Last Updated on May 20, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
The other day, someone asked me if you need “moonscreen”. Like, you wear SUNscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s light, so why not wear MOONscreen, i.e. sunscreen at night, to protect yourself from the moon’s light?
Honestly, it sounds ridiculous at first, but then you pause and think… huh. Wait. The moon does look pretty bright sometimes, especially when it’s full. And if sunlight damages your skin, and the moon is reflecting that same sunlight… could it actually be sneaking in some secret UV damage at night?
Sure, many of us won’t go out in the middle of the night – I know I am an early bird and like to be in bed by 9:30pm to get my beauty sleep. But if you’re a night owl, a midnight runner, or just someone who ends up walking the dog after dinner when the moon’s out in full glory, it might make you wonder.
But now that’s winter and the sun sets at 3pm, leaving its place to the moon already in the mid-afternoon, do you need to wear “moonscreen”when you’re out running errands or taking your dog for a walk? Spoiler alert: you don’t. But the fact that we’re even having this conversation tells you how wild and confusing skincare advice can be sometimes.
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Why You Don’t Need Moonscreen?
The short answer is no. Here’s why: The moon does NOT emit any light of its own. It just reflects the sunlight that hits it. But, wait, Gio? Won’t this reflected sunlight damage your skin? Again, the answer is no. Dr Neil Schultz explains why:
“The diameter of the sun is slightly greater than 400 times the diameter of the moon. So if the moon were a perfectly reflective mirror reflecting 100% of the sunlight that hits it, it could only reflect 1/400th or ¼ of 1% of the sunlight.
But the moon’s surface is a very poor reflector, instead absorbing most of the visible and UV light that hits it… reflecting only 7 to 12% of visible light, and only about 0.7% of UV light… that’s less than 1% of the UV light.
So between the small size of the moon and it’s poor reflectance, only about 1/40 of 1% of the sun’s UV is reflected to the earth… Said another way, 99.98% of the sun’s UV does NOT get reflected. It’s just like wearing a sunscreen that blocks 99.98% of the sun.”
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But What About That 0.02%?
It’s true that the moon reflects a teeny-tiny amount of UV light. But here’s the thing: There’s no need to worry about it either. That 0.02% doesn’t even make it to your face. It simply gets absorbed by the atmosphere. The earth’s atmosphere acts like a giant UV-sponge, soaking up whatever scraps of UV rays the moon tries to throw down.
What If You’re Using Retinol or Acids at Night?
Ah, now this is a good question. Retinol, AHAs, BHAs… these all make your skin more sensitive to the sun. But does that mean you need SPF at night just in case? Nope. The increased sensitivity is about sunlight, specifically UV radiation, which – again – isn’t coming from the moon. So go ahead, do your chemical exfoliation routine or slather on that retinol. As long as you’re using sunscreen during the day, you’re good. You don’t need a moon-proof barrier while you sleep. (But do remember to reapply your SPF in the morning. No excuses.)
Are There Any Nighttime Light Sources That Can Damage Skin?
Weirdly enough… yes. Artificial light sources like halogen lights, some LEDs, and even your phone or computer screens can emit low levels of blue light (HEV), which some studies suggest might contribute to skin aging over time. But this is not the same as UV light. And it’s not something the moon contributes to. If you’re super into prevention, there are tinted sunscreens and antioxidant serums designed to help with HEV light. But again, this is way more about long-term aging than cancer risk. Bottom line? Don’t stress about the moon. Worry more about binge-scrolling TikTok in bed.
Can You Use Sunscreen at Night as Skincare?
So here’s a weird one I’ve seen floating around skincare forums: “If sunscreen has antioxidants and moisturising ingredients… can I just use it at night too?”
Look, I get the logic. Sunscreens today aren’t just chalky goop anymore. Some of them are packed with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, even ceramides. They sound like serums with SPF on top. So why not just leave it on overnight and get the benefits while you sleep?
Because that’s not what it’s made for. Sunscreens are formulated to sit on top of your skin, not sink in. That’s how they block UV rays. Leaving that kind of film on your face all night? You can experience clogged pores. Breakouts. Skin feeling like it can’t breathe. It’s like wearing a raincoat to bed just because it’s soft on the inside. Sure, it won’t kill you, but… why?
If you love the ingredients in your SPF, look for a matching serum or night cream from the same brand. Or use a proper nighttime moisturiser with those same goodies – minus the zinc or chemical filters your skin really doesn’t need after sunset.
TL;DR: Wash your face. Use real nighttime skincare. Let your sunscreen sleep too.
The Bottom Line
So, once the sun has set, you can stop reapplying sunscreen at night. No need to slather yourself in SPF for your evening walk, grocery run, or stargazing session. After all, it’s called SUNscreen for a reason. 😉
Good thing I don’t! I’d hate to have to put a layer of SPF on just to go out at night.
Also, thanks for being a smarty. 😉
Trisha, that would be annoying indeed. Luckily, it’s not necessary.
Aww thank you! 😳
Love this post! And no, I rarely wear sunscreen during the day so I would certainely not consider it for “moontime”. I wear ss only when I know I’ll be outside more. The rest of the time it’s an SPF moisturizer. Canadian Winter knocking at my door, time to hibernate! 😀
Icaria, I think moisturizers with SPF are a nice way to boost sun protection, but they shouldn’t be used on their own as it’s impossible to apply enough to get the SPF stated on the label. I guess if you’re gonna spend the day indoors they may just about do, but if you go out it’s best to apply sunscreen anyway. 🙂
I’m in my 40’s, no wrinkles! I’ve always worn spf protection, since my late teens. I think the trick in my case is that I’ve never tried to tan since lying in the sun makes me fees woosy. This is probably combined with good genes. Now my daughter, that’s another story. She doesn’t leave the house without SS. 😀
Icaria, well done for starting wearing sun protection so early and it’s great that you have no wrinkles. SPF protection is really the best anti-aging treatment. And also well done for teaching your daughter to always wear sunscreen. 🙂
I’m glad that we don’t need sunscreen at night! I often take off my sunscreen and apply a moisturizer in the evening when the sun sets :]. Now I don’t ever have to worry about wearing sunscreen under moonlight. Just another reason why you’re so awesome.
I’m reading Pride and Prejudice and I LOVE it! My teacher is a huge Jane Austen fan and she is explaining the story and witty comments as we read. We’re annotating too. 😀 Should I read it once through without annotating just to enjoy it? I enjoy it both ways but you know best since you love to read.
Janessa, I agree. It’s good that we don’t have to worry about sunscreen at night and can just take it off.
And I’m so glad you’re enjoying Pride and Prejudice. It’s one of my favourite books ever. I think it’s always best to read the annotated edition first as that will help you better understand what is going on and all the pun/comments the author makes. Once you know all the facts, you can go back and read it all again without notes. Pride and Prejudice is one of those books that is always a pleasure to read. 🙂
No! Just No! I have always worn sunscreen, but won’t be starting on the Moonscreen lol!
Viv x
Viv, yeah, no need to wear moonscreen, luckily. 🙂