| https://preview.redd.it/conitesduug31.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=97449241d7d1d797cae854e0c3191f47075b08ce Not all the sunscreens – and SPF products – are pictured above. (And a little info about me: 22-year-old female, Fitzpatrick skin type II, very pale (completely untanned) northern European skin. Normal skin, used to be a little bit more dry and sensitive. MAKE P:REM Blue Ray Defense Sun Gel [not pictured] - - SPF 50+, Pa++++ (PPD 16+)
- - Not water resistant
- - 75 ml/ 2.53 fl. OZ.
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - South Korea
- - Ingredients: Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Fragrance, Glyceryl Caprylate, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Pullulan, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Alba Juice, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Rubus Arcticus Callus Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Glycerin, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Alcohol, Lecithin, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Phytosterols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
- - UV filters (organic): Octinoxate (UVB), Homosalate (UVB), Octyl salicylate (UVB), Uvinul A Plus (UVA)
- - Pros: High UV protection, texture, niacinamide, some plant extracts, claims to protect against infrared light and heat.
- - Cons: Fragrance (not typical sunscreen fragrance), not water resistant, prize.
- - Review: It’s been a while since I used this sunscreen, so much is from my memory. This was my first sunscreen I bought after leaning about photoaging! My first baby! And we were off to a good start. It’s a white watery gel-like texture, light weight, invisible, but quite shiny (some might call this a dewy finish, but I prefer a skin-like finish). A good poster child for the typical Asian sunscreen, I guess. It is not water resistant, and you'll notice this as you sweat throughout the day: It’s like your sweat becomes heavier since it mixes with the sunscreen (you can’t see this of course, but it sure feels like it). I was also worried about touching my face throughout the day, because I felt I might rub the sunscreen off. I can’t remember it ever stinging my eyes, but I’m not entirely sure. The biggest drawback for me was the prize and how inaccessible it is in my country. At this point in time, I also hadn’t learnt about the proper amount of sunscreen you have to use, so I was probably underapplying, and the sunscreen can therefore have appeared lighter-textured in my memory. It contains a lot of fragrance and many ingredients, in general, so that could be irritating. A little bit of science: If you look at the UV filters, there are several UVB filters; many UVB (290-320 wavelength/nm) filters also “bleed into” and filter some UVA II (320-340) as well. The Uvinul A plus filters both UVA II and I (340-400), but it’s also the only UVA filter in this sunscreen, and it’s also the last ranking UV filter on the ingredient list, even though I’ve read that the upper limit for Uvinul A plus is 10% (of the total product). So, is there enough UVA protection? I don’t know, but it’s probably okay since the Pa is four pluses, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Packaging is nice and it has a pump, and you get 75 ml, not only the standard 50 ml.
- - Score: 4/5
Avène Hydrance OPTIMALE UV RICHE Rich hydrating cream - - SPF 20, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33)
- - Not water resistant
- - 40 ml/1.35 Fl.OZ
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - France
- - Ingredients: AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER (AVENE AQUA). ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE. OCTOCRYLENE. BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE. CYCLOMETHICONE. ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE. POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE. POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE. BENZOIC ACID. BETA-SITOSTEROL. CAPRYLIC / CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE. CARBOMER. CHLORPHENESIN. DISODIUM EDTA. PARFUM. GLYCERIN. GLYCINE SOJA. HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES. LECITHIN. PHENOXYETHANOL. POLOXAMER 188. SODIUM CHONDROITIN SULFATE. SODIUM HYDROXIDE. TOCOPHERYL GLUCOSIDE. XANTHAN GUM
- - UV filters (organic): Octinoxate (UVB), Octocrylene (UVB, short-wave UVA), Tinosorb S (UVB and UVA)
- - Pros: Nourishing day cream
- - Cons: Inadequate UV protection, fragrance, prize
- - Review: I bought it a long time ago when I knew next to nothing about UV protection. It does not have high enough UV protection, and it is not designed to be used as a sunscreen, and therefore you will end up underapplying. I bought it because I was looking for a day cream at the time. I wanted something for my dry skin and this day cream worked in that regard. But never did I ever apply close to the amount of sunscreen you have to apply to get the labelled SPF and UVA protection. It is on the heavier side, so applying a quarter teaspoon to your face would not feel nice. Trust me. And even then, you’d only get SPF 20. I would not recommend anyone to use this product as a daily SPF product. It also contains fragrance even though it says it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
- - Score: 2/5
NIVEA SUN UV FACE ANTI-AGE & ANTI-PIGMENTS SPF 30 - - SPF 30, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33)
- - Not water resistant
- - 50 ml/1.7 fl. OZ.
