My Sunscreen Is Ruining My Makeup, And I Need Help Finding A New Brand To Try

It was around this time last year that I started taking sunscreen seriously. And by that I mean I started wearing it every day, regardless of the weather or the UV index. I came into the light (figuratively, not literally, of course) after bumping into an old acquaintance from high school. I was in my hometown visiting my parents for the weekend and I ran into her at the drugstore. She’d been a frequent tanning bed occupant since we were in the 10th grade, and wow, did it ever show. I feel a bit awful for saying this, but seeing how incredibly weathered her skin looked was a huge wake-up call for me. I’d only been to a tanning bed maybe seven or eight times in my entire life, but clearly, that was seven or eight times too many. I was also a frequent beach-goer, and I usually eschewed sunscreen in favor of letting my skin turn golden brown.

The longer I stared at my old friend’s face, the more I realized that I’d been a reckless fool my entire life. After saying our goodbyes, I spun on my heel and headed straight for the skincare aisle. I left the store clutching a jumbo-sized tub of sunscreen for my arms, legs, and chest, and this for my face.

And it’s done the trick, for the most part. Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen doesn’t make my face greasy at all, and it has a light scent that I really like. Oh, and it keeps my skin protected from the sun, so that’s awesome and all, but here’s the thing: it’s ruining my makeup. I don’t know if I’m using too much sunscreen (is that possible?) or if I’m not waiting long enough for it to dry properly, but damn, it’s just messing up my look in a real bad way. My green-tinted primer doesn’t seem to sit properly on top of the sunscreen, and when I go to apply my beloved Pur Minerals 4-in-1 pressed powder, I often find that my brush strokes lift up the sunscreen, which causes it to form into little balls that flake off of my face. It looks about as attractive as it sounds, trust me.

So, here’s my question for you: is this normal? Does your sunscreen eff up your makeup game? Am I doing something wrong here? Should I be trying a different product? I’ve heard good things about Clarins Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Korres Suncare Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (wow, what a ridiculously long name), but they’re both pretty pricey, so I’d love to hear reviews if you’ve tried them. Actually, I’d love to hear reviews of any facial sunscreen you’ve tried, especially if you found one that’s become your summer staple. Help a girl out in the comment section below, would you?

(Featured photo: Shutterstock)