iBeautyTips.com

Banana Boat Baby Tear Free SPF50

Banana Boat Baby Tear Free SPF50 Protection Spectrum

Fancl Sunguard SPF30/PA+++

Fancl Sunguard SPF30/PA+++ Protection Spectrum

Kiss Me Sunkiller Baby Milk SPF38 PA+++

Sunkiller Baby Milk SPF38/PA+++ Protection Spectrum

Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25

Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 Protection Spectrum

Whilst chatting with fellow blogger, Dewi, on Sun Protection, it drawn upon me I have yet to post about it.

This might sound surprise to many, although I am into Skinfood and have tried quite a fair bit of its products by now, there are actually some items I will never buy from Skinfood.

One of them is: Sunscreen/Sunblock.

Due to the lack of ingredients list in English, there is no way I am able to determine whether the sun protection product from Skinfood is a sunscreen or sunblock. Water resistant or water proof? Is it photostable? These are just the primarily doubts among many other important concerns, especially when there are plenty of ingredients my sensitive skin should avoid.

Personally, I do tend to avoid Japanese and Korean sun protection products. As this is not a beauty blog, I won’t go deep into explaining the details. Lets just zoom in on one example, the UVA protection.

If you have noticed, the PA rating only comes from Japanese and Korean products, whereas almost the rest of the world, be it whichever country of origin, go by the European system of PPD ratings. The highest level of PA rating in the market is PA+++ which corresponds to PPD 8, however, the ideal minimum PPD is 15.

So there, do you see that in the area of UVA protection, those from Japanese/Korean brands kind of lose out?

When it comes to sun protection products, there is a whole lot more of information one needs to read up and understand. Thankfully, there are abundance of articles and forums on the internet we can easily access.

Physical or Chemical, or a combi of both (yes, there is), European or Japanese/Korean formulations, all depend on individual preferences and needs.

But if I may say, if you could and will, do look out for:

Minimum SPF 30
PA+++, for Japanese/Korean formulation.
PPD15 and above, for European formulation.
Broad Spectrum Protection, the wording printed on the bottle/tube.
Hypo-Allergenique – Non Comedogene, the wording printed on the bottle/tube.

Back to Skinfood, I do have the Broccoli, Green Tea and Goat Milk & Lavenders, all received as gifts, will find time to review them

Tagged: Cacaopack, Skin Food, Skinfood

Information stated on the packaging/website:

Waterproof sun screen cream which offers high protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Portulaca oleracea linne, aloe and camomile ingredients protect the skin.


Apply evenly across the face except for eye areas at the last stage of basis skin care.


My say:


This is my first sun protection product from Skinfood, and it has been sitting on my vanity table for like 8 months, in an as-good-as-new condition.


Other than the fact that I do own quite a few bottles of sunscreen/sunblock, I did mention in my earlier post I do not feel secure using sun protection product which I am clueless about its ingredients, and this item is as such.


Therefore, hanging on my belief in wearing stable sunblock, I must have reached out for this less than 10 times. Furthermore, I shouldn’t be using a cream-based product in the first place, it is just not the right stuff for my skin type.


So to be fair, it is neither a yay nor nay, from me.
This cream sits rather heavy on my oily skin, as expected.
I am guessing drier skin type would welcome this, since logically creamy stuffs are created for them.


On the plus side, I like the scent, lol. Also, I do not experience any sensitivity from it.


An added info I read from a local beauty magazine:
Broccoli is another vegetable that helps fight sun damage. Researchers have found the compound sulforaphane, derived from brocolli sprouts, even reduces skin redness and inflammation caused by UV exposure.

Tagged: Cacaopack, Skin Food, Skinfood

Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF15

From www.cosmeticscop.com:

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Large, opaque plastic tube with flip-top cap. Very convenient.

Texture:
Thin lotion, very easy to spread.

Sun Protection Level:
This product uses Avobenzone as its UVA filter, so protection is broad. With other filters combined, this product covers all harmful UVA and UVB.

Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF15 – Protection Spectrum

Problem may arise if you don’t believe that Avobenzone is stable; as this product doesn’t contain Octocrylene. Me myself is torn between the 2: there are studies that prove Avobenzone is stable, other studies dispute it.

Read the ‘What Else You Need To Know’ section if you’re not familiar with photostability term.

My General Review:
I used to use the Paula’s Choice Essential Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF15 for my leisure at-home weekends, and loved it to bits. It was a combination between Octinoxate and Titanium Dioxide in a refreshingly fluid lotion. Yes, the PPD may be low, that’s why I only use this behind thick curtain and UV-filtering film at home. And it seems to keep my face nice and white (unlike the popular Clarins UV Plus!).