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - Germany
- - Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dibutyl Adipate, Distarch Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Parfum
- - UV filters (organic): Avobenzone (UVA), Octyl salicylate (UVB), Tinosorb S (UVB, UVA), Uvinul T 150 (UVB), Ensulizole (UVB, minimal UVA)
- - Pros: Texture, glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, ubiquinone.
- - Cons: Not SPF 50, fragrance (stereotypical sunscreen smell).
- - Review: This was my HG sunscreen for a while, actually! I must have gone though three of these. It has a lot in common with the MAKE P:REM one, and it also shares some of the same problems. It has a similar texture: white watery-gel, which turns translucent on top of the skin. It’s like a glycerine-rich moisturiser. I think it’s less shiny as well – more skin-like finish. The problem arises when you sweat: your sweat starts feeling even heavier than normal. I think I experienced some eye stinging with this sunscreen (nothing major), largely caused by it not being water resistant. It’s important to note that the reason it is so cosmetically elegant is also why it’s not water resistant. I was also scared to touch my face and accidently rub it off while wearing this one, too. It’s smells like sunscreen. If you’ve ever purchased a NIVEA sunscreen, you’ll know what I mean. And the fragrance doesn’t go away immediately either. My biggest problem at the time, was also that I wanted to find a SPF 50 sunscreen, and this one is only SPF 30. I think I’ve recently seen a SPF 50 version of this since, so if you live in Europe, I guess it’s worth giving it a shot. Looking at the ingredient list now, I see that it contains a lot of avobenzone. Avobenzone has a bad rep, but you cannot deny how effectively it protects against UVA when photostable. Avobenzone on its own is not photostable and will start degrading (and be used up) when exposed to the sun or UV light. In this sunscreen, however, (and most non-American sunscreens) it has been stabilised by another UV filter: In this case by Tinosorb S. I think this sunscreen might have much higher UVA protection than the EU requirement, which makes sense since it’s advertised as “ANTI-AGE & ANTI-PIGMENTS”.
- - Score: 4/5
Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch Face Fluid SPF 30 [not pictured] - - SPF 30, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33)
- - Sweat and water resistant
- - 50 ml/1.7 fl. OZ.
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - Austria
- - Ingredients: Aqua, Octocrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methodydibenzoylmethane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (nano), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenol Triazine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chrysanthemum Panthenium Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Linseed Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8 Laurate, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Acrylates Corsspolymer, Sodium Acrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydoxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum.
- - UV filters (organic): Octocrylene (UVB, short-wave UVA), Homosalate (UVB), Avobenzone (UVA), Octyl salicylate (UVB), Tinosorb M (UVB and UVA), Tinosorb S (UVB and UVA)
- - Pros: Dry-touch texture
- - Cons: Not SPF 50, fragrance (typical Piz Buin sunscreen smell)
- - Review: This one did what the MAKE P:REM and NIVEA couldn’t: It was dry-touch *cue “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's Messiah*! This sunscreen survived me walking all around Madrid for a week in the middle of summer. Boom. What a trooper. The texture is a thick liquid, not a cream, so the opening is narrow so you can pour some into your hand or tilt your head backwards and pour it directly on your face. It dries to an almost powdery finish – it truly is dry touch. If you have dry skin, you should probably moisturise beforehand. It was also easy enough to reapply when I was out and about in Madrid; So, layering it wasn’t a chore. If you don’t apply it evenly it might dry down with some flakes even – that’s how dry it is. But I didn’t feel like it dried out my skin in the process, but that is of course a very personal observation. I would have been perfect if it was SPF 50, a little less expensive, and fragrance free. If you’ve ever tried a Piz Buin sunscreen, you’ll recognise their trademark fragrance at once: masculine and sunscreen-like. It does bring back good memories of summer and beaches for me personally, though.
- - Score: 4/5
THE BODY SHOP Vitamin E Day Lotion SPF30 [not pictured] - - SPF 30, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33)
- - Not water resistant
- - 50 ml/1.7 fl. OZ.
