This item is labeled as 100% mineral sunscreen hence its main ingredients are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
As per COSDA, certain ingredients may trigger acne:
Stearic Acid (2)
Squalene (1)
Zinc Oxide (1)
The ratings are low however, if you are known to have issues with any of these, use it with caution.
Trial Period: 1 week
Skin Condition: Currently purging due to Glycolic Acid
Environment: Humid, tropical summer
Packaging:
Price: 19.99 CAD Amazon Prime Canada / around 14 USD – 89 ml
Review:
This is a mineral sunscreen. It contains both Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. This is a good choice if you’re after something that will rather sit on top of your skin rather than absorbed, a concept which is better if you have sensitive or acne prone skin.
This product does not contain fragrance at all which is perfect if you have a sensitive skin.
The product itself is somewhat a heavy cream with less oil in touch. It is soft and glides smoothly in the skin. This sunscreen is not sticky but can be a little tacky in touch – a common property of a mineral sunscreen. If you’re on the normal to dry skin, I suggest that you top your skin with something moisturizing before applying this to avoid it from getting too dry.
This tinted sunscreen has no coverage but to be fair, it claimed nothing of such. Do note though that this might tone you up in a pinkish way. I’m on the mid-fair tone and this specific sunscreen made by face and neck differs a little bit. It is not very huge difference at least from my skin but for those with darker complexion, this might be a little bit tricky to play around. They don’t look like they sell different shades (I may be wrong) so please do ask their customer support to verify.
This is not a replacement for your foundation especially if your goal is to cover up some blemishes. It will help though even out some minor skin discoloration but not to the level of hyperpigmentation.
Another thing I noticed about this mineral sunscreen is that it has a minor flashback. I don’t go out taking pictures all the time so it is not an issue but if you’re planning to get a picture, this can be a bad thing.
Without Flash:
With Flash:
Good news about this though is that it has very little transfer. Once settled, I don’t worry about it getting into my headphones or likes. It will not compound much as well on your eyeglasses’ nose pad – perfect for those who wears them a lot.
This product is also advertised to be water resistant up to 80 minutes. I personally did not try this, but I noticed though that even I sweat mildly, I did not see the need to reapply. This product has some clinging power to my skin – which probably explains my narration above.
Lastly, despite me currently purging from Glycolic Acid, no apparent additions came into my inventory of blemish.
Final Thoughts:
This is a mineral sunscreen, a better option for those with sensitive or acne prone skin.
Contain no fragrance
Can even out skin tone but not cover blemishes or hyperpigmentation
Has a pink undertone
Might be a little tricky to use if you have darker skin tone
As per COSDNA, these below item are worth noting on the comedogenic rating:
Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate (4)
Dimethicone (1)
Cetearyl Alcohol (2)
As irritant:
Cetearyl Alcohol (2)
Carbomer (1)
Trial Period: 3 months
Skin Condition: Acne Prone (first two months of use) / Dry and Dehydrated (recently)
Environment: Warm humid (first two months of use) / Cool and dry (recently)
Packaging:
*** packing may vary on other countries
Price: 14 CAD Walmart Canada / around 11 USD – 89 ml
Review:
I started using this moisturizer when my face is still very acne prone. I watched tons of Youtube videos and I see a lot of influencers and even dermatologist using this product. As someone who’s struggling to get a better skin, I definitely felt hooked – light / not greasy, fragrance free and most importantly it contains Ceramides, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid!
Ok, so let’s discuss their importance very quickly –
Light / not greasy
During my ordeal in acne, this moisturizer felt really light on my skin. I never had any irritation or any bad reaction during those time. It is very hard to know its presence in my skin as it is absorbed almost completely just a minute after the application. Since it is light and totally absorbed, having sunscreen is a lot easier. It will not make your skin heavy even if you put sunscreen plus makeup.
However, I find this product to be too light when I’m going to a place where air can be cooler and dry. It works fine with me on humid, warm days but when AC is around, my usual two pumps for the face is not enough. You might want to either add more or top it with something more moisturizing. This alone cannot stand cooler and dry environment without assistance.
