Comments on: How Much Sunscreen Do You Need For Your Face?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 02:15:47 +0000

In reply to Berthie Mayers. It's standard practice to estimate the surface area of an irregular object by subdividing it into small 2D areas.

By: Berthie Mayers

Berthie Mayers — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 02:01:10 +0000

Ummm, you forget that the face is not flat, which is what your measurements are based on and hence incorrect

By: Eesha

Eesha — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 19:58:45 +0000

Woop! I just used this method for my face, but used strips of paper towel that I made wet (to stick to my face) instead. Being aware that the paper towel expands when wet, I did two measurements – one a simple calculation based on the area of the strips when dry, and one a direct measurement after laying the wet paper towel strips down after covering my face.

Dry measurement: 327.6 cm^2
Wet measurement: 351.36 cm^2

Based on these measurements, it looks like for my face alone, 1/8 teaspoon is enough for me, since my face is half the surface area that would require a 1/4 teaspoon to get the recommended thickness! (and that’s good to know, since I use more expensive sunscreen on my face, and then less expensive sunscreen with whitecast on my neck, décolletage, and body)

Thank you, this was a fun (and money-saving) way to spend a Saturday afternoon

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:24:58 +0000

Hi Michelle!
Wow, this was really cool. Thanks for taking the time to calculate it out, particularly for the comparison to 1/4 teaspoon. I definitely apply more than that and I think our faces are similar in size. It’s nice having this as a reference point as I rarely, if ever, actually measure out a quarter teaspoon. Perhaps I’ll be able to cut down on some of the grease now!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:50:15 +0000

In reply to Miranda. Hahaha! Measuring sunscreen is always a bit scary - it's always more than you think you need!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 22:51:18 +0000

In reply to Michelle. Today is the day I measure my sunscreen! Only a month later...

By: Céline

Céline — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 21:37:34 +0000

In reply to Jen.

Hello Jen, I do exactly the same, I use a damp sponge to gently pat my B.B. cream on top of the sunscreen after about 15min. I hope it’s a good thing we’re doing here?
We could use an advice from Michelle here…

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:53:20 +0000

Hi Michelle, thanks so much for this video 🙂 I love posts in which people measure their face and calculate how much sunscreen to use, they’re weirdly satisfying. Anyway, I was wondering if it’s OK to use a damp beauty blender (or sponge) to apply my foundation after sunscreen? I’m wondering if the water on the sponge can mess up the sunscreen somehow? I do wait ~10 minutes after applying SPF to do my makeup btw.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 23:58:21 +0000

In reply to Ally McBeagle.

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Your face may be larger than mine so keep that in mind 😉

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 23:56:37 +0000

In reply to Cate. Your skin must've felt fantastically protected!