When standing in front of your vanity in the morning, having sunscreen, tone-up cream, and BB cream all within reach can make you pause for a moment. It is easy to feel confused about whether you need to apply all three, choose just one, or what order to apply them in. Because all three of these products give the impression of slightly brightening your skin tone, it is helpful to know where to place each one and how to combine them.

To put it simply, these three products have different roles and their application order is key. Generally, you should apply sunscreen first, and then layer tone-up cream or BB cream on top. Since sunscreen needs to be applied generously to dry skin 15 minutes before going out to achieve results close to its indicated SPF rating, the key is not to mix it with other makeup steps.

These three products have different roles, though they seem similar

The primary role of sunscreen is to block UV rays to prevent photoaging, pigmentation, and sunburn. Protection comes first, and the standard formula is translucent or nearly colorless so that it does not affect your natural skin tone.

Tone-up cream is a product that slightly brightens the skin tone, featuring a moisturizing base infused with fine white or pink powders. While there are many tone-up creams that contain SPF, many do not have a high enough concentration compared to dedicated sunscreens.

BB cream is a multi-functional product designed to provide sun protection, hydration, and coverage all at once. It offers more coverage than a tone-up cream, and because color matching is essential, it looks most natural when it matches your skin tone. It is commonly used when you want to quickly finish both skincare and lightweight everyday makeup in one step.

Applying sunscreen first is the golden rule

For sunscreen to provide protection close to its labeled SPF rating, it must be applied thoroughly to dry skin. Therefore, its proper place is right after your moisturizer has settled, and before any other makeup steps. If you skip sunscreen and rely solely on the SPF in your tone-up cream or BB cream, you may not be getting adequate UV protection.

As a rule of thumb, you should apply about a teaspoon's worth of sunscreen evenly across your entire face. Because you will be layering tone-up cream or BB cream on top, waiting 1 to 2 minutes for the sunscreen to dry to a matte finish will help the next steps glide on smoothly and cleanly.

Tone-up cream comes after sunscreen, in place of BB cream

Applying a thin, even layer of tone-up cream after your sunscreen has settled will gently brighten your base skin tone. Tone-up cream does not have high coverage, so it won’t completely conceal blemishes, but it works to bring an even radiance to your entire face. It is best to apply it in a thin layer so that it blends naturally over your sunscreen.

Since BB cream offers more coverage than tone-up cream, most people choose to use just one of the two. Layering both a tone-up cream and a BB cream can make your base makeup look heavy and cakey. To keep things looking natural, many people like to divide their use: tone-up cream for light outings, and BB cream when meeting friends or attending events.

Even if it has an SPF label, keep your sunscreen separate

The SPF indicated on tone-up creams and BB creams is measured based on a specific, generous amount of product. In reality, almost no one applies tone-up or BB cream thickly enough to meet that measurement. Consequently, the actual protection level is often much lower than the labeled SPF value, making sunscreen underneath essential as a reliable safety net.

This is especially true when you need to reapply sunscreen, even for lunch outings or brief sun exposure. You can maintain your SPF protection by lightly patting a sun stick or sun cushion over your tone-up or BB cream. Gently dabbing the product on ensures your makeup stays intact during application.

Establishing your daily morning routine

Depending on where you are headed each day, choose either tone-up cream or BB cream, but make sure sunscreen remains a non-negotiable step every morning.

In our consultation rooms, when we look at the routines of guests struggling with cakey makeup or pigmentation, we often find they are not using enough sunscreen or are mixing up the steps. This article is for general informational purposes. To find products that suit your skin type, we recommend consulting a dermatologist or visiting a trusted store to test the tones and textures in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I still need sunscreen if I only apply a tone-up cream that contains SPF?

A. Yes, you do. To get the labeled level of protection from a tone-up cream's SPF, you would need to apply a very generous amount, and few people apply tone-up cream that thickly. For safe skin protection, it is best to apply sunscreen first and layer your tone-up cream on top.

Q. Can I apply both tone-up cream and BB cream together?

A. You can, but it is easy for your base makeup to become heavy. Since both serve to even out your skin tone, choosing one is usually sufficient. If you wish to use both, apply the tone-up cream very thinly first, then gently pat a minimal amount of BB cream on top.

Q. How should I reapply sunscreen over my makeup?

A. Liquid sunscreens can easily smudge your makeup. It is much safer to gently pat on a stick, cushion, or powder type sunscreen. Reapplying once before going out for lunch, and again between 2 PM and 3 PM, will help keep your UV protection secure.

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