While we know we should be applying sunscreen with high SPF every. single. day. it’s hard not to get put off by the white sheen it leaves. Enter: SPF cocktailing.
Like most things these days, this beauty trend began on TikTok and sees people mixing their favourite SPF with another product like foundation or concealer and applying this as a “cocktail” onto their skin.
One video in particular, posted by @paintedbyspencer, has been viewed over 2 million times and sees the creator mixing concealer into their sunscreen to get rid of the white sheen.
“I prefer this method of adding in a TINY amount of a deeper-tone pigment rather than a pigment that’s closer to my skintone, such as foundation, which would require more product to achieve this effect and in return, further dilute the sunscreen,” he wrote in the caption.
The video received over 85,000 likes with people saying “it works” and “I trust him” in the comments.
TikTok content
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While the idea sounds good in theory (hey, anything to save time in the mornings is music to our ears), one expert has warned that it can actually be pretty dangerous.
“You should never mix anything into your sunscreen as sunscreens are very carefully formulated to ensure they make a strong film over your skin to provide optimal protection,” Daniel Isaacs, Director of Research at Medik8, says.
“Mixing anything else in can impact the film forming and the way the sunscreen adheres to the skin, which can negatively impact SPF levels. This can leave your skin unprotected from the sun, leaving your skin vulnerable to burning and the ageing effects of the sun on skin.”
This is why sunscreen should always be applied first, before any makeup, and properly rubbed into the skin and absorbed before carrying on with any makeup routine.
SPF should be applied again 20 minutes before going outside, and the every two hours after that.
“We recommend applying sunscreen as the last step in your skincare regime and letting it dry down completely before applying makeup over the top,” Isaacs adds.
Another TikTok account, Dr Sam’s Skincare, also advised against SPF cocktailing as it can dilute the sunscreen.
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
“There’s only one cocktail I don’t like and that’s a SPF cocktail,” she says. “This is an annoying habit of taking a perfectly good sunscreen and mixing it with something ludicrous like a serum or your foundation.
“Sunscreen is like a shot, designed to be taken straight up, and not diluted, for maximum impact.”
Exposure to sun is the leading cause of skin cancer and the best way to prevent it is by wearing an SPF sunscreen of 30 or higher when you are outside. So I think we can spare a few minutes to let our sunscreen soak in before carrying on with our days. We like espresso martinis better anyway.