Fragrance Free
Well, for someone who’s very concerned about the ingredients they put on their skin (a paranoia that I developed trying to understand my acne), this is a big hooray! Like I mentioned on other reviews, I see no reason to include fragrance (natural or not) on your skin care and this is just that kind of product that listened.
A big point here.
Ceramide
This ingredient can be produced by our skin naturally. However, due to some factors (like age and harsh products), this can deplete. To help build and strengthen our barriers, sometimes we need to add this in our skin care routine and this moisturizer boast to have that.
It’s hard to actually measure and compare this aspect as very few products still has this ingredient and if they do, they are usually pricey. I personally have not tried much to compare this with. I do, however, felt like my skin tends to go back to its more natural state faster when using this product – a sign of Ceramide presence.
Niacinamide
This ingredient boast tons of promises like shrink pores, treats hyperpigmentation, treats acne and likes. I personally did not notice all of that. However, when I’m using this moisturizer, I noticed that I don’t oil as much as when I’m using other moisturizers. Though to be fair, I’m also using Hyaluronic Acids before applying this.
Hyaluronic Acid
This ingredient is naturally produced by our skin. However due to certain factors like age, this deplete during production. Having this in our routine aids our skin to retain moisture and promote suppleness. This moisturizer has that.
I’m not sure how much Hyaluronic Acid this product contains in its formulation but I can tell you confidently that it is not its biggest asset. During my dehydrated days, this alone is not enough to provide the hydration my skin needed. Hence, I added Hyaluronic Acid lotion before this product and most of the time I have to top my skin with heavier creams. I think this will work well alone when your skin is on the normal and oily side.
Additional —
For some reason though when my skin is a bit stingy (probably due to strong ingredients), when I apply this on my skin, the stinging tends to intensify a lot. I am personally not sure how normal that is or if I can even add moisturizer when my skin is compromised but for the record that happened. I’m not sure if it is the Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate or Cetearyl Alcohol that’s amplifying the sting so be cautious putting this when your skin is compromised already.
Will I recomment this? Yes. However, this may not be sufficient for all skin types so you might want to play around with this.
Final Thoughts:
This contains no fragrance
Formulated with Ceramide and Niacinamide
Very light on the skin
Perfect for acne prone / oily / normal skin but not adequate if you’re on the dry and dehydrated side so you might want to look for something else or add heavier hydrators
Contains no strong ingredients like AHA and BHA so it can easily be added into your routine
Be cautious on using this when your skin is compromised as it may intensify the sting
Textbook-wise — if you will check COSDNA, take note that
Isopropyl Palmitate has a comedogenic rate of 4 and is also tagged as possible
irritant. Isostearic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate and Isopropyl Palmitate as per
Skincarisma are known to trigger fungal acne.
Trial Duration: 3 days
Price: 349 PHP (BeautyMNL) / around 7 USD – 150 ml
*** The price I indicated above is the regular tag of this
item. I did not buy this personally but rather got it as a freebie when I bought Biore UV Covering Base – Oil Control
Packaging:
Non-Sampler should look like below (not my picture):
What I got:
Current SkinCondition: Combination with
random peeling
Review:
For the record, I have always been a Micellar Water person. I
use Micellar Water to remove my sunscreens and makeups on a daily basis then
follow it with a gentle cleanser. But because I got this for free and I can see
a lot of people liking this product, I thought of giving this one a try. I have
always been too scared of pure oils when it comes to cleansing or even leave-on’s.
I think if you’re the type of person who struggles with acne for a very long
time, you would understand where this fear is coming from.
Personally, I’m surprised with how this item functioned.
First, it removed my sunscreen and makeup so easily. Second, it didn’t break me
out.
The way I used this product is that I massage it to my face
for at least 30 seconds, aiming to make the oil contact all the makeups and
agitate it a little bit, nothing harsh. Afterwards,
I wash my face with regular water, not too cold and not too warm. Lastly, I
followed it with my favorite cleanser which is Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash.
