MY FACE vs. SUNSCREEN:
The battle I finally won
By Lila, former SPF hater, current sun protection evangelist
For years, sunscreen and I were in a toxic relationship. I knew it was good for me. Everyone said so. But every time I let it back into my life, it disappointed me. Breakouts. Shine. That sticky, never-absorbed feeling that made my face look like I’d dipped it in a fry pan. I’d wear it, then regret it. So I stopped. And for a while, I lived recklessly. I told myself my tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 was enough. I took selfies in the sun like fine lines were a myth. I even uttered the cursed words: “I don’t really burn.” But here’s the thing, even if you don’t burn, your barrier remembers. And mine? She was tired.
Why sunscreen felt so… Wrong
I used to think my skin hated sunscreen. What I’ve learned is: my skin hated bad sunscreen. Or more precisely, sunscreen that didn’t get me. Formulas that were too thick. Or too oily. Or too fragrant. Or just sat on top of my skin like a weird, greasy blanket.
My combo skin couldn’t handle it. My acne-prone zones flared up. My makeup slid off. SPF felt like a punishment, not a step in my routine. And honestly? I didn’t know there were better options out there. For years, sunscreen just meant "white cast, breakout, regret."
What finally changed
Spoiler: I didn’t give up on sunscreen, I gave up on bad formulas.
I started paying attention to textures. I looked for SPFs made for the face, not just slapped on from a beach bottle. I found options with jelly-like finishes, invisible protection, zero fragrance, and ingredients my skin actually liked (hello niacinamide, we meet again).
I also changed when and how I applied it:
- Always on clean, hydrated skin
- Let it sit before makeup
- No layering on top of oil-heavy moisturizers in the summer
- And reapplying with a mist or stick that wouldn’t mess everything up
It didn’t just stop feeling annoying : it actually started feeling… good? Like, cool-on-contact, real-protection kind of good.
The glowy plot twist
Once I found an SPF that worked with my skin instead of against it, everything shifted.
My barrier stopped acting up. My skin tone evened out. My makeup sat better. And best of all? I stopped fearing the step that was supposed to protect me.
Sunscreen didn’t become a burden. It became a flex.
Now, I’m the girl that carries an SPF stick in every bag. I reapply at brunch. I mist after pilates. I remind my friends when the UV hits 6. (They’re grateful. Mostly.)
If you’re still fighting your SPF, you haven’t met the right one yet
So if your face and your sunscreen are still at war, don’t quit.
You don’t hate SPF. You hate how it’s been sold to you. You haven’t met the light, breathable, invisible formulas that work with your skin instead of suffocating it.
Find the one that makes your skin feel calm, juicy, protected, and wear it like the barrier-boosting armor it is.
Trust me: you can win this battle.
And the glow you get from protecting your skin every single day?
That’s the best plot twist of all.