At which step to apply sunscreen?
"Sunscreen is always the last step!" Is that what you answered? 🙂 Sorry to disappoint, but it's not so straightforward.
When you search for routine order, you'll always find the routine ending with moisturizer and then sunscreen. But in fact, the order depends on the sunscreen type.
🔆 PHYSICAL sunscreens should be applied as the last step, AFTER moisturizer because they reflect the sun rays directly and need to be on top.
🔆 CHEMICAL sunscreens, on the other hand, should be applied BEFORE moisturizer because they need to absorb into the skin for them to work correctly.
If you were to apply it as the last step, occlusive ingredients in moisturizer may decrease the amount of absorbed sunscreen and it won't give you the claimed protection.
I'm not sure where does that leave hybrid sunscreens but I'd probably decide based on which sunscreen ingredient comes first on the list 😉
At which step have you been applying your sunscreen and what type? 🙂
Edit: changed the misleading word "penetrate" to "absorb", sorry, English is not my native language 😖