As we head into the last weeks of summer before school starts, the heat and humidity are certainly not letting up. Nor is the sunshine. I’m a big advocate for sunscreen and SPF all year long, but especially during summer. I’ve had family members suffer from skin cancer, and while it’s been treatable and everyone’s recovered, cancer of any kind is no joke. So, hopefully, everyone is slathering sunscreen on arms, legs, and necks, but are you also taking care of your face?

Typical sunscreen for the body can protect the forehead, cheeks, and chin, but it can also clog pores, cause irritation, and make you appear oily. Instead of a standard sunblock, consider makeup with an SPF (sun protection factor) or tinted sunscreen. Either type of product can cut down on your morning routine with skin protection and makeup application covered in the same step. However, are these cosmetics enough to fully protect your skin?

First, there’s a difference between makeup with SPF and tinted sunscreen. The latter starts as standard sunscreen with the tint added and some other ingredients like mica or hyaluronic acid. If the product is labeled sunscreen, the SPF listed will provide you with that level of protection; the tint is just an add-on. With SPF makeup, it’s the reverse situation. The product starts as a foundation, or powder, etc., and then sun protection ingredients are added. Another big difference between tinted sunblock and makeup with SPF is that while sunscreen ratings follow FDA guidelines, cosmetic products with sunscreen elements are not required to meet the criteria for those same ratings and may not provide the protection you need.

Another cause of concern is application. You might not be putting on enough of either SPF makeup or tinted sunscreen to be effective.

Consider how much sunblock you rub on your body. Now compare that to how much makeup or moisturizer you normally wear? In the summer, I personally tend to use less makeup because of sweating and such. If I’m only using a minimal amount of SPF makeup, then it’s not going to protect my face from harmful UV rays; now it is? I’m pretty sure most makeup-wearing folks are following suit and not applying enough to protect their skin.

Instead of increasing the amount of makeup to protect your face from the sun, try layering sunscreen and SPF products. Start with a face-specific sunblock, like Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, or a combo of lotion with SPF like CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30. For either product type, be sure to cover your full face. Get around the mouth, under the eyes, and don’t forget your neck. Then apply as little or as much tinted sunscreen, like BareMinerals Complexions Rescue, or SPF makeup, such as Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Broad Spectrum foundation, as you feel you need.

But what about the “re-apply sunscreen every two hours” rule? Do you rub sunblock on top of your makeup? Do you cleanse your face completely and redo sunscreen and foundation every two hours? Should you just stay inside all day and binge “Virgin River” episodes on Netflix? That last one is up to you, but the answer for re-applying is to use an SPF powder such as Avene’s mineral tinted compact SPF 50 or a setting spray like Coola’s sunscreen spray, which comes in travel sizes so you can mist yourself while on the go.

And don’t neglect your lips. Balms, chapsticks, and glosses with SPF are widely available. If you want to add a bit of color to your face, check out Fresh Sugar’s tinted lip treatment with SPF 15. If you’re more in the market for simple protection, then Banana Boat’s sport ultra-lip balm has your back (or should I say mouth?).

Protecting your skin from the sun daily is extremely important, and while SPF makeup and tinted products can make you look and feel great on their own, they should not be your sole source of sunscreen. Using a facial sunscreen and SPF cosmetics will give you protection to the places and lengths makeup doesn’t reach.