Do you need different sunscreen for your face and body? Here's what experts have to say

Anybody with even a vague interest in skincare knows how important sun protection is. Not only does it keep visible signs of ageing, like pigmentation, at bay, it also significantly reduces our risk of developing skin cancer caused by UV exposure. But with so many voices in the skincare space, it may feel hard to know who to trust on the "rules" of sun protection – from what factor to use to if you need different sunscreen for your face and body.

As it's so crucial to apply sunscreen to any areas of exposed skin, you've likely wondered if can (and should) use the same SPF formula on both your face and body, or if you need different formulas and/or factors for your body formula and best facial sunscreen options. To clear the fog, we asked dermatologists and skin experts for their expert insights on the matter. Here's what they had to say...

Should you use different sunscreen on the body and face? Skin experts explain

Can you use body sunscreen on your face?

Your choice of formula is mostly down to personal preference, confirms cosmetic physician Dr Emmaline Ashley. In other words, if you find a high-performing sunscreen that you get on with, stick with it. However, not all sunscreens are suitable for application anywhere on the body – most body formulas are too heavy for facial skin, particularly for breakout-prone and oily complexions.

"Body formulations can be thicker and more hydrating to cover larger areas," says Dr Raquel Amado, director and medical practitioner at Dr Raquel Skin and Medical Cosmetics. This means they are usually formulated differently and likely won’t be appropriate for the more delicate facial skin.

As such, Dr Catriona Maybury, consultant dermatologist and Dermatica's medical director, advises "making sure your sunscreen is designed to be used on the face. Body sunscreens often have a thicker texture, or are heavily fragranced, which could be comedogenic [pore clogging]."

Many modern facial formulas have been designed with certain skin types in mind – such as the best sunscreens for sensitive skin – and contain ingredients to complement your wider skincare routine. Look out for things like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide and vitamin C derivatives. While there's no real reason why a facial sunscreen couldn't be used on the body, because these formulas tend to be more specialised it would be more expensive to use them up in large quantities on the body. Not to mention that you'd get through the smaller bottles super quickly!

Should you use different SPF ratings on your face and body?

While it’s true that the skin on our faces is slightly more delicate and generally gets more daily sun exposure, it’s always best to use a high factor on any skin not covered by clothes to ensure it's as protected as possible – regardless of the area of the body. This is especially true when holidaying somewhere hot where UV is higher and you are likely to have more skin exposed.

"As long as SPF is broad spectrum and SPF 50+, use whatever sunscreen you will be happy to use every single day," confirms Dr Emmaline. Check that both of your chosen formulas offer UVB and UVA protection (usually confirmed through the term "broad spectrum") to cover all bases. UVB causes sunburn, while UVA causes skin ageing, but both can cause the damage that leads to skin cancer.

For body formulas, it's sensible to apply water-resistant for a beach holiday, but do remember to re-apply after any time you have been for a swim or got very sweaty. These SPFs still break down in water, gradually becoming less effective and usually lasting no longer than 40 minutes (or 80 minutes in the case of "very water-resistant") while swimming. Always reapply once you're out of the sea or pool.

So while you can potentially get away with using the same sun care product on your body and face, it’s usually advisable to use a dedicated formula for these two areas. Just make sure you are opting for SPF 50 ideally for both areas, or at the very least a minimum of SPF 30. Here are a few of our team's favourite body sunscreens, too, so you can stock up for the rest of summer.