How to remove mineral sunscreen from your face

How to wash your face

1. 1Choose a gentle, nonabrasive cleanser without alcohol. Avoid heavily fragranced products, and test a new product before using it on your face.
2. 2Wet your face with lukewarm water. Mix a small amount of cleanser with water and apply it gently with your fingertips.
3. 3Wash with your hands, not a washcloth, mesh sponge or cleansing brush. Do not scrub your skin to speed up removal.
4. 4Rinse with lukewarm water, then pat dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing.
5. 5Follow cleansing with moisturizer, particularly if your skin feels dry or itchy. Apply cream gently around your eyes without pulling the skin.

Make this your evening wash rather than adding a separate sunscreen removal session. Limit face washing to twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, plus washing after heavy sweating. Cleansing is the first step of the evening routine, not an audition for a bigger skincare collection.12

Do you need to double cleanse?

Do not make two washes the automatic rule. General cleansing guidance favors washing once at each session and warns that double cleansing can do more harm than good. A single gentle wash is the starting point, not a promise that every mineral sunscreen formula will come off equally easily. Avoid adding an exfoliant or abrasive tool just to make the cleanse more intensive.2

What if your skin is sensitive?

Introduce as few new products as possible and avoid heavy fragrance. If a product causes irritation or contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin reaction, stop using it and make an appointment with a dermatologist. More washing is not the next step when cleansing is already irritating your skin.2

If you have rosacea, use a mild cleanser rather than soap and choose fragrance free products instead of products labeled unscented. Gently wash and rinse with your fingertips, removing the cleanser thoroughly because residue can irritate your skin. Avoid rubbing, scrubbing, massaging and exfoliating. Let your face dry before applying moisturizer to reduce burning or stinging. If you use medication for rosacea, apply that before moisturizer. Ask your dermatologist for product suggestions if finding a tolerable cleanser is difficult.3

What happens the next morning?

Apply sunscreen after washing and moisturizing, before makeup. Let the sunscreen dry for a few minutes before applying makeup so you do not undermine its protection. Sunscreen belongs at the end of the morning skincare routine, so removing it at night does not require rebuilding the morning in reverse.24