But the nice stuff get discontinued! D’oh. Ever since, I used other light SPF15 sunscreens from PC, and Essential Non-Greasy SPF15 is one of them.

It doesn’t disappoint. The texture is similar to the Essential Moisturizing SPF15, which I highly prefer because it makes it easy to apply tons of it evenly. The fresh texture means there’s no overly greasy/sticky residue, hence I don’t need to set it with powder.

I was dry then, so when I used Essential Non-Greasy SPF15, I always put heavy moisturizer underneath. So in the end, the feel is somewhat similar to the Essential Moisturizer SPF15. I personally think Essential Non-Greasy SPF15 can be used by normal/dry to combination skin.

As for the protection, I love that it’s broad, but I don’t prefer to use this for daily sunscreen as I tend to pick 3% Avobenzone product to ensure higher UVA protection. And, this product doesn’t contain stabilizer, so I don’t know whether it’s stable or not.

Aside from the stabilizer issue, the ingredient list is great. It contains antioxidants and soothing agents. Typical of Paula.

What Else You Need To Know:
Photostability issue is a condition where an UV filter breaks down under the presence of UV; essentially beats down the function of an UV filter.

Avobenzone has been quoted here and there as not photostable on its own, therefore it needs photostabilizer to make it work as a UV filter. Some of Avobenzone stabilizer are Octocrylene, Mexoryl SX, Tinosorb S, and Tinosorb M.

Application:
This can be used alone, but I prefer to use a separate moisturizer. Either way, always apply this liberally and evenly though.

Availability:
As always with Paula’s Choice, no good ole’ brick and mortar store available. You’ll need to order it online, if it’s available in your country or region.

Price:
In its home country, it’s sold at US.95 for 177ml. In Indonesia, it’s IDR295,000. Quite a difference! But there’s a lot of product in there, so it’s still quite economical compared to other products.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 2%, and Oxybenzone 2% (sunscreen agents).

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF55

This is an update to my previous review of Dry Touch SPF55. While I still stand firm on my comment that it sucks for my face, I finally found a place where it works so damn well.

Nope, not my neck, but my body. Hands…legs….any UV exposed body parts. Don’t be shy, you must rub it in. It may leave small white flakes, but on me it doesn’t ball up. Any streaks are easily smoothed with fingers. It’s thick, but it sinks quite quickly and immediately leaves velvety smooth texture. Unlike most high protection sunscreen!

And speaking about protection…this stuff is supposed to be both stable and broad spectrum.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF55 — Protection Range

I also read in MakeupAlley that its estimated PPD is 19….if so than I think it’s great for daily use! Plus, it’s water resistant, so it should help up against little perspiration. Although I’ll still need to reapply, at least it makes me feel safer.

Anyway, I’m bumping it up to 4 out of 5. Pretty high, water resistant UV protection with velvety texture. I think this is almost everything I could ask in a body sunscreen. The only thing is it lacks any antioxidants, which are very important in a sunscreen. Guess I must wear an elegant body lotion underneath. Oh well.

The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF15

From www.thebodyshop-usa.com:

Best if you want to: Protect and soothe your sensitive skin from the sun with a gentle, easily absorbed, non-greasy lotion that has SPF 15.

How it works:

• Community Trade aloe vera hydrates and calms sensitive skin.
• A medium level of broad spectrum UVA and UVB sun protectors guard skin against the damaging rays of the sun.
• Community Trade sesame seed oil and natural oat extract moisturize, minimize the signs of sensitive skin and provide antioxidant protection, leaving skin soft, supple and protected.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Small, opaque plastic tube with flip-top cap. Very convenient. And here’s the big plus: once I emptied the tube, I can return it to TBS for them to recycle. Neato!

Texture:
Standard lotion. Not too thin, not too thick.

Sun Protection Level:
This product uses Avobenzone as its UVA filter, so protection is broad. With other filters combined, this product covers all harmful UVA and UVB.

TBS Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF15 Protection Spectrum

For those of you concerned with Avobenzone stability: well, this product contains Octocrylene. We don’t know about the exact percentage, but it preceeds Avobenzone so I assume it’s there in higher concentration compared to Avobenzone. Better to stabilize it, don’t you think?

But exactly because of the unknown percentage, I don’t know how high the UVA protection is. I’ll play safe and assume that it’s UVA protection is rather low.

