little white truths

I received this product as a sample with an order, and I was super excited to see that, at 15ml, it's a very generous sample and there's plenty of product to warrant a full review.

I've been testing a lot of facial sunscreens lately, and unfortunately this one just isn't for me: it's far too greasy (even for my dry skin!) and I think plenty of better facial sunscreens exist - including cheaper ones - that make much better day creams and contain the same amount of sun protection. More on all that below.

• Provides broad spectrum SPF50+ protection including zinc
• Hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates and promotes skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 
• Super-replenishing antioxidant niacinamide (Vitamin B3) targets pigmentation and boosts the skin's immunity to UV
• Lightweight and fast-absorbing
• Non pore-clogging, suitable for all skin types including acne-prone skin
• May assist in the prevention of sun spots and reduce the risk of some skin cancers
• Replenishes essential moisture while providing broad spectrum protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays and ageing free radicals
• RRP $55 AUD for 100ml, but do shop around

Verdict

I should kick off by saying that, when I first opened this product (shortly after I received it), white liquid ran out before the actual cream portion followed - and every time I use it, the same thing happens. This makes me wonder whether the product is old and has separated over time. But then again, the SPF50+ version has recently replaced the old SPF30+ one - so how old can it be?

That aside, this is without question the greasiest facial sunscreen I have ever used. Honestly, it's more greasy than any dedicated sunscreen I've tried that you can pick up from the chemist or supermarket - and those aren't meant to be fancy facial products and they certainly don't cost as much as this does!

To expand on that, I quickly learned that I can't apply this is if I want to wear makeup over the top. When used without a primer, my base product slides off and vanishes into thin air. Now I have dry, dehydrated skin - so I can't imagine how bad this would be for oily skinned lasses!

Next I tried it with a mattifying primer, and even that wasn't enough to combat the grease - although at least my foundation didn't slide off this time. Even then, I've never had to powder my face as much as I have when I use this product - so much so that I use around three times as much setting powder than I normally would, and even then I can still feel the the grease when I touch my face. This of course makes powder products like bronzer and blush go on patchily, so I wouldn't recommend this for use under makeup.

I've also tried it over makeup to boost my sun protection throughout the day. Unsurprisingly, it basically dissolves everything on my skin - again, more so than a dedicated sunscreen - so I can't use it for that purpose either.

If you're not planning on wearing makeup over the top, you may still find that it looks far too greasy so you might need to put powder over it anyway, unless you're ok with looking like you've applied oil to your face (and trust me, that oiliness doesn't absorb over time - at least on me).

On top of that, this stuff stings my eyes, even if I don't apply it anywhere near the eye area. So something in this obviously doesn't agree with me - and my eyes aren't that sensitive, so I'd steer clear of this if eye-sensitivity is a problem for you.

One thing to note is that the reviews on this are mixed: some say it's not greasy (indeed, I've seen some say that it leaves your skin completely matte!) and others like myself note the greasiness as their first comment on the product. What I have noticed about this contradiction, is that - as mentioned - this SPF50+ version has replaced the old SPF30+ one, and from what I can tell, the old version may have been the matte one and this newer version is the greasier formulation.

I can't comment on the other claims relating to reducing sun spots/pigmentation and fine lines etc over time because 15ml of product isn't enough to see how the cream works with consistent use. In any event, I wouldn't want to use it for a prolonged period given the issues I've mentioned above.

Overall, this obviously just isn't the product for me and I'd go so far as to say that it's a bad formula that I can't see suiting any skin type: dry, oily or normal. Is it possible I got a bad batch? Maybe, but I wouldn't want to use this again so I'm not game to find out - even if one fell in my lap.

Do let me know if you've tried this and what you think of it if so. I'm keen to know whether I got a dud one or whether others have experienced the same issues.