Everyone wants healthy skin but many products in the markets make you confused. You often wonder if your skincare routine is incomplete or if you are using the right products.  You mostly consider many products the same and your major blunder is to mix up sunscreen with day cream. Are they both similar?

This confusion leads to ineffective care for your skin therefore you must know the difference between day cream and sunscreen. ​Both are very useful, if you skip any one of them you might not get good results. You can use both products to keep your face healthy, hydrated and protected all day.

In this blog, I will define what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen. I will cover their main differences, how they work and why should you use both every day. If you want more about it stay tuned with me! 

Find out what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen

You can find the main difference between day cream and sun cream by their definitions.

What is Day Cream? 

Day cream is a moisturizing skin care product that you apply during the day. The main purpose of this product is to protect your skin from outside forces like smog or dust and keep you hydrated and soft all day. 

Cerave Skin Renewing Day Cream Spf 30 50g is made to protect and refresh your face all day. it is formulated by Ceramides are substances and hyaluronic acid. It protects our skin from the sun rays, dark spots and premature aging.

What is Sunscreen? 

Sunscreen is a skin care product that shields your skin from the sun's dangerous UV rays. It keeps your skin safe from getting sunburned, damaged and long-term problems like skin cancer and early aging.  

CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 for Face & Body  This sunscreen is a mineral-chemical blend that is light and can be used on the face and body. It was made by doctors and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It is formulated by combining zinc oxide and chemical sunscreens. It is great for daily use because it keeps your skin safe and soft all day.

Key Differences Between Day Cream and Sunscreen 

After understanding what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen by definition, you can also understand well their differences while looking into their purposes and formulation.  

● Purposes

Day cream and sunscreen are different in how they are made and what they are used for. Let's look first at their functions.  

Day Cream

A day cream is a type of skin care product that is mostly used during the day to keep the skin hydrated and protected. It keeps the skin healthy and has extra benefits like slowing down the aging process and make your skin bright and glowing.

Cetaphil Pro Redness Prone Moisturising Day Cream Tinted SPF 30 It has mineral screens that protect with SPF 30. This colored solution helps out the tone of your face right away and also makes redness look less noticeable.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is made to protect the skin from UV rays. These UV rays can cause skin damage. The main function of this sunscreen is to protect against sunburn, skin damage, early aging and skin cancer that are caused by UV rays. 

Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60+  It was made by doctors and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It is formulated by combining zinc oxide and chemical sunscreens. It is great for daily use because it keeps your skin safe and soft all day.

● Protection

Now you understand what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen by their functions, but most people misunderstand these products in regards to protection.

Day Cream

Some day creams have SPF in them to protect you from the sun but the amounts are not as high as in sunscreens. This safes you for short-term activities like going for a walk outside. A day cream is used to hydrate the skin but SPF is just an added in it just as a bonus. It works best for daily use inside and outside for short periods in the sun. 

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is specially made to protect you from the sun's dangerous rays in a better and more complete way. Sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays because they have better SPF numbers and broad-spectrum coverage. Sunscreen is important for long-term outdoor activities like traveling, spending the day at the beach or even just going outside for a long time. It keeps your skin from getting sunburned and damaged over time.

Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 This oil-free sunscreen keeps you safe from sun damage. It is my because it is light and absorbs quickly and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. So it is easy to keep your family busy while protecting their skin from the tough summer weather. 

● Formulation

Now learn what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen by their formulation aspects.  

Day Cream

There are different kinds of day creams for different skin types and issues. They come in different forms, like creams, lotions, gels and serums. They usually have vitamins, hydrating ingredients, and other skin care activities that are safe to use during the day.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens come in a variety of forms, including creams, lotions, sprays, and sticks. They are all made to protect you from the sun. They have chemical UV filters, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or other ingredients that block or scatter UV rays. 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ It is the best to protect yourself from the sun. Its light formula fights against natural factors like the sun, cold and smog

Benefits of Day Cream and Sunscreen for your skincare routine

Now you understand what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen but now learn about its benefits. You can keep your skin moist and healthy with day cream, but sunscreen is what you need to protect it from the sun's dangerous rays. The two products are useful for different reasons and work well together in a skincare practice. If you only use one, you might not be getting enough sun protection or moisture. Both are important for keeping your skin healthy. your face stays safe and moisturized all day if you use both of them.

Can Day Cream be used Instead of Sunscreen?

People commonly think that day cream with SPF can be used instead of sunscreen. Day creams usually have lower SPF values and don't stop UV rays as well, especially when the sun is very strong. Their protection is not because they are not sunscreen which is made to protect you from the sun and works better and lasts longer. Day cream for hydration and sunscreen for UV protection should be used together to fully cover your face. 

How to Combine Day Cream and Sunscreen for Best Results

After learning what is the difference between day cream and sunscreen, you must learn how to apply both creams. It is important to apply both creams in the correct order if you want to get the most out of both day cream and sunscreen.

• First, apply your day cream after cleansing and toning your face. This step ensures your skin is hydrated and nourished.

• Once the day cream has been absorbed, follow up with your sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare routine. Sunscreen should always be put on last so that it forms a barrier over your face and keeps stopping UV rays. 

Where to buy Sunscreen and Day Cream Products

When it comes to buying sunscreen and Day cream, Bloomify stands out as your best choice. We offer 100% authentic and original branded cosmetics in Pakistan. We have a wide variety of skincare products. We have products from Cerave, Neutrogena, La-Roshe-Pochy, Soap & Glory, ROC and many others that ensure you get exactly what you pay for.

Are you looking to try our products? Visit our online store to grab all skincare essentials for your oily skin.

Conclusion

Day cream and sunscreen are very important for skin care but they are made for entirely different things. Sunscreen is made to protect your skin from UV rays on the other hand, day cream is meant to keep your skin hydrated and protect it from the outside world. It is best to use both products every day for the best skin health. They work well together to keep your face hydrated, healthy and safe all day.

FAQs 

Can day cream be used in place of sunscreen?

No, day cream cannot be used instead of sunscreen. Some day creams have SPF in them but most of the time, the amounts are too low to fully protect against UV rays. 

Can I put on sunscreen and day cream at the same time?

Yes, you should use both day cream and sunscreen at the same time. First, put on day cream to hydrate your skin, then put on sunscreen to protect it from UV rays.

How many SPF should sunscreen have?

For daily protection, you should use sunscreen with at least SPF 30. For full protection, you might want to use a higher SPF if you are going to be outside for a long time.

If my day cream has SPF, do I still need Sunscreen?

Yes, if your day cream has SPF, it might not protect you enough from the sun for long periods. If you want full UV protection, it is important to use sunscreen.