It’s officially summertime today! So this is your annual reminder to wear your sunscreen every single day! Let’s have a look at 2 facial sunscreens that I’m currently enjoying:
• Allie UV Mineral damp NEO SPF 50+ PA++++
• Clarins UV plus HP Sunscreen Multi-Protection Tint in Light
I’ll evaluation each sunscreen as well as do a quick comparison of the two however I will state that I like both – they serve somewhat different function as well as both have pros as well as cons. First, let’s look at the one I bought from Japan last year:
Allie Mineral damp NEO SPF 50+ PA++++
This is likewise called “Allie EX UV Protector Gel”, from parent business Kanebo.
The primary reason I bought this was that it was primarily a mineral based aka physical sunscreen. I have a preference for physical sunscreen since they’re generally more photostable as well as work promptly upon application, whereas chemical ones need a wait time of 20 minutes prior to sun exposure. The issue with physical sunscreens is exactly how they look on the skin – they provide that ghostly white cast (especially Zinc) as well as look terrible under makeup.
99% in Japanese…
I had a like affair with Japanese sunscreens for many years since of exactly how lightweight as well as undetectable they were under makeup. However, it seems that they were able to prevent the dreaded white cast by utilizing only chemical sunscreens. It’s extremely difficult to discover Japanese physical sunscreens however there are a few out there. I compromised by getting the Allie Mineral damp NEO sunscreen which is a blend of physical (Zinc Oxide) as well as chemical (Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus, as well as Tinosorb S) UV filters.
It was like at very first utilize with this sunscreen! (it made my favourites recently) The structure is so lightweight, it felt like a gel lotion that’s not greasy.
It’s not a watery structure that is typical of most Japanese sunscreens – I really prefer this lotion-y structure as I didn’t feel like it was drying out my skin. This sunscreen is water, sweat as well as sebum resistant as well as lasts truly well on my skin.
It does have a slight dewy surface however it doesn’t get oily over the program of the day. One added reward is that I discover this sunscreen acts like a primer – it assists my makeup apply more smoothly as well as wear longer.
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 9.45%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate) 7%, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (Uvinul A Plus) 2.7%, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (Tinosorb S) 0.05%
Inactive Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Alcohol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylen Glycol, Sodium Acrylate / Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Triethoxycaprylilsilane, Methicone, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Nylon–12, Methyl Trimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Soluble Collagen, royal Jelly Extract, Averrhoa Carambola leaf Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi (Job’s Tears) Seed Extract
While don’t like that this contains chemical UV filters, particularly Octinoxate, however I do like that the physical sunscreen utilized in it is Zinc Oxide which has the broadest UV security of any type of single UV filter. One strange thing I noticed is that nowhere on the packaging does it suggest the expiry date. I looked everywhere! I’ve noted when I bought this as well as my finest guesstimate is an expiry of 2018 (erring on the side of early). I bought this big 90g tube for ¥2,800 (approx $33.35 CAD) – it likewise is available in a 40g style for ¥1,400 ($16.70). This is made in Japan.
Pros:
• No white cast
• Water, sweat as well as sebum resistant
• feels moisturizing
• long lasting
• Acts as a primer
Cons:
• contains alcohol
• Not 100% physical UV filter
• difficult to discover outside of Asia
Stash worthiness: 9/10
Clarins UV plus HP Sunscreen Multi-Protection Tint SPF 40 in Light
I’ve discovered that in recent years, Western brands – particularly those from France – are coming out with many choices for physical / mineral sunscreens. one of the methods that they’re trying to enhance the look of the mineral UV filters is by adding a tint to the formula to assist overcome the white cast. as well as for the most part, they perform truly well. I’ve utilized the tinted ones from La Roche-Posay as well as Consonant Skincare in the past, as well as tested the offerings from Avene as well as Coola. I decided to get the Clarins one when I asked the SA at shoppers medication Mart for her suggestion of a mineral sunscreen.
The expiry of this sunscreen is clearly stamped onto the label.