The feel of this cleansing oil when removed by water will give you a smooth and squeaky kind of clean. I did not feel any oil leftover in my face which I do expected because after all, this is oil. This oil when you massage it into your skin will turn murky – this is the oil doing some action.
For this test, I took some commonly used cosmetics (sunscreen
included) into my arm:
*** the order is described as the first picture.
*** this includes tinted sunscreen, eye shadows (liquid),
foundation, lipstick, crayon eye liner, liquid eye liner (waterproof), eye
shadow (powder), mascara (waterproof), eye brow wax with colored powder, eyebrow pencil and concealer
In this example I used roughly 1/3 teaspoon of Biore
Cleansing Oil. Massage it for 30 seconds, let is sit there for couple more
seconds (for pictures) and rinse it with water.
I’m not sure how this picture was taken but my arm looks longer? Meh.
In the picture above, you will see that the oil went murky
due to the dissolved makeup. If you will look closer you will see that the
liquid eyeliner is still visible. After I took some pictures (which took like
15 seconds), I immediately rinsed the oil with water and tap my skin with towel
(just tap and not rub).
This is what it looks like now:
nothing left
In the picture above, you will see that nothing was left
even the liquid eye liner we spotted before we rinsed it. I haven’t followed
this with any cleanser for the record, so the removal was only done by the
cleansing oil itself.
In addition to its cleaning power, this cleansing oil did not break me out. However, do note that this contain fragrance. The smell is very light and I personally did not notice it right away. I only went to smell the bottle itself hence I realized that it does have scent after all. I would imagine that they added this very faint smell to mask the original smell of oils. It didn’t bother me at all and it is very easy to miss unless you’re looking for it.
I’m glad that the original container of this item comes with
a pump. It will definitely make the dispensing a lot easier and less messy
which I think is valuable when dealing with liquid oils. I also like the fact
that it did not left my face feeling greasy or oily, giving me the impression
that you can end the cleaning from this point. However, oil is a very tricky
substance to play with your skin. Despite having a squeaky feel of your skin, I
would suggest to follow it with your favorite mild cleanser. There’s no need to
use heavy duty soaps or cleansers for this. This cleansing oil already attracted
the junks out of your skin. The goal of you second cleanser is just to remove
any residue of this cleansing oil.
Takeaways:
This cleansing oil can be used every day for
mild to waterproof makeups.
Some ingredients may trigger acne (esp. fungal) hence every once in a while (not
necessarily everyday), use a cleanser that prevent acne of such
Make sure to cleanse with water thoroughly and
follow it with your mild cleanser (Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash is a personal
recommendation)
This can be use regardless of your skin condition
Would I buy this again? Yes.
I highly recommend this product to everyone. However, please
review the ingredients listed and make sure that you are compatible with them.
Some people have reported breaking out after using this product. I would assume
that they are not compatible with some ingredients in this item or they did not
use it properly. Regardless, I personally like this product and will use it
further.
This contain Sodium Laureth
Sulfate though for foam purposes however I don’t think it is a lot because it
didn’t make much when I tried (picture below).
Trial Period: 2 months
Price: 249 PHP (BeautyMNL) around 5 USD – 150 ml
Packaging:
***bought both online and actual mall but this does not come with
a box however it is definitely sealed.
Current Skin Condition: Acne Prone with dry patches
Review:
This product does not claim too much but it’s gentle and moisturizing. To understand these claims, let’s dissect the highlighted ingredients:
Pro vitamin B5 (Panthenol)
This ingredient leaves a very thin film to skin preventing transdermal water loss. Transdermal loss
of moisture is common when our skin gets contact with water…which in common
scenario is cleansing.
Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate)
Vitamin E when formulated well with cleanser,
creams, etc can make skin smooth, soft and supple.
Bisabolol
Provides same effect as vitamin E
plus it works as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial which prevents acne.
That having said, the formulation is
perfect for sensitive and acne prone skin.
The consistency of this product is almost similar to Cetaphil
cleanser. It is smooth and slippery.
Do note though that it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS). I personally don’t mind as I didn’t get any issues. For those who are not aware what SLS is, this ingredient is used to create the foam from your cleanser. By experience, this cleanser did not create much foam. Hence, it gave me the impression that it did not contain much.
