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Sunscreen Roundup & Review

Hello Everyone! There’s only a few days left of Summer and Fall’s just around the corner, oh my, how time goes by so fast. Yet from where I am, the sun is still shining brightly and though I could feel the temperature slowly dipping 1 digit down, it’s still pretty much Summer in here, no doubt. So before we reach the official start of Fall, I’d like to wrap up some sunscreens that I’ve used this Summer and even from the previous ones. Since I haven’t really done an official sunscreen roundup review on this blog, let’s do a recap of some of the sunscreen’s I’ve tried. Some of these products were a hit for me, while some were also a miss.

 

suncare review

 

Let’s find out, shall we?

 

BODY

 

Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum Spf 50

 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Broad Spectrum Spf 60 Water-Lotion Sunscreen (150 ml: $35.99) – A fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, great for sensitive skin sunscreen that has a light water-like texture. It’s great for face and body with added antioxidant protection and water resistant for 80 minutes. Though this was described as cooling and refreshing water-lotion, this didn’t really feel cooling for me, but others whom I’ve also asked to try claimed that they felt a bit of a cooling sensation upon applying it. So it might be just me being insensitive, LOL. The nice thing about this Sunscreen is that it’s not greasy, it’s super lightweight, my skin absorbs this easily and has no discerning scent. This also prevents me from getting sunburned and it’s not sticky while I sweat or stay under the sun. Definitely a great sunscreen if you have a sensitive skin, or if you just want an all-around good sunscreen that won’t irritate your nose. It’s kinda pricey for a sunscreen though, but you can tell that it’s good quality.

 

Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum Spf 50 (3.4 oz: $19; 7.1 oz: $34) – A very different sunscreen that comes out as a mousse which spreads really well on the skin