I have a confession to make: even though dermatologists and other skin care experts advise us to wear sunscreen all year long, I wear it only in the spring and summer, when I expect to spend more time in the sun. It's not a practice that I encourage others to emulate.

The truth is that I hate the gunky feel of most sunscreens. That's why I'm glad I found smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl. It has the smooth finish of a foundation primer with chemical (absorber) sunscreens 7.5% Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) and 5.0% Octisalate (Ethylhexyl Salicylate). Surprisingly, I haven't had problems with irritation, which is why I usually stick to barrier (reflector) sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Many of us like to lighten up on foundation in the spring and summer. Even if you use a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15, I recommend using smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl under your tinted moisturizer to boost sun protection. This product is a must under mineral makeup: even though bareMinerals is rated SPF 15, don't expect a light dusting of loose mineral makeup to provide you adequate sun protection.