- works well under makeup
- doesn’t make me greasy (or any more greasy/shiny than I would normally be)
- needs to at ideally have 50 SPF (because this gives me a better shot at getting at least an SPF 30 as most sunscreens don’t actually provide the listed SPF)
- doesn’t give me a white cast
- doesn’t burn or irritate my skin (or break me out)
- if the sunscreen contains other benefits (like mattifying skin, or including other beneficial ingredients) I consider that icing on the cake.
Ingredients
INCI:
10.5% Zinc
7.5% Octinoxate
How it applied
This has a somewhat thick and creamy, yet somehow light, texture (it is COMPLETELY different from my runny La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL). It applies really easily and it actually feels quite nice as you rub it in.
Right when I started rubbing it in, I saw the bright white tint and I was immediately worried that this would leave a white cast. But as the product absorbs after 30 seconds or so, it left no white cast (which is probably because the zinc is micronized, which means the particle size has been made much smaller). Perhaps my favorite part is its finish–which is a soft satin-matte. My skin looked hydrated but not dewy. It wasn’t tacky but it also wasn’t too flat or powdery.
Since I have fair skin (I am a NW20 at MAC), I was worried that I may not have a white cast, but someone with a darker skin tone might see one. So I mailed some to the gorgeous and super sweet @ashleyellebeauty and she also didn’t find a white cast (success!). (Keep an eye out on her Instagram because I believe she will be writing up her review of this sunscreen soon.)
It also works really well under makeup. Since I have been using it, it has never made me greasy and it might actually help to control some oil production. (My mom who has drier skin has used this and it wasn’t too drying on her. Somehow it manages to be creamy and hydrating but not greasy or dewy).
Importantly, after continued use it hasn’t caused me to breakout. I also find that I reach for this more so than my La Roche-Posay…I think this might actually be my new favorite!
Other Observations
I noticed that the website suggests putting this on under moisturizer instead of on top. I have always put it on top, but I might try it the other way.
Cost
- $42 for 2.5 oz ($16.80 per oz)
This is the same price as the Dr. Dennis Gross sunscreen (listed below) that I was about to purchase before I received this product, and I get more for the price. (Yay!)
To help put this cost in perspective, here are some other popular sunscreens:
- Murad City Skin® Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++ $38.24 per oz.
- Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50: $24.71 per oz.
- If I didn’t love the BeautyRx one, this was going to be the sunscreen that I was going to use next. I have tried samples of this and loved it.
- Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30: $24.71 per oz.
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light (this is the american version of the one that I currently own and love. I don’t really like this formula thought): $19.71 per oz.
- EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46: $19.12 per oz
- Obagi Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum SPF 50: $17.17 per oz.
- Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30: $11.33 per oz.
- CeraVe Face Lotion SPF 50: $7.50 per oz.