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - England
- - Ingredients: Aqua (Solvent), Glycerin (Humectant), Homosalate (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Octocrylene (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Ethylhexyl Salicylate (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Butylene Glycol (Humectant), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifying Agent), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifying Agent), Magnesium Silicate (Absorbent/Anticaking Agent), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Polymethylsilsesquioxane (Opacifying Agent), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate (Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Polysorbate 60 (Surfactant), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil (Emollient), Polysilicone-11 (Film Former), Parfum (Fragrance Ingredient), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Controlling Agent), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (Skin Conditioning Agent - Humectant), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), Benzyl Benzoate (Fragrance Ingredient), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Cinnamyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Decyl Glucoside (Surfactant), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone (Fragrance Ingredient), BHT (Antioxidant), Hexylene Glycol (Humectant), Isoeugenol (Fragrance Ingredient).
- - UV filters: Homosalate (UVB), Octocrylene (UVB, short-wave UVA), Octyl salicylate (UVB), Avobenzone (UVA), Octinoxate (UVB)
- - Pros: Antioxidants
- - Cons: Not SPF 50, stings your eyes, texture, fragrance, prize
- - Review: It’s deceiving, you think it’ll sink into your skin since due to its light weight consistency, but no: It’s oily. And it’s not water-resistant, so it will on glide on your face as you sweat. But the absolute worst thing about this is how much it stings your eyes. I could barely open them in broad daylight, and I had to go back home and wash my face to get it off. Do not, under any circumstances apply this close to your eyes. I don’t know what caused it: maybe all the perfume, or the UV filters? Also, the way this product smells, is absolutely abhorrent. Old lady perfume, and it’s so strong. So many potentially irritating fragrance ingredients for this?
- - Score: 2/5 (because it had adequate UV protection at least)
NIOD SURVIVAL 30 - - SPF 30, PA+++ (PPD 8-16)
- - Not water resistant
- - 30 ml/1.0 Fl. OZ.
- - Might be suitable for darker skin tones
- - Canada
- - Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua (Water), Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Inulin, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Xanthophyll, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Melanin, Sucrose, Tapioca Starch, Stearic Acid, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Alumina, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
- - UV filters (inorganic/mineral): Zinc oxide (UVB, UVA), Titanium Dioxide (UVB, UVA2)
- - Pros: Slight tint, sensitive skin friendly, antioxidants
- - Cons: Not SPF 50, prize, size, difficult to apply, photo flashback
- - Review: So, it has the consistency of a liquid foundation. I have very pale skin (and am therefore really scared of “universal tints”), but it blended perfectly into my skin tone, perhaps with the slightest bit of coverage. Since it’s a mineral sunscreen, I’m sceptical if it’ll blend into darker skin, even with the tint, so that’s something to keep in mind. It might also have photo flashback, you have been warned. Even though it is silicone based, I wouldn’t describe it as “silicone-y”, if you know what I mean; it has a skin like finish. However, I don’t think I ever applied enough of it to truly know what its finish is like… First and foremost: the packaging. When I bought it, they still used a dropper – I repeat a dropper. This did not work, as the product would spill over, clump up at the inner edges of the bottle’s mouth, etc. And since it clumped up at the sides, I honestly don’t know if I’ve lost some of the UV protection of the product, since it’s no longer a completely homogenous liquid. They later changed the dropper to a pump, but it’s still embarrassing that they ever sold it with a dropper. What were they thinking? You also spend quite a bit of time applying it evenly on your skin, due to its consistency and tint. You kind of have to apply it like a foundation. Since it’s only 30 ml, it means that you should be finishing one of these in less than a month – and only if you’re just applying it to your face. At least it doesn’t have any fragrance! It does have an iffy smell to it, which goes away. Taking into consideration the cost, the packaging (even though it has improved) the fact that it’s not a SPF 50, PA++++ product, you’re left with a very mediocre sunscreen. It could however serve as a daily serum on top of your sunscreen, if you’re very extra.
