + Prime Fix, which also does a really good job at making makeup last in the heat and pool. It also feels really refreshing in the heat.”
They make SPF-spiked versions of setting spray too. “Supergoop (Re) Setting Spray provides SPF 40 broad-spectrum protection, and leaves behind a matte finish,” says Dr. Garshick. “This SPF mist works to set makeup but also to help reapply SPF throughout the day. It also contains optical-diffusing silica silylate which helps to absorb excess oil.”
How often to reapply SPF at the beach
“It is is okay to wear makeup to the beach, but it is important to remember to reapply,” Dr. Garshick concludes.
As for how often to do that? “Remember to reapply per the sunscreen label recommendation or at least every two hours,” says Dr. Turner. “However, if you are swimming, have a high level of physical activity with sweating, or you are sitting directly in the sun, it will require sooner reapplication—about 30 to 40 minutes.”