She advised this can act as a light foundation as well. She was right – the tint has sufficient protection that it acts as both my sunscreen as well as foundation. I mainly wear this the weekends for a light coverage. If I want extra coverage, Itop it off with a bit of BB cream (which likewise provides added UV protection).
The formula is extremely runny as well as the product needs to be shaken up prior to application (there’s a metal sphere inside the bottle to mix the liquid). There is a perfume-y scent to this product that is quite strong at first however doesn’t linger. The surface of this sunscreen is semi-matte as well as lasts extremely well on the skin, even with sweat as well as heat.
The shade I have is in Light, which is rather peachy as well as not all that light in tone. I’m around NC20 as well as it looks rather obvious if I apply a generous layer (as instructed on the bottle!) And that’s one of the downfalls of tinted sunscreens – the colours offered won’t match every skin tone.
In order to make this colour work on my face, I apply only a light layer or else it’s extremely obvious. Which means I’m likely not applying sufficient sunscreen to effectively protect myself from UV rays. It would be great if Clarins offered a wider variety of colours however I don’t see that happening any type of time soon – as it stands, in Canada this is only offered in Light as well as Medium. However, I saw on the internet that it was offered in Deep as well:
Source.
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 7%
Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua/ Water/Eau, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alcohol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, CI 77491/ CI 77492/Ci 77499/ Iron Oxides, Sodium Chloride, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Mica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum/ Fragrance, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Geraniol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Citronellol, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Lapsana Communis Flower/ Leaf/ Stem Extract, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Camellia Sinensis leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rhodiola Rosea root Extract, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
I should note that Titanium Dioxide is the lower of the 2 physical sunscreens as it doesn’t protect against the full spectrum of UVA rays (the ones that cause premature aging). This retails for $42 CAD for the 50ml bottle as well as is made in France
Pros:
• No white cast
• Semi-matte finish
• long wearing
• 100% mineral / physical UV filter
• tinted formula acts as light foundation
Cons:
• extremely restricted colour variety (no fair or dark options)
• contains alcohol
• Does not block full spectrum of UVA rays
• Fragranced
Stash worthiness: 8/10
Comparison between Allie vs Clarins
• Allie is colourless as well as can match all skin tones (+ Allie)
• Clarins is 100% mineral UV filter (+ Clarins)
• Allie is unscented (+ Allie)
• Clarins is easier to purchase locally (+ Clarins)
• Allie provides broad spectrum UVB as well as UVA security (+ Allie)
• Both do not have white cast (tie, both winners)
• Both long wearing, water as well as sweat resistant (tie, both winners)
• Both contain alcohol (tie, both losers)
• Allie is made in Japan as well as Clarins is made in France (neutral)
The Allie Mineral damp NEO edges out Clarins UV plus HP Multi-Protection Tint for me since it provides a broad spectrum security without any type of white cast as well as is appropriate for all skin tones.
Source.
A few facial sunscreen tips:
• aim for SPF 30 or above
• utilize a separate sunscreen instead of relying a moisturizer or foundation with sunscreen – normally you’re not applying sufficient moisturizer or foundation to provide adequate UV protection
• general guide is to utilize “two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin” – what does this mean? around 1/2 teaspoon for the face, however of program this amount varies depending upon the size of your face!
• try to apply sunscreen as your last layer however it may not be possible when you wear makeup. I layer my deal with products as follows: serum, moisturizer, primer (if using), sunscreen, foundation, powder. I like to wait 5 minutes after I apply my sunscreen before applying my foundation.
• Don’t fail to remember to reapply sunscreen while you’re outside – sunscreens degrade with direct exposure to the sun. A general guide is to reapply every couple of hours at minimum.
I composed one more publish on sunscreens a couples of years back showcasing other facial sunscreens – inspect it out here. I like trying out new sunscreens, can you tell? I’m still on the search for a 100% mineral broad spectrum facial sunscreen. The finest I’ve discovered so far is the Consonant Skincare perfect Sunscreen SPF 30 – I’d like to discover something that has a higher SPF. What’s your favourite facial sunscreen that you would suggest to me to try?
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