- - Score: 3/5
Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF 50 - - SPF 50, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33), 5 Boots stars
- - Water resistant
- - 100 ml/3.4 Fl. OZ
- - Might be suitable for darker skin tones
- - Great Britain
- - Ingredients: Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide (nano), Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine (nano), Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Piroctone Olamine, Titanium Dioxide, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Phosphate, Simethicone, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Silver Chloride
- - UV filters (inorganic and organic): Octocrylene (UVB, short wave UVA), Avobenzone (UVA), Octyl salicylate (UVB), Titanium Dioxide (nano) (UVB, UVA), Ensulizole (UVB, minimal UVA), Tinosorb A2B (UVB, UVA), Uvinul T 150 (UVB), Tinosorb S (UVB, UVA)
- - Pros: High UV protection, 5 Boots stars, affordable, charity
- - Cons: Texture (biased)
- - Review: O Altruist, Altruist, wherefore art thou Altruist? I wish our love wasn’t star-crossed, but it is. I had really high expectations for Altruist, same as many others, and I was let down. It isn’t that bad of a sunscreen, but it’s also not that good. At this point in my quest for the Holy grail sunscreen, I realised I had to up my UV game. SPF 30 wasn’t enough, and I wanted as high of an UVA protection as possible. With the EU’s regulation of UVA protection (in a nutshell the UVA protection has to be 1/3 of the SPF), you could, in theory, end up with SPF 30 sunscreens that had higher UVA protection than your SPF 50 sunscreen. And as a consumer, you simply wouldn’t know the difference. Anyway, Altruist SPF 50, has perfect UV protection, and no fragrance and such. In theory it’s the perfect sunscreen. I mean, look at all those filters (seriously why are there so many, did the chemists make a bet or something?) But in practice? Not so much. First and foremost, if you have darker skin, this might leave a white cast due to the titanium dioxide. Some people have mentioned this in their reviews and some people have also mentioned it stinging their eyes (I can’t remember noticing this). Secondly, the reason I didn’t like it, is because of the texture. It’s the same sort of texture as the MAKE P:REM and NIVEA mentioned above, just less cosmetically elegant. I thought it would dry down or sink into my face, but it never did. I would wait for 20 minutes, and I would still be sticky and a little bit shiny. What worked was putting a lot of translucent powder on top, then I would finally achieve a more skin like finish. Pro tip: Translucent powder can actually make most sunscreens bearable. Since it didn’t dry down, I felt as I would rub it off if my face touched anything. Maybe this sunscreen would work for people with dry skin? Since applying this sunscreen, waiting, applying powder, would take such a long time, I ended up just using a different sunscreen. And I guess that says it all. It also has a “chemical” smell to it, but that didn’t bother me. It might not have worked for my face, but it’s still a good sunscreen for the rest of the body.
- - Score: 4/5
Skinnies Sungel SPF30 - - SPF 30, broad spectrum, PA++++ (PPD 16+)
- - Water resistant
- - 100 ml/3.4 Fl. OZ
- - Definitely suitable for darker skin tones
- - New Zealand and The U. S.
- - Ingredients: Actives ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 3%, Octocrylene 10% Inactive ingredients: Bentonite, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Propylene Carbonate, Silica, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triacontanyl PVP.
- - UV filters (organic): Avobenzone 3% (UVA), Homosalate 15% (UVB), Octisalate/Octyl salicylate 3% (UVB), Octocrylene (UVB and short-wave UVA)
- - Pros: Texture, vegan, cruelty free, Organogel™
- - Cons: Not SPF 50, prize
- - Review: This is a real beauty, and the new kid on the block. This sunscreen utilises a new technology called Organogel™. It contains no water, and thus it doesn’t have to dry down, and you only need 1/5 the amount of a normal sunscreen. You heard that right: 1/5! So, you only need a pea-sized amount for your entire face! But I used a little bit more than that, because real peas are actually very small, so when people say pea-sized, they usually mean 2-3 real peas. A photo from their website illustrating what they meant by pea-sized confirmed my suspicion. But it’s still a very small amount! The texture is that of a see-through slightly orange-y gel. It’s oily, but it doesn’t move on your skin (also when you sweat). And it’s completely see-though so I can with confidence say it’ll suit every skin tone. It doesn’t completely dry down, though, but it does seem to sink into your skin a little bit, if you wait a couple of minutes. You can feel the gel on your skin when you touch it, but you wouldn’t notice you had anything on otherwise. Since it isn’t water based it also feels sturdier than the others I’ve tried, so I wasn’t as scared of it rubbing off when touching my skin. I think it might work very well as a primer. It has a slight “chemical” smell, it also doesn’t contain any perfume or any nonsense like that. It’s on the pricier side, but one 100ml bottle is actually the equivalent of 500ml of normal sunscreen, when you think about it, so I think the prize is justifiable. This was the sunscreen I kept on using when the Altruist one wasn’t working for me, by the way. It’s definitely the quickest sunscreen to apply of all the sunscreens I’ve ever used. A con is that is a little bit difficult to gauge if you are using enough, and that you’ve applied it evenly. Turns out there are two versions of this sunscreen: An American one and a New Zealand one. I somehow ended up with the American one, and it has worked just fine for me. The NZ version uses non-FDA approved filters, but it still has the same UVB and UVA protection listed, but I would still recommend you buy the NZ version, since there must be a reason why they chose to not just use the same formulation as the American one, right? Since I bought my bottle, they have also released many new products, like an SPF 50+. If the SPF 50+ behaves the same way as this one, I think I might have given it a score of 5/5. But keep in mind that it does not have a dry-touch finish (more of an immovable oily finish), but at least it has a sturdy one.
