Popsugar Beauty Skin Care Do I Need Sunscreen Under My Protective Face Mask? Yes, You Should Still Be Wearing SPF Under Your Protective Face Mask — Here's Why 6 May 2020 by Danielle Jackson Image Source: Getty / Sirinapa Wannapat / EyeEm As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. In the few months since COVID-19 hit the US, we've found ourselves adjusting to a handful of new routines, one of which is the recommendation that everyone wear protective face masks while out in public to stop the spread of the virus. The logistics of what to do and what not to do while wearing one, though, might be confusing. For example, if you're wondering whether applying sunscreen is a necessary skin-care step to take when you're covering half of your face up, you're not alone. The answer to that question, put simply: yes, you should. "I always recommend wearing full coverage SPF and to reapply often, even when wearing a protective face mask," board certified dermatologist Shari Sperling, MD, told POPSUGAR. "Although these masks cover a portion of the face, you should still wear SPF to ensure protection from harmful UV rays." In some way, this is similar to the question of whether or not you should still be wearing SPF indoors with less exposure to the sun, but you should be wearing sunscreen then too. Just like wearing makeup or staying inside won't protect you from UV rays, wearing a protective face mask doesn't provide you with any extra protection either since they can only cover about half of your face. Shop a few of our favourite sunscreens ahead. Murad Resurgence Age–Balancing Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Image Source: sephora.com Murad Resurgence Age–Balancing Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($74) Murad Resurgence Age–Balancing Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 $74 from sephora.com Buy Now Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 30+ Image Source: dermstore.com Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 30+ ($44) Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Hydrating Moisturiser SPF 30+ $44 from dermstore.com Buy Now Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 Image Source: sephora.com Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 ($34) Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 $34 from sephora.com Buy Now Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 Moisturiser Image Source: sephora.com Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 Moisturiser ($75) Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 Moisturiser $75 from sephora.com Buy Now EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 Image Source: dermstore.com EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 ($29) EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 $29 from dermstore.com Buy Now Skin CareSunscreenSPF