What I also love with this cleanser is that it didn’t contain any
fragrance. I don’t usually require this from cleansers as they tend to get
washed off eventually, but it is a good thing that they did this anyway (no fragrance
contact is always good regardless). This went as an extra point for Simple!
This cleanser can be used daily as this is very gentle like I mentioned
earlier. However, because it is gentle, the physical cleaning power of this
product is limited.
In my arm, I tested several items that men / women usually put on
their face daily. For this experiment, I took the below items:
Foundation
Concealer
Waterproof Mascara
Thick Waterproof Pencil
Eyebrow Pencil
Eyebrow Wax
Eyeshadow
Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Tinted Sunscreen
Primer
Lipstick
*** In order as depicted below:
First Wash : 30 seconds
After I added water and massage this cleanser to my arm for 30 seconds. I noticed that most of the non-waterproof products I placed are either gone or left very little residue. The waterproof, wax-based and balmy one (lipstick) were still very visible but lessened.
Second Wash : 30 seconds, same arm and
residue
Using the same arm with remaining
products, I added almost the same amount of cleanser and massage it for 30
seconds. Lastly, I rinsed it off.
The second wash helped decreased the remaining items. I noticed that the residue of foundation (closest item to my elbow) and primer (near the lipstick) disappeared on this step. However, team waterproof remained. I don’t think that it can be washed off further using this product.
For this test, I conclude that this
cleanser does clean. Basic cleansing using this item can remove non-sticky
items like powders, non-water resistant sunscreens, eye shadows and likes. Second
wash can remove thicker products such as primers, foundations and blush.
However, for thick cream based
products (e.g. lipsticks and wax / pomade) and waterproof makeups (like mascara
and eyeliners), better use your favorite Micellar Water or Makeup Remover first
before using this cleanser. Do not rely on this item for such products as this
is not strong enough to dissolve them.
IMPORTANT: If you’re not confident that you can adequately clean your face with this cleanser alone, there’s no harm in using your makeup removers first (and I highly recommend that you do). I did this test only show you how strong this cleanser is when it comes to cleaning your daily makeups and skin care.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend this product especially for those with sensitive, acne prone, combination and even normal skin. I have been using this product for a very long time now and this did not give me any breakout at all. Considering the fact that I’m using strong ingredient in my routine (Azelaic and Tretinoin), this product helped make my dryness become manageable.
This is my holy grail when it comes to
facial cleanser. I rarely use other cleanser no matter what climate I’m in. I highly
recommend this product as it is gentle and does clean really well. It is
important to know though that you will still need to use a makeup remover for
your heavy and waterproof items.
As per COSDNA, the following
ingredients may cause acne:
Zinc Oxide (1)
Dimethicone (1)
Stearic Acid
(2)
Ethylhexyl
Palmitate (4)
Butylene Glycol
(1)
I will share my opinions regarding these ingredients as we go
further.
Trial Duration: 2 Days
Price: 825 PHP (Mall Price, Lazada Mall) / around 17 USD – 30 ml
Packaging:
*** it doesn’t come with a box
Current Skin Condition: Acne Prone with dry patches
Review:
The claim of this primer is simple – Smoothen and Protects Skin
with SPF 40 +++
My experience with this primer is actually pretty good. I did not
expect this from a makeup-grade product as normally they are very heavy and
tends to make my face a little heavy at most. Personally, I don’t use primer
daily. I feel like it is too much to be added for a normal workday — of
course, this is more of a personal preference and my thoughts went a little
different on this product.
Let’s go it to details.
On the first day, I tried to use this alone hoping that it can
work as a standalone sun protection – however, this is not that kind of
product. The product itself is very thick and sticky. It is meant to hold on to
something like your foundation or everyday powder but never alone.
At first when you dispense it, the texture is runny but you will
feel that it has body. It is also white to pinkish in color.
On my first trial, I tried using around 1/3 teaspoon of this
amount into my face. The amount I dispensed is the average amount of sunscreen
I use on every day basis which is basically enough to give me proper protection
all over my face.