- - Score: 4/5
The Balm BALMSHELTER TINTED MOISTURIZER (Shade: Lighter Than Light) - - SPF 18, broad spectrum
- - Not water resistant
- - 64 ml/ 2.15 Fl. OZ
- - U. S.
- - Ingredients: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: OCTINOXATE (7.5%), OCTISALATE (3.0%), AVOBENZONE (3.0%) INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER (AQUA), CETEARYL ALCOHOL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, CETYL DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE,HEXYL LAURATE, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMEISOHEXADECANE/POLYSORBATE 60, STYRENE/DVB CROSSPOLYMER, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)
- - UV filters (organic): Octinoxate (7.5%) (UVB), Octisalate (3.0%) (UVB), Avobenzone (3.0%) (UVA)
- - Pros: Tint
- - Cons: Inadequate UV protection
- - Review: This is a tinted moisturiser in the shade “Lighter Than Light”, their lightest shade. Note that this tinted moisturiser is much lighter than any of The Balm’s other products labelled “Lighter Than Light”. It’s really is a pale shade (it appears darker before you spread it over your skin), and it blends perfectly into my skin: I’ve never seen a tinted moisturiser or BB cream this fair before. However, it is so sheer, that the tint almost doesn’t matter. A little goes a long way, and that’s why you shouldn’t really use BB creams, tinted moisturisers and foundation as UV shields. I intended on using this on top of my sunscreen, but since it has next to none coverage, I never find myself reaching for it. If you’re pale as I am, and you want to experience the novelty of owning a tinted moisturiser, this is a good pick. No fragrance, and I haven’t used it close to my eyes.
- - Score: 2/5
La Roche-Posay ANTHELIOS SHAKA ULTRA-LIGHT SPF 50+ - - SPF 50+, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33), PPD 42
- - Water resistant
- - 50 ml/1.7 fl. OZ.
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - France
- - Ingredients: AQUA /WATER, ALCOHOL DENAT., DIISOPROPYL SEBACATE, SILICA, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, ETHYLHEXYLTRIAZONE, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, BUTYLMETHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, GLYCERIN, C12-22ALKYLACRYLATE / HYDROXYETHYLACRYLATE COPOLYMER, PROPANEDIOL, DROMETRIZOLE TRISILOXANE, PERLITE, TOCOPHEROL, CAPRYLIC / CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, ACRYLATES / C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, TEREPHTHALYLIDENE DICAMPHOR SULFONIC ACID, TRIETHANOLAMINE, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE, DISUCCINATE
- - UV filters: Octyl salicylate (UVB), Uvinul T 150 (UVB), Tinosorb S (UVB and UVA), Avoenzone (UVA), Mexoryl XL (UVB and UVA), Mexoryl SX (UVA)
- - Pros: Excellent UV protection, dry touch-texture
- - Cons: Prize, size options
- - Review: NOTE: La-Roche Posay is a huge company that produces a lot of different sunscreens in different countries, with very similar packaging, but with different contents. This sunscreen was bought in Europe. America/Canada/Australia/Asia might have a different version of this sunscreen, because of the country’s different restrictions on UV filters and sunscreen criteria (especially American sunscreens). These versions are not always equal, both in UV protection and cosmetic elegance. It also turns out that I have bought two versions of this sunscreen: A new and an older version. I actually bought the newest version first – and I loved it. I couldn’t understand how people hated it (the skincare community is very split when it comes to the Shaka fluid). Of course, everyone’s skin is difference and can have a lot to say on how a sunscreen feels and behaves on the skin. It’s a fluid, so you have to shake it thoroughly. It takes a little bit longer to apply, since it’s a fluid. It dries down matte, and you can’t see that you’re wearing anything. Easy peasy. Its biggest downfall is the prize (I bought it on sale) and that it only comes in a tiny 50ml, so you can’t buy it in bulk, so to speak. But this was the newest version (as of this year)… and then I ended up accidently buying the older version online (which might still be in production?), and oh boy, was that a different experience! Not dry-touch, but oily! They looked so similar, but I instantly felt the difference on my face, because it didn’t dry down. Absolutely horrible in comparison, I felt so gross. You can tell the new version from the old from the packaging: The newest version has “ANTI-OXYDANT” written underneath the “UVB + UVA” text. It has a similar texture as the Piz Buin mentioned above, but I personally think the Piz Buin is superior in texture: even more dry-touch. But the shaka outshines almost all sunscreens in terms of UVB and UVA protection, and it doesn’t have any irritating fragrance to boot. I thought this would be my final HG sunscreen, because it couldn’t get any better in terms of UV protection and cosmetic elegance.