My General Review:
I waited until I finished my tube before I review it…because I didn’t really love it. I bought this because I read the ingredient list online and was instantly attracted. This all-chemical filter SPF moisturizer seems neat; it doesn’t contain fragrance and preservatives. Instead it incorporate Aloe and some humectant like Glycerin and Sorbitol. It’s not water resistant, so I reckon it’ll be suitable for weekend use at home; when I have nothing to do aside from browsing the Internet behind my walls, thick curtains, and UV-filtering window film.

I assumed due to the SPF15, the protection of both UVA and UVB will only be low. Therefore, I went on to guess that the texture would be relatively light. Imagine how surprised I am to find that it managed to sucks the moisture of my skin, yet feels rather sticky. Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy SPF15 is certainly more elegant compared to this. The TBS Aloe SPF15 actually make me feel suffocated!

Now, of course I wore my sunscreen liberally, but the feeling if too much for SPF15. Even LRP Hydraphase SPF15 PPD12 is much lighter in feeling.

Despite the tackiness of TBS Aloe SPF15, when I wash my face in the evening, my skin would always looked and felt dehydrated. It looked rough, dry, and overall not happy. Go figure!

In the end I decided to use this product on my neck. And hands, sometimes.

What Else You Need To Know:
The Body Shop® difference: Our aloe comes from our Community Trade partners, the Gustatoya Farmers in Guatemala. Part of the income from this fair trade provides children in 200 schools with high-quality visual materials. Ruben Antonio Valdez, an aloe farmer and member of the Friends of the Schools committee, believes Community Trade is not only improving his family life, but a whole generation of children: “The biggest difference is that I am able to receive income and put my children through school. I am also proud of the fact that profits are being reinvested in our children.”

Application:
I always wear my antioxidant serum day and night, which is even more important considering the fact that this product doesn’t contain any. Since it’s not hydrating enough on its own, I usually apply my usual day moisturizer before I proceed with this stuff.

Availability:
TBS is pretty widespread here in Indonesia, I think every major mall have it. You can buy it from their stores.

Price:
IDR159,000 for 50ml. Pretty expensive, and Paula’s Choice do offer chemical-based SPF15 which is (although its stability can be disputed by some).

It’s retailed for in US.

Ingredients:
Aloe barbadensis, Glycerin, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Sorbitol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Myristyl Myristate, Sesamum indicum, Butyrospermum parkii, Panthenol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Avena sativa, Sodium Hydroxide, Aqua.

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Supposed to be stable, yet rather expensive and not elegant. I’ll need to contemplate on whether I’ll repurchase or not.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Mine is not this one, as mine is labeled with SPF30/PA++. But the packaging is similar.

Mentholatum Acnes UV Tint

From The Box:
The text is in Indonesian, so here they are translated:

• Prevents acne, anti-UV lotion.
• For indoor and outdoor uses.

Oily skin is one of the cause for acne, and UV radiation can make it more severe. Use Acnes UV Tint which contains anti-UV to protect your skin and prevents acne.

Benefits:

• Anti-bacterial: Isopropyl Methylphenol kills acne-causing bacteria.
• Anti-UV: SPF30 and PA++ shields skin from UV radiation.
• Nourishes skin: Vitamin E and B6 helps keep skin soft and moist.
• Make-up: Acts as makeup base and controls sebum.

Steryl Glycyrrhetinate soothes reddened skin caused by acne.

Oil-free, alcohol-free, and free from suntan substance which causes skin to darkens in contact with UV. Gentle and appropriate for all skin types.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Small opaque plastic bottle with small opening. Very convenient at home or when travelling.

Texture:
Similar to asian sunscreens. It’s liquid with tons of slip. Feels slightly oily to the touch, which I guess is caused by silicones, but it dries down fine. Not oily or tacky.

Sun Protection Level:
The best I’ve seen from a pure mineral filter drugstore sunscreen. It contains 10% Zinc Oxide and 8.6% Titanium Dioxide. Usually, a drugstore product won’t reach a 10% Zinc Oxide level

Mentholatum Acnes UV Tint SPF30/PA++ Protection Spectrum

Nevertheless, being micronized (and siliconized, they claim) Zinc Oxide, it’s probable that it doesn’t cover the highest spectrum of UVA. Good news is, it’s supposed to be stable.

As for how high the UVA protection is, it’s only PA++; which means it may range from PPD 6 to PPD 8. Kinda low for my taste. Usually, PPD10 is as low as I’m willing to go. Even then,  I wouldn’t use it daily; mostly only to alternate with more protective sunscreens.