As you can see from the picture above, my face went very shinny
and sticky after application. Also, because of its opaque white – pinkish property,
my face went a little whiter. This did not settle and was been like that for
minutes.
What I just noticed though is that using the same amount I used
for my regular sunscreen, there were visible excess that compounded in my
hairline and other corner of my face. I also noticed that the excess was more
clinging on my dry patches. I tried to move those excess to my face hoping that
it will find its own spot to settle but it didn’t. In the end, I have to remove
those excess off my face.
After removing, I put my concealer and foundation. I did not do
anything special just my regular fingers (for concealer – Maybelline Instant
Age Rewind) and brush (for the liquid foundation – L’Oreal Infallible
Fresh Wear 24HR):
For this experiment, I put my concealer under my eyes and one on
top of my forehead to hide a dead pimple.
Apparently, this primer is a little greedy in sucking my makeup. I
noticed that my usual one-pump of my liquid foundation is not enough to cover
my face. I have to make another half pump to cover the remainder of my face.
I’m a little surprised with the finish though – -the result of combining this primer with my go-to liquid foundation is beautiful. It left my skin with a very dewy finish. Also, because of its slight pinkish color, some of my old hyperpigmentation somewhat disappeared (as if it colored corrected it). As you can see from the picture, my face went instantly flawless and a hint of healthy-looking glow is apparent. I did not expect this at all as this is not given as a promise.
Moving on, just to remove the remainder stickiness, I pat my face
with very little powder from Clean & Clear Essential Face Powder. For
finale, I added some colors using Maybelline Fit Me Blush.
Another worth the praising is how it elegantly holds my dry patches. On a normal circumstance, my dry skin will be too obvious to the point that they are picking out. Perhaps due to its sticky nature, my dry skin adhered to my skin making them less obvious.
I checked my face after around 5 hours and I noticed that my
dewiness upgraded, making it look a lot healthier and not greasy at all. Is it
bad? No, I prefer to describe my makeup that time as somewhat more natural than
it was when I newly applied it. Also, as time pass by, you tend to forget the
presence of this primer as if you’re only wearing your concealer and foundation.
It feels like it wasn’t there at all. The heaviness and stickiness disappeared
as it settled together with the makeup I used. In addition, my face did not
require a retouch or patting of tissue…except my nose.
As magical it might sound to some though, this primer did not go
well with my nose even from the start. I observed that this primer settled in
my nose’s pores even after application. Considering my tone is in between light
and medium, this primer settling in my pores is very obvious. For me, I find it
difficult to cover or manifest with foundation. This is a good primer still but
personally I think that you will need to use a different primer for the nose or
other parts of your face where your pores is extra big.
After Application:
Few hours:
Personally, I don’t believe in less is more when it comes to
sunscreen. On average, we need to use 1/2 to 1/3 teaspoon of sunscreen to get
the proper amount of protection. Since that I can’t have this primer using the
same amount of my sunscreen, instead I went to use an actual sunscreen then
topped it with this.
For the second test (day 2), after hydrating my face with Simple
Hydrating Light Moisturizer and QuickFx Eye Lift Cream (like I did
on day 1),I took 1/3 teaspoon of my Biore UV Aquarich Watery Essence
SPF50+ PA ++++ into my face and let is dry. After like 10 minutes, I started
putting this UV primer. This time though, I tried to put less (which is just around
1/4 teaspoon) to avoid excess forming on my dry patches and face’s corners.
Then, I did my concealer and liquid foundation just like I did in the
first test. The result is also the same without the excess forming at the
sides.
Here’s my thought.
This is a good primer. However, I will not rely on this as a standalone sun protection. If you’re the type of person who consider sunscreen a vital part of routine, you will need to wear your go-to sunscreen first. Let it absorbed then add this primer. If you’re going to use a sunscreen beneath this product, I would recommend that you use something that is light and capable of disappearing as this primer is a little heavy at first.
