Which Face Sunscreen Is Right For Me? - Hannah English
Words & images by Hannah English
About the author: Hannah English is a pharmaceutical scientist with a clinical research background. She is also known for being a beauty writer and content creator who has built a niche within the beauty industry around her passion for making science feel cool, relevant and accessible. 
Finding the right sunscreen is much easier than it used to be. Today’s formulas are created with a pleasant skin feel in mind and made to work with your makeup, not against it. That's exactly what Quick Flick founder Iris Smit did with the Quick Screens. Many, many sunscreen reviews were consulted, including my own! It wouldn’t be the first time my own sunscreen reviews were used to inform product development and marketing copy, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
Iris took each category and complaint into account to create sunscreens that ticked all the boxes, including SPF50+ UVA & UVB Broad Spectrum protection with added defence from the effects of High-Energy Visible (blue) light. Contrary to popular belief, the blue light your skin needs to worry about comes from the sun, not your screens. Your screens just don’t put out enough energy for that, so scroll away!
Now that you’re in a good mood, here's the lowdown on which Quick Screen is right for you (spoiler alert: you’ll want both).
As the last step of your morning skincare routine, and to reapply throughout the day:
You’ll want Quick Screen SPF50+ Prep Moisturiser with Blue Light Defence. It’s a 4-in-1 sunscreen, moisturiser, primer and blue light protector. Your blue light protection comes from hydrating gluconolactone and tomato extract, which is rich in lycopene.
If you’re wearing makeup, it gives you a satiny, hydrated base with some grip to stay flawless all day. If you’re not wearing makeup, it gives your skin a blurred, moisturised look. These effects are thanks to silica – a smoothing, oil-absorbing ingredient.
Because sunscreen is the last step of your skincare routine, apply over moisturiser or instead of moisturiser. You can skip the primer step and have faith that your makeup is locked in place, too!
Remember to apply ½ teaspoon or about 2.5mL to face, neck and ears – that’s the correct amount to make sure you’re getting the full SPF50+ protection.
Above: Hannah wears Quick Screen SPF50+ Prep Lotion under her makeup. Shop here.
For reapplication over makeup or on the go:
If you're reapplying over makeup (every 2-4 hours, please) you'll want the Quick Screen SPF50+ Set Finishing Spray with Blue Light Defence. We know it’s hard to remember and we know it can be quite an involved process, so we created the spray to go on quickly and easily over makeup without clogging pores. Think glowy, not greasy. It even helps to set and smooth your makeup, with (you guessed it) silica! So your look will stay fresh for longer.
Spray sunscreens are challenging because you do still need to apply the ½ teaspoon to face, neck and ears, but the mist can end up in the air, too, or in your hair, etc. That’s why it was designed as more of a top-up. If used this way, focus on oily areas (T-Zone for me!) and areas that you touch your face (for me, that’s the jawline). These spots are where coverage and protection get patchy throughout the day.
½ teaspoon is about 12 spritzes of Quick Screen SPF50+ Set Finishing Spray. If used alone, apply 12 spritzes and add a couple more for good measure. You could get a friend to spritz it for you, too, so that most of it ends up on your face – it’s hard to aim with your eyes closed! And don’t forget your chest if that’s visible. The sun certainly won’t.
Above: Hannah uses Quick Screen SPF50+ Set Spray. Shop here.
Now that you’re stocked up with a sunscreen for all your makeup-compatible needs, I have one last reassuring fact for you. Neither sunscreen will cause a flashback when you’re photographed. In fact, flashback from sunscreen is a myth! The more you know. Happy sunscreening!
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