My General Review:
I’m sorry that I’m about to crash a party here. Everyone raves about this product, but honestly, I don’t.

Of course, I bought it because of the raves. Plus, I’ve seen the ingredients in store and was pleasantly surprised to find it incorporates 10% Zinc Oxide, PLUS 8.6% Titanium Dioxide. That’s very rare for a drugstore product; usually they only contain smaller percentage of UV filter. Also, they contain some antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C. The texture is also quite nice, a lot of people love this kind of watery asian sunscreen type. Even though it feels slightly oily to the touch, it sinks in quickly. But on me, the good things ceased there.

First off, despite being micronized, the filters are there, creating messy, cakey look that I can’t get rid off. It disturbs the finish of my foundation, I couldn’t get perfect smooth face with this product underneath. I don’t understand why others never experience this problem, but then again I use a lot of product at one time. Much more than 1/3 teaspoon. And if you want a sunscreen to work as it claims to be, you better be packing it on your face. Especially liquid ones.

Frankly, this problem is common with a lot of  sunscreens utilizing mineral filters. And I’ve learned that I can use a more emollient moisturizer underneath, giving the sunscreen extra slippery surface so it blends better. But! I usually only use that method on weekends at home, when I don’t put any makeup on top. When I don’t really worry on how many oil my skin will spill.

On weekdays, when I put makeup on top, I couldn’t tolerate more emollient moisturizer underneath, could I? Even though Acnes UV Tint itself doesn’t feel oily throughout the day, I wouldn’t risk adding extra moisturizer per day basis.

Plus, there’s this tint problem. It’s beige. While it’s not a problem with my fellow yellow-toned ladies, it’s troublesome on my pink-toned face. It makes me look dull and darker than I really am. D’uh!

All in all, given the UVA protection is only PA++, I’m not willing to make sacrifices in order to wear this

What Else You Need To Know:
Mentholatum is owned by Rohto, and Acnes series seems to be Asian exclusive.

Application:
I always wear my antioxidant serum and moisturizer first. Shake the bottle well, and apply the sunscreen liberally and evenly all over face and neck.

Availability:
Easily available at drugstores or supermarket here in Indonesia. Watson’s, for example.

Price:
Another good point of this product. It’s around IDR40,000 for 30ml, which is substantially cheaper than a lot of sunscreens.

Ingredients:
I suspect that they didn’t give full ingredient list, but only the active ingredients.

Isopropyl Methylphenol 0.1%, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate 0.05%, dl-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Mg L-Ascorbyl-2-Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Rosemary Extract, Siliconized Micro Particles Zinc Oxide 10% & Titanium Dioxide 8.6%, Siliconized Talc, Mica, Titanium (CI 77891), Yellow Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Red Iron Oxide (CI77491) and Black Iron Oxide (CI 77499), Perfume, Water.

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Best ingredients and filter I’ve seen in a pure mineral drugstore sunscreen, and a lot of people love this. But it’s not for me.

I recommend you to try it out, especially if you only want a light non water resistant sunscreen with not-so-high-and-greasy protection. Who knows it’ll work for you!

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF50+/PA+++

A quick update to the mighty-textured Asian exclusive sunscreen. I’ve told you that it contains alcohol but I continue to use it anyway. Well…after 3 bottles, I feel that my skin has become darker. At first I thought that this sunscreen was proven to be not protecting enough for my fair, sun-sensitive, very sensitive skin. So I switched to ultra-protecting euro sunscreen once again, and to my surprise, my skin looks brighter almost instantly…just 2 days after I switched.

Then I realized….no, Waterlight was protective enough for my daily use. It wasn’t my skin that has turned darker. Instead, the alcohol in it irritated my skin so it looked dull, and it oxidized at the end of the day. Just like the old days, when I was still using irritant-laden skincare.

So right now I’m not using this as my daily sunscreen anymore. I may still use it from time to time….but I’m not sure I’ll repurchase. It seems that I’ve found a Japanese sunscreen with SPF above 30 and PA+++, yet sans-alcohol and sans-perfume. Gonna order it and share with you beautiful ladies

RoC Minesol Triple Defense SPF50+ Fluid Cream

From The Box:
Fluid cream – Very high protection SPF50+.