I have to admit though, it takes an extra effort removing this. I mentioned
earlier that this compounded in my hairline. Removing it lightly, caused me an
additional pimple in that area. Just one, but it is a lesson learned (by the
way, I did not get a pimple on my second trial). You can use your favorite
makeup remover just make sure though that your cotton is already clear before
proceeding with an actual cleanser, just to be extra sure.
This I can’t wait to share – for some reason after cleanser, my
face went plump and smooth (my clogged pores are still there though but suave
in touch). I felt like face went to baby butt’s mode. It’s hard for me to say
that it is just a coincidence because unofficially, I used this more than twice
and the results are consistent. It is more noticeable after I cleansed my face
and after I woke up. Never in any product have I felt like this. Weird.
Lastly, regarding the ingredients noted above, I personally did
not have any bad reaction on them, just one pimple in my hairline. However, I have to
say that this is a malpractice on my side. Other than, I find it well for my
face.
Did I mention that this primer has no scent? Yep. No scent. I love
the fact that it did not contain any!
Summary:
I will use this again and buy if needed. This
is something I would put into my face if I wanted to feel a little extra or
during special events (of course, this is a personal preference. You can use
this as often as you please)
Better use a different primer on areas where
large pores are apparent as it will highlight them
No bad reaction for acne prone like me
Don’t put too much as it will compound on your
corners or dry patches.
Not sufficient sun protection but can work
very well with other sunscreen (make sure to use your sunscreen first before
this)
Unscented
Not cheap but not very expensive either considering that it is a well known
brand
As per COSDNA, there are 3 ingredients that may cause acne:
Butylene Glycol (1)
Stearic Acid (2)
Zinc Oxide (1)
Other than those, everything seems ok for use. Of course, these are textbook facts. I will discuss further how my skin reacted to these ingredients.
Trial Duration: 2 days
Price: 569 PHP (Shopee Mall — SOME BY MI) / around 10 USD — 50 ml
Packaging:
Current Skin Condition: Acne prone with dry patches
Review:
Protects your skin from “Photoaging”
Truecica Mineral 100 Calming Sunscreen boast to have PA++++. The metric indicates that this provides extreme UVA protection. So far, this is the highest point in our metric system and only few have this much “+” already in their label. I can’t tell you though that this is working or subpar as the metric itself is a little questionable to be honest. I tried going out every once in a while wearing this and no browning / tanning were observed. Also, this might be too advance to tell but for the record, no additional wrinkles were added in my inventory while using this product.
Whitening
Hmmm, whitening.
This term gets to be thrown out so easily and quite interchangeably with “brightening” and “lightening” when it comes to Asian skin care. I checked the ingredient list and can’t see anything that that has somewhat bleaching properties. I do noticed though that there is Niacinamide. This ingredient is known to minimize the size of the pores, brighten skin tone, treats hyperpigmentation and anti-wrinkles to name some. Based from my personal experience, I did notice that my face is a little brighter than the usual. So if we are going to use the term “brightening”, then I would say yes. Yes, it did brighten my face. However, with very short time I had with this product I can’t tell you though if it helped me in the hyperpigmentation due to acne. So for this aspect – no comment.
Wrinkle
Improvement
Like in the “brightening” claim of
this product, the key ingredients for this is Niacinamide. However, same with
above, it will take a lot of time to see if my wrinkles are actually less. I’m
only my early 30’s and to be honest, I don’t have much yet. Hence, I can’t
comment on this claim. Do note though that it claims to have one of strongest
rating when it comes to UVA protection (PA ++++), together with Niacinamide,
this make sense.
Sunscreen for
sensitive skin
This though I can answer more. This
product claims to have non-nano factors that will not be absorbed by the skin
which is ideal for people with acne prone skin.
However –
This does not work as beautiful as it meant to be…at least for me. I saw a lot of people praising this in the internet and online shops saying that it works like wonder for them and this is the only sunscreen that really did not cause them issues. Unfortunately, I’m not part of that statistic.
Just to give you an idea on how my skin was when I started using this – basically I have some dry patches due to my Tretinoin and Azelaic routine. I do have some inactive clogged pores that are hard to see even upfront…but it is there when you touch them. I do have a lot of acne hyperpigmentation too due to my recent reaction to Tretinoin but there’s really nothing active other that the one below my chin (aspiring) and one near the scalp.
