SPF in moisturisers doesn't protect skin fully from sun, study warns

A moisturiser with SPF won’t provide you with the same protection as a sun cream, experts claim

Young women aged 18 to 25 said harassment, criticism of their bodies and men ogling them were their biggest obstacles to topless sunbathing (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Using a moisturiser with SPF won’t be enough to protect your skin against sun damage this summer, a revealing new study has warned.

Many people may assume that applying a moisturiser with an SPF of 30 will provide their faces with adequate protection throughout the day from the sun’s rays as temperatures rise.

However, researchers from the University of Liverpool have stated only sun cream is recommended when spending long periods of time in the sun due to lack of thorough application.

The team carried out a study in which they asked a group of participants to apply sun cream to their faces on the first day of testing, and then to apply moisturiser with SPF on another day.

The researchers then took photographs of their faces on both days, using a specially modified camera that's able to see UV light.

The darker the skin on their faces appeared in the photographs, the greater the level of protection.

The team concluded that the participants covered 89 per cent of their faces when applying sun cream, and only 84 per cent of their faces when applying moisturiser.

Moisturiser with SPF won't provide your skin with as much as protection as sun cream, experts have warned (British Association of Dermatologists/University of Liverpool)

Furthermore, the images where the participants used sun cream appeared darker, implying that people are more likely to apply sun cream more thickly than moisturiser, which will consequently provide their skin with a stronger defence from the sun.

The findings were presented at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday 3 July.

Austin McCormick, a member of the research team and an consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon, explained why moisturiser with SPF shouldn’t be seen as a suitable alternative to sun cream.

“Although skin moisturiser with SPF does provide sun protection, our research suggests that it’s not the same degree as sunscreen,” he said.

“We do not recommend moisturisers and makeup that contain UV protection - it is better than no protection at all, but for prolonged periods in the sun we recommend the application of sunscreen with high SPF.”

Matthew Gass of the British Association of Dermatologists also emphasised the importance of using effective suncare products.

“Unfortunately, moisturiser with SPF just doesn’t perform particularly well in real world situations compared to sunscreen,” he said.

“Although it may say factor 30 on the box, this study is just further evidence that lab testing conditions for these products don’t reflect how they are used.

“Another important thing to take away from this research is that people often miss areas of their face when applying sun protection, a good way to prevent this from becoming an issue to wear sunglasses and reapply sunscreen regularly,” he continued.

“This should help protect the bits you miss from being exposed to excessive sun."