RoC Innovation:
Developed with dermatologists, this fragrance-free cream offers very high sun protection and suits even the most sensitive skin.
Its patented Minesol technology ensures strengthened sun protection thanks to 3 complementary levels of defense:

• Anti-UVB/harmful effects of the sun thanks to high performing broad spectrum filters.
• Anti-UVA/premature skin aging with its latest generation of photo-stable UVA filters.
• Anti-oxidant/skin cell alterations thanks to an exclusive ingredient of natural origin.

The efficacy is scientifically proven*

Pleasant texture:
Smooth, velvety and non-greasy, it leaves no white effect and is quickly absorbed. Very resistant to water.

Precautions:
Before sun exposure, evenly apply the equivalent of 1 tablespoon of cream on your face. Reducing this quantity will lower the level of protection significantly. Reapply frequently and especially after sweating, swimming, or toweling. Avoid intense midday sun. Do not expose babies and young children to the sun.

*Compliant with the new European recommendations in-vitro test.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Opaque plastic squeeze tube with flip top cap. Practical, easy to use, and travel friendly.

Texture:
Thick lotion, like most Euro sunscreens.

Sun Protection Level:
Unfortunately my box didn’t say its PPD, but I think it’s Boot’s 5 star UVA rating. If that’s true, for this kind of SPF, the PPD should be higher than 15. RoC incorporates several highly stable filters up in the list, so I indeed believe the PPD protection will be high.

Anyway the protection is very broad.

RoC Minesol Fluide Cream SPF50+ Protection Spectrum

This sunscreen utilizes mixed filters with Titanium Dioxide being the only mineral filter in it. The result is all area of UV is triple reinforced at the minimum. Very good!

My General Review:
Yet another sunscreen that every other people seems to love, but….

Yes, this is highly protective Euro sunscreen, but I can’t agree with others in the finish of this sunscreen. I wonder why others told me that this is an elegant sunscreen. They say it’s non-sticky and wearable, but to me it’s truly horrible. It finishes off in a white, uneven, cakey film that can’t be evened out no matter how much I try to blend it in.

Putting makeup on top is virtually impossible. The uneven film is too much, it rubs off in bits and makes my foundation ultra cakey. Seriously. I had to run off and wash my face right away because it’s truly ugly I couldn’t go out looking like that.

Of course I’ve tried different moisturizers as the base to this sunscreen. Light gel moisturizer that finishes off as a film….a light lotion…none helped.

I sold it after repeated fails. I hope the buyer loves the product, as others seems to.

What Else You Need To Know:
Oh, BTW, this contains Feverfew extract (Chrysanthemum Parthenium) which is a strong irritant and allergen, unless you remove it’s component called parthenolide. Is RoC has get rid of the component? I don’t know. If you have plant allergy, I strongly think it’s better that you write to RoC to demand if their products are parthenolide-free. If the answer is yes, than it means the Feverfew extract is there to act as anti-inflammatory instead.

The sunscreen also contains Linseed Acid…I’m not sure if it points to Linoleic Acid. If yes, then it’s there as skin-barrier repair agent, emollient, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Nevertheless, it’s there in the middle of ingredient list. I don’t think it’s enough as my daily topical antioxidant dose.

Application:
I always put a antioxidant-rich serum and moisturizer first underneath. Wait until they’ve absorbed, and liberally massage the sunscreen in.

Availability:
RoC got a poor job in keeping up with their stocks here, it seems. Basically you get this at drugstores such as Guardian or Watsons, but not all shop has it.

Price:
Around IDR250,000 (~US)? Quite expensive for such tiny tube. I can add a little bit more and get a better 100ml of La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Cyclohexasiloxane, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Tridecyl Salycilate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylpheno (Tinosorb M), Bis-Ethylhexylphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (Tinosorb S), VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Silica, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ehtylhexyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PG-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Linseed Acid, Alumina, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-8 Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Dodecylbenzeneusulfonate, Polyacrilate-13, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Overall Rating:
2 out of 5 for the very water resistant high protection feature; but there are other high protection, wearable Euro sunscreen that is actually cheaper. I don’t think I’m interested in the Minesol range from now on.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase XL SPF15 PPD12

From www.laroche-posay.com:
Targeted Rehydration. Lasting effect. Anti-UVA protection Day.

Indication:
Skin prone to dryness.

An innovative, targeted moisturization technology to:

• Adapt to moisture demand in each area of the face
• Provide intense, lasting moisturization with a formula that contains water from the Roche-Posay hydrotherapy spa (to soften), glycerin (to moisturize) and sodium hyaluronate (to fix moisture).
• High protection from everyday UVA exposure provided by a sunscreen system containing Mexoryl® XL.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Opaque, secure pump bottle. It’s hygienic, but maybe the fact that you can’t scoop out the last bits of the bottle is irritating to some people.

