All about sunscreen contouring, the ‘unscientific and dangerous’ skincare hack

This technique is all about strategically applying sunscreen to create tan lines that contour the face. Explaining, Dr Mandeep Singh, HOD- Plastic Surgery, Paras Health, Gurugram said, “It is a hack which is both unscientific and dangerous. It involves the use of different SPF sunscreens on different areas of the face followed by intentional sun exposure to have differential tanning. The proponents of this technique feel that this will give them a desired tanned look without the makeup.”

Highlighting the same in an Instagram post, Dr Kaveri Karhade, a dermatologist, wrote, “Sunscreen contouring is applying sunscreen on certain areas of the face to achieve a naturally contoured look. This trend is not safe and dangerous as we know that the sun’s UV rays cause skin cancer and premature signs of ageing.”

Why is this dangerous?

As per Dr Karhade, this trend is very risky because you are “essentially damaging certain parts of your skin with sun exposure, which can not only cause premature ageing but also skin cancer. This completely defeats the purpose of putting on sunscreen.”

Concurring, Dr Singh told indianexpress.com that it is important to note that sunscreen should be applied to all areas of the skin that will be exposed to the sun. “Uneven or selective sunscreen application can lead to excessive sun exposure, which will result in increased photo damage to skin, early ageing, wrinkles and sunspots.”

Sunscreen contouring is applying sunscreen on certain areas of the face to achieve a naturally contoured look. (Source: Freepik)

But does this hack work?

Dr Saurabh Shah, Dermatologist, Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai said, “Most dermatologists believe that the likelihood of achieving a contoured effect through such a hack is quite bleak because one cannot control the way the sunlight will hit the face. Additionally, a lot of other factors govern sun tanning. Reflections from surfaces are not uniform. Some areas of face are more prone to tanning (production of melanin in response to sun exposure) than others, so achieving the absolute desired contour effect (akin to makeup) is impossible.”

Concluding, he said, “Resorting to the use of a matte finish sunscreen as a base layer followed by applying makeup is still by far the best way to contour the face to achieve the desired results, without compromising the safety of your skin.”

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