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, something clicked. The best routine isn’t the most elaborate one. It’s the one you actually do.
That shift, from obligation to intention, changed everything for me. Sun protection stopped feeling like another task and started feeling like part of how I take care of myself, and it’s the belief that guides everything we make at Brush On Block. We design sunscreen to fit real life, not to complicate it.
Why Simple Sun Protection Routines Actually Work
After more than a decade in sun protection, here’s what I know to be true: consistency matters more than perfection.
A simple routine you stick with will always outperform an ideal one you abandon. The research backs this up. Dermatologists consistently find that the biggest gap in sun protection isn’t which SPF people choose; it’s whether they use it at all, and whether they reapply.
Most people apply sunscreen once in the morning (if that) and move on with their day. But sun protection isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation. It wears off, gets touched, rubbed away.
The solution isn’t more willpower. It’s a routine designed around how you actually live.
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A Simple Daily Sun Protection Routine: Start, Refresh, Protect
This is the rhythm I use myself. It’s flexible, forgiving, and built around moments that already exist in the day, not an idealized version of it.
Step 1: Start the Day with a Base Layer
Sheer Genius SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen + Moisturizer
Morning sun protection should be straightforward. One step that does the job and lets you move on.
Sheer Genius is where I start because it combines mineral sun protection with real hydration. There’s no need to layer multiple products or overthink order. I apply it after cleansing and then get on with my day.
It absorbs quickly, works across skin tones, and feels comfortable whether I wear makeup or not. It’s the base layer I rely on to begin the day protected, without friction.
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Step 2: Refresh and Reapply Sunscreen During the Day
Brush On Block Mineral Powder Sunscreen (SPF 30 or SPF 50)
This is the moment most routines miss.
By midday, your morning protection has diminished. You’ve touched your face, your skin has produced oil, and you’ve been in and out of buildings. Reapplication matters, but it has to be realistic.
That’s where the brush comes in. A few quick buffs takes 60 seconds. It works over makeup or bare skin and helps absorb excess oil instead of adding shine. Because it’s easy, it’s something people actually do.
I keep one in my bag, one at my desk, and one in my car – not because I’m perfect, but because accessibility builds consistency. Some days it’s a refresh; some days it’s my primary face coverage. The point is flexibility.
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Step 3: Don’t Forget Your Lips
Sun Shine SPF 30 Protective Lip Oil
Lips are one of the most sun-exposed and least protected areas of the face. The skin there is thinner, more vulnerable, and often overlooked when it comes to daily sun protection.
I used to assume lip balm with SPF was enough, but most wear off quickly. An oil format stays comfortable and encourages reapplication throughout the day.
I reach for it the same way I would any lip product, so no reminders needed. And because it’s an oil rather than a waxy balm, it conditions as it protects.
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How This Sun Protection Routine Fits Real Life
This isn’t a new routine. It’s sun protection that works with what you’re already doing.
If you have a full regimen: Sheer Genius replaces your morning moisturizer. Powder goes on top of whatever you’re wearing. Lip oil replaces the lip product you already carry.
If you’re a minimalist: Sheer Genius can be your entire morning step. Powder for midday. Lip oil when you need it. Done.
If you wear no makeup: Even better. Everything works beautifully on bare skin.
If mornings are chaotic: I get it. Sheer Genius takes thirty seconds and is small enough to be portable if you need to apply on the go. The powder lives in your bag for whenever you get a moment. Remember: progress beats perfection, every time.
If Powder Isn’t Your Thing
Some people want things even simpler and that’s fair.
Our Quick Stick SPF 40 offers direct, no-fuss application. Twist, apply, go. Many people use it in the morning and rely on powder later. Others use it throughout the day.
Different formats. Same idea. Start protected. Refresh when needed.
How to Make a Sun Protection Habit Stick
What’s worked for me:
- Keep it visible: If you don’t see it, you’ll forget it.
- Duplicate strategically: One where you need it beats one you don’t.
- Tie it to habits you already have: Lunch breaks. Water refills. Phone checks.
- Let go of doing it “right”: Doing it at all is what matters.
The Bigger Picture
When I started Brush On Block, my goal was simple: make sunscreen something people actually use, every day. Not a lecture, not a complicated system; just sun protection that fits into real lives.
Sun protection works best when it feels natural, when it’s easy. When it becomes part of how you move through the day instead of something you have to remind yourself to do.
That’s what I hope this routine gives you. Not more steps, just a better way to show up for yourself, consistently, over time.
Ready to build your routine? Our Build Your SPF Bundle lets you choose one product from each step - lotion, powder, and lip protection - with 15% savings applied automatically.