I think a tube may work as well.

Texture:
Light cream. Very easy to be spread and is non greasy.

Sun Protection Level:
One of the great aspect about European sunscreen is that a lot of them states the protection level clearly. In this case, it’s SPF15 with PPD of 12. Which makes it a PA+++ sunscreen in Japan standard.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase XL SPF15 PPD12 Protection Spectrum

See that diagram? Each area is triple reinforced at the minimum! It’s so nice and thoughtful, but I think the percentage of active ingredients is not that high so the SPF is only 15. For its UVA protection, PPD12 for a SPF15 sunscreen is already great.

The ideal sun protection for daily use for me is actually around SPF30 with PPD of 10 at the minimum and around 15 for the ideal wear. So this moisturizer is definitely usable for me, but more for at home weekends.

My General Review:
This is my first ever LRP product A friend was raving about this product, and I saw the relatively great SPF-PPD pair, plus the reviews in MakeupAlley are quite favorable. LRP is not available in Indonesia, but a friend in France offered to get me this, since they have plenty of this in their drugstores!

I was so ready to love this product, but alas, it didn’t work. Yes, the texture is lovely. The lotion feels like a moisturizer, not sunscreen. It’s not tacky in the slightest. But heck, it balls up terribly! It won’t ball up if you only use this product sparingly, but sunscreen should be used generously in order to get the true protection listed in the label.

How about if I use this as a moisturizer only, not as a sunscreen? Well….depending on my skin type at the moment. If I’m too dry/dehydrated this product alone may not be enough. If I’m only normal/dry, this will work. But really, in terms of moisturizer, the formulation is not superior. It doesn’t have useful ingredients such as antioxidants and cell-communicating ingredients.

As usual, I always use an antioxidant concentrate underneath everything. It’s very important for me.

BTW, despite being popular as a skincare choice for those with sensitive skin, Hydraphase XL is fragranced. It’s light and nice, like…cucumber-y scent? But still, sensitive skin is better off with fragrance-free products.

What Else You Need To Know:
As far as I know, there are 3 variant of this product. The normal Hydraphase XL, this is the subject of my review today. There are Rich version (Riche) for drier skin, and the last one is the lighter version (L’egere) for combination but dehydrated skin. All have SPF15 and PPD12.

Previous to Hydraphase XL SPF15, there is a product called Hydraphase UV SPF30. This has been discontinued, but you can still get this online, I think. The problem is, there seems to be several version with different ingredient list. The one I found online is the version without any Mexoryl, and the PPD is lower than Hydraphase XL SPF15, so up until now I haven’t try that one out.

If you’re in the US, I think you have access to La Roche Posay Anthelios SX SPF15 PPD15. Even better SPF-PPD pair! The reviews are good, but there are some people who said that this product balls up in their face too. Haven’t try it out myself though.

Application:
At that time my skin was dry and dehydrated, so I use this on top of regular moisturizer. I use around 4-5 pumps on each application. Sunscreen has to be applied generously, you know

Otherwise I just use this alone.

Availability:
LRP is not available in Indonesia, but it’s available in Singapore. You can find it at drugstores like Watsons.

Price:
This was a gift from a friend in France some time ago *thanks so much Dian!*, so I don’t really know the exact price. It’s going for around US at online stores though.

Ingredients:
Aqua/Water, C12-15 Alkylbenzoate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Aluminum Starch Oxtenylsuccinate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alykl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Phenoxythanol, Propylparaben, Eythylparaben, Butylparaben, BHT, Parfum/Fragrance

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Great texture, although as a moisturizer the formulation is obsolete. As a sunscreen, to my standard it should give low-moderate protection, alas it balls up so it won’t effectively protect your skin.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

*Pic via www.leguidesante.co.uk

Long time no update! I was taking a long hibernation, and my laptop died so I can’t update on the Bobbi Brown CP progress. Sorry about that! I was living off my brother’s Mac but the spree data is on my laptop. But here it is now!

Bobbi Browns!

All requested items are available, except for Face Touch Up Stick and Pot Rouge. People who CPed those, I should already contacted you. Please check your bank account, as refund has been made by me.

As for me, I only got these items.

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer UV Compete Moisture SPF50+/PA+++

The Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick is a gift from bf :3 And yes, it’s the Moisture version of the previously-raved Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Waterlight SPF50+/PA+++.

Tried both, and as of now I’m highly impressed with them! Hope I can review them soon