For a long time, sunscreen felt like homework. Something I knew I should do. Something I felt guilty skipping. And something that somehow made my mornings harder instead of easier. Apply this first, wait, hope it doesn’t pill under makeup. It felt more like a science experiment than a daily habit.
Eventually, I realized that the best routine isn't the most elaborate one. It's the one you stick with.
That changed how I thought about sun protection. I wanted sunscreen to be a regular part of taking care of my skin, something I could use in the morning and remember to reapply throughout the day. It's also the belief that guides everything we make at Brush On Block.
Why Simple Sun Protection Routines Work
After more than a decade in sun protection, here's what I know to be true. Consistency matters.
You can have a great sunscreen sitting on your bathroom counter, but it can't protect your skin if you forget to apply it. And while morning application is important, remembering to reapply throughout the day is just as important when you're spending time in the sun.
That's where routines help. When sunscreen becomes as familiar as brushing your teeth or reaching for your lip balm, you're more likely to remember it.
You don't need an elaborate skincare regimen to build a good sunscreen habit. You just need products you like using and a few reminders that work for you.
A Simple Daily Sun Protection Routine
This is how I think about my own routine. Start the day protected, keep sunscreen handy for reapplication, remember your lips, and give your skin some attention at night.
Step 1: Start Your Morning with SPF
Brush On Block Mineral Powder Sunscreen (SPF 30 or SPF 50) or Quick Stick SPF 40
Your morning sunscreen doesn't need to replace the skincare products you already love.
If you use a moisturizer or serum, keep using it. Let your skincare products settle, then apply sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare routine, before makeup if you wear it.
Our SPF 30 and SPF 50 Mineral Powder Sunscreens can be used on clean skin or over your usual skincare products. They're broad-spectrum sunscreens designed to provide standalone SPF protection when applied generously and evenly.
Some people prefer a solid sunscreen for their first application. Our Quick Stick SPF 40 is another mineral option for morning coverage, including under makeup.
Choose the format you like and make it part of getting ready. That's a good place to start.
Step 2: Refresh and Reapply Sunscreen During the Day
Brush On Block Mineral Powder Sunscreen (SPF 30 or SPF 50)
This is the step most of us need a little help remembering.
Sunscreen needs to be reapplied approximately every two hours when you're outdoors, and after swimming or sweating according to the product directions. But reapplying isn't always convenient, especially if you're wearing makeup or heading from one activity to another.
That's why I love the powder brush.
Refresh during the day with Brush On Block Mineral Powder Sunscreen in Translucent or Touch of Tan.
Our mineral powder sunscreen goes on over makeup or bare skin, without greasy hands or the need to wash your face and start over. It also helps absorb excess oil, leaving a soft matte finish.
I keep a brush in my bag and another at my desk. When I'm heading outside for lunch or leaving for an afternoon walk, I already have sunscreen nearby.
For full SPF protection, make sure powder is visible in the brush bristles and apply generously, buffing each area in small circles for about 15 seconds. Don't forget your nose, cheeks, forehead, ears, and other exposed areas.
The brush is refillable, too, so you can keep using it when the powder runs out.
Step 3: Don't Forget Your Lips
Sun Shine SPF 30 Protective Lip Oil
Your lips need sun protection, too, and they're easy to overlook when you're applying sunscreen to your face.
I keep our Sun Shine SPF 30 Protective Lip Oil in my bag with my powder brush. It gives my lips mineral SPF protection, a little color, and a comfortable, conditioning finish.
Because I already reach for lip products throughout the day, it's an easy habit to maintain. I just remember to reapply it regularly, especially after eating or drinking.
Finish with Sun Shine SPF 30 Protective Lip Oil for comfortable daily lip protection.
Step 4: Give Your Skin Some Care at Night
Restore Barrier Recovery Oil
At the end of the day, I like to give my skin some attention, too.
After cleansing, I use Restore Barrier Recovery Oil as part of my evening skincare routine. It's made with bakuchiol, omega-rich botanical oils, cica, chamomile, and vitamin C to help support the skin barrier and condition skin.
I warm three to four drops between my hands and gently press the oil into my skin before moisturizer.
Restore isn't a substitute for sunscreen, and it doesn't undo sun damage. It's simply a way to care for your skin after a day outdoors, at work, or wherever the day has taken you.
Protect. Reapply. Restore. A few drops of Barrier Recovery Oil, morning or night, supports your skin barrier and completes your routine.
Make the Routine Your Own
Everyone's skincare routine looks a little different, and that's fine.
If you have an established skincare routine: Keep your favorite cleanser, moisturizer, and other skincare products. Add mineral SPF in the morning and keep a powder brush handy for reapplication.
If you prefer to keep things simple: Start with sunscreen in the morning, use the brush for touchups, and keep SPF lip oil in your bag. Add other skincare products as you need them.
If you wear makeup: Apply sunscreen as part of your morning routine, then use mineral powder to reapply without disturbing your foundation. Our Translucent powder works across skin tones, while Touch of Tan adds a subtle hint of warmth.
If you don't wear makeup: The powder works just as well on bare skin. You can use it for your morning application and throughout the day.
The important thing is finding a routine you'll remember and products you'll enjoy using.
How to Make a Sun Protection Habit Stick
A few things have helped me over the years.
- Keep sunscreen where you'll see it. Put your morning SPF next to your toothbrush or moisturizer so it's part of getting ready.
- Keep an extra brush handy. One in your bag or at your desk means you won't have to go looking for sunscreen when it's time to reapply.
- Connect reapplication to something you already do. Heading out for lunch, taking an afternoon walk, or getting ready for an outdoor activity can all be useful reminders.
- Set a reminder when you need one. A phone alert can help you remember to reapply every two hours when you're spending time outdoors.
And if you forget sometimes, pick up the habit again the next time you head outside. The more often you do it, the more familiar it becomes.
The Bigger Picture
When I started Brush On Block, my goal was to make sunscreen something people would want to use every day.
That goal hasn't changed. We continue to develop mineral sun protection in formats that make sense for different people and different routines.
Maybe you love the powder brush because you can reapply over makeup. Maybe you prefer Quick Stick in the morning. Or maybe having SPF lip oil in your bag is the reminder that helps you think about sun protection throughout the day.
Find what works for you, keep it close, and make sun protection a habit worth keeping.