- - Score: 5/5 (new “ANTI-OXYDANT” version, 2019) (old version: 4/5, because it still has great UV protection, okay?)
EVY TECHNOLOGY SUNSCREEN MOUSSE SPF 50 - - SPF 50, European Recommendation (UVA-PF/SPF > 0.33), 5 Boots stars
- - Water resistant
- - 100 ml/3.4 Fl. OZ
- - Probably suitable for darker skin tones
- - Sweden
- - Ingredients: Aqua. Butane. Octocrylene. Propylene glycol. Palmitic acid. Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. VP / Hexadecene copolymer. Stearic acid. Isobutane. Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine. PVP. Ethylhexyl Triazone. Polysorbate 20. Triethanolamine. Hydrolyzed silk. Hydrolyzed Collagen. Tocopheryl acetate. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Glycerin. Dimethicone. Propane.
- - UV filters (organic): Octocrylene (UVB, short wave UVA), Uvinul A Plus (UVA), Avobenzone (UVA), Tinosorb S (UVB and UVA), Uvinul T 150 (UVB)
- - Pros: Excellent UV protection, 5 Boots stars, very water resistant, hydrating texture, antioxidants
- - Cons: Difficult to measure amount of sunscreen, some stickiness when overapplied
- - Review: This is my Holy grail sunscreen. I found it. Perfect texture, high UV protection, and relatively affordable. It also comes in a 100 ml bottle, not a 50 ml, which I appreciate. According to EVY, their sunscreens work differently than other sunscreens, because they don’t lay on top of your skin and form a film, but instead they sink into the skin (stratum corneum, I presume). Because of this, they’re very water resistant and sturdy. You shake the bottle, turn it upside down, and squeeze out a golf ball-sized blob of mousse. (This mousse holds its shape pretty well and you can play with it.) Then I just rub the mousse into my face: first it turns into a light-weight white cream… and then it disappears into the skin. After a couple of minutes, there is no trace of it, but if I’ve applied to much there might be some stickiness. It certainly feels like it sinks into the skin, because it’s very hydrating. The other sunscreens I’ve liked, I’ve liked for their dry-touch finish, but with EVY I don’t need to worry about it, because I can’t feel it on my face when I touch (well, technically my face feels like it’s been hydrated) and it doesn’t do anything when I sweat. A Youtuber reviewed EVY and said that the Boots star system is only marketing – it’s not. While we have a universal measurement of UVB: SPF, we’ve later realised that UVA also causes skin damage and cancer, but we still haven’t been able to agree on one universal measurement or requirement. The Boots Star Rating system with a maximum of 5 stars requires much higher UVA protection than the European Recommendation, where the UVA protection only needs to be 1/3 of the SPF. Gothamista, however, really liked EVY. It has no fragrance, but a light aerosol smell that goes away. Because of the packaging, no preservatives are needed. It also contains some antioxidants. I’m already on my third bottle of EVY, and I will continue to purchase it in the future.
- - Score: 5/5
Some sunscreens I’ve heard good things about and might want to try one day: Anessa sunscreens, Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA ++++, Ultrasun sunscreens, Bioderma Photoderm Max Cream SPF50+. submitted by arctic_beth to SkincareAddiction [link] [comments] |