Do you have to wash off sunscreen?

Summer sun sunshine. It doesn't matter whether you're at the beach, in the city or at home on your balcony: Summer vacation and sun simply belong together like Bonnie and Clyde. What should not be missing under any circumstances is, right: sunscreen. But do you actually have to wash off sunscreen? The answer is "yes"! In this article we will tell you why it is important to remove sun protection from the skin in the evening and which products are best suited for this purpose.

Photos by cottonbro and Karolina Grabowska

Why is washing off sunscreen important?

The taste of sea salt on your tongue, grains of sand in your hair and sunscreen on your skin - the classic "triad" among summer holiday scenarios. Of course nobody wants to climb into bed with skin tight from salt and the feeling of sand crunching between their toes. So jump into the shower to thoroughly cleanse your body from the remains of the summer day, from hair to toe. Wait a minute, didn't we forget something? However! Facial skin that is sensitive and stressed by the sun in particular needs a special treatment to thoroughly remove the residue of sunscreen applied during the day. want to know how Then read on now.

Sunscreen can be stubborn - and it has to be

The UV filters contained in sun protection are very adhesive and therefore not easy to remove. There is no doubt that sunscreens are so stubborn, after all they are supposed to protect us from harmful UV radiation. The UV filters act like a protective armor for the skin , which can and should be removed as soon as it is no longer necessary. Before we explain how easy it is to wash off sunscreen, let's go into detail about why it's important.

☀️ Sunscreen is essential in summer, no question! But it shouldn't be your only sunscreen. You can find out how else you can protect yourself here: How much sun can my skin tolerate? – 7 sun protection tips.

UV filters and how they work

First, let's take a look at what sunscreen actually consists of. The most important components are the so-called UV filters, i.e. protective filters to ward off harmful UVA and UVB rays . There are two different types of filters: mineral and synthetic.

Mineral UV filters

Mineral sunscreen is based on natural ingredients and UV filters ( zinc and/or titanium dioxide) , which is why we, as advocates of natural cosmetics, clearly recommend this variant. Even if natural sun protection definitely has more advantages than disadvantages, mineral protection filters can have a slightly drying effect . They lie like a protective film on the skin's surface , where they reflect and absorb UV radiation. The sealing of the skin means that it can no longer "breathe" as well.

Therefore, if you tend to get pimples after using sunscreen, thorough cleaning is a must and has a preventive effect against impurities. But even if you don't tend to impure skin, you can do something good for your skin with a thorough cleansing of sunscreen and prepare it for the moisturizing care that follows.

☝️ Don't forget: In summer your skin needs more than just enough sun protection to get through the warm season in the best possible way. Find out everything you need to know about summer skincare.

Synthetic UV filters

In contrast to natural protective filters , sun creams with chemical UV filters do not lie on the skin but are absorbed by it. There, the filters act on the penetrating UV radiation by converting it into heat and releasing it again in the form of infrared radiation.

One of the unpleasant side effects of synthetic filters is that after a few hours they "break down" into their individual components, which can split off harmful substances . You should therefore wash it off your (facial) skin as soon as possible. This also has a preventive effect against allergic reactions.

How the two sun protection filter types work:

Mineral UV filters

• Lying on the skin and not being absorbed.
• Reflect UV radiation.

Synthetic UV filters

• Penetrating into the skin.
• Convert the penetrating UV radiation into heat.

📖​ We have compiled all the important pros and cons of mineral and synthetic sunscreen as well as tips on how to use it for you in this blog post: Natural sunscreen – what to look out for?

So let's recap:

You should wash off sunscreen because...

1. … mineral UV filters can have a drying effect and seal off the skin.
2. ... synthetic UV filters "decompose" and harmful substances can split off.
3. ... you can prevent skin impurities such as pimples and allergic reactions.

What is the best way to wash off sunscreen? ⁠

In summer, when applying sunscreen, it's important not to spill it. But how do you best wash the sunscreen off your face and neck in the evening? Water is not enough , and even washing gel or cleansing milk usually does not manage to thoroughly remove the strongly adhering UV filters (both mineral and synthetic). ⁠The solution is an oil-based cleansing product like our FIVE Make-up Remover . ⁠We will now explain step by step how to use this correctly to remove the last bit of sunscreen from your skin. Ready? Let's go:

It's that easy: Wash off sunscreen step-by-step

1. Apply a generous amount of FIVE make-up remover and massage gently into the skin.
2. Remove the dissolved sunscreen residue with a paper towel.
3. Apply the FIVE make-up remover oil to the face and neck again.
4. Wipe away sunscreen residue with a damp washcloth.
5. Apply plenty of FIVE Face Serum for sufficient hydration.

Tip : Repeat steps 1 to 4 two to three times as needed until your skin feels clean.

The alternative: double cleansing

The double cleansing consists of using an oil-based cleansing product in combination with a washing gel . This method of removing sunscreen from facial skin can be drying, so we only recommend it if you have resilient skin . If you tend to have sensitive skin, you should rather use the 5 steps above.

1. Apply a generous amount of FIVE make-up remover oil .
2. Wipe off sunscreen residue with a paper towel.
3. Massage a mild cleansing gel onto face and neck and wash off thoroughly.
4. Apply plenty of FIVE Face Serum for sufficient hydration.

Conclusion: Yes, wash off sunscreen, but you know how

Do you have to wash off sunscreen? The answer is clearly “yes!” . Here is an overview of the most important dos and don'ts for you, so that you and your skin can get through the summer well:

👎 Going to bed with sunscreen residue on your skin.
👍 ALWAYS wash off sunscreen in the evening.

👎Only use water to wash off.
👍 Use cleaning oils and mild washing gels depending on your skin type.

👎Perform only one cleaning cycle.
👍Repeat the cleaning steps several times until the skin is completely clean.

👎Do not apply care after cleaning.
👍 Pamper the skin with plenty of moisture.

Happy Summer for you and your skin, take good care of yourselves! ⛱️​