Going back, after two days of trying this product, my quiet clogged pores in my chin became more apparent and two became pimples. In my left eyelid, I managed to catch what appears to be two “ripe” clogged pores. Between my eyebrows, few clogged pores appeared. They were not there when I started this trial so I can’t blame this on my current routine. Also, to be fair, I only put a light and unscented moisturizer before using this sunscreen so I can’t blame my Tretinoin or Azelaic for it.
Other than the eyelid and new entries
between my eyebrows, no other clogged pores are worth noting after this. It
appears that an ingredient (or probably more) caused my clogged pores to wake
up and advance. I don’t know what these ingredients could be as the listing has
no apparent culprit other that the three I mentioned earlier. There is a
possibility that this is more of a personal reaction and other may not
experience it.
Below are some of the pictures of my
screen before and after:
Before applying sunscreen (with moisturizer
absorbed already):
Aftermath (2 days after):
Note: Those items in red circle are
there before the trial however, they are very small and less noticeable when I
started. The one in orange is the aspiring I mentioned earlier. It is its first
day before I took the sunscreen. The one below the orange circle and the reds
in left “ripen” after the sunscreen.
These are new as there are no clogged pores on those areas when I started using this sunscreen
These are new to me as well.
85% moisture essence, lotion-like texture with no white cast finish
This
sunscreen is not sticky considering that it is mineral. The texture of the
lotion itself is not dry and true to its claim that it is lotion like. It
glides smoothly in my face and does spread quite nicely. I did not have any issues
about this getting stuck in my lines, nose and other corners. From my
experience with other sunscreens I would say that when you put it, it is light
but not the lightest out there. However,
when it dries, it is hard to tell that it is there.
It
did not dry my skin. However it did not contribute any moisturizing effect on
my skin despite its claim that it has 85% moisture essence. My skin still has
the initial dryness issue I mentioned earlier…just not worse.
I
also did not notice any white cast afterwards. It went almost invisible to my
skin after few minutes.
Spread:
Without
flash, natural light
With
flash
A little shiny at first
After 30 mins:
Natural light
With flash
Smell
Reading the product listing, it is true that they don’t have any artificial scents, but it still has fragrance. There are oils worth noting that contributes to its lemon to green tea like scent, almost similar to Biore Watery Essence Sunscreen but lighter. These are Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil and Asiaticoside. They are known as natural fragrance. Some people tends to have irritations on these items especially when used in larger amount.
Though I can live with the scent that this sunscreen has, for
me though, I would prefer not to have it no matter how “natural” or light they
are. I’m a huge believer that not all-natural products are good for your skin. Our
skin has no need for fragrance and these ingredients might only cause
irritation.
Final thoughts:
I’m a little skeptic recommending this
one despite all the good points I mentioned (lightness, texture, no-white cast
etc). The thing is, if the reaction might be a conflict related to my routine (which
contains Azelaic and Tretinoin), it’s no good for acne prone then. Let’s be
real here. People with acne prone skin may be already be involved in medical
grade routine. Their routine tends to have strong ingredients perhaps due to
prescription or over the counter items such AHA, BHA, Retinol / Retinoid and Azelaic
to name some. If this is the cause of my inactive clogged pores getting triggered
then we maybe be we should be more specific with the claims.
For now, it’s a take-at-your-own-risk kind of recommendation. A lot of people are praising it but unfortunately for me, I fell on that smaller statistic that did not have good reaction in this sunscreen.
Would I try it again? Yes. I’m planning to consume the whole tube and make a new review again. I will not erase this but I would like to give this a second chance. The reason for it is because this sunscreen feels a lot better than those that I tried. It is very light and it works very well on my makeup (I have a separate review for it). For the record, I will not pull out my routine (which contains Tretinoin and Azelaic) just to give way to this sunscreen. I will consume them as is and this sunscreen as how it is meant to be.
I’ll keep this posted once the new
review is ready.
If you want to see my under the makeup review of this product, check out this link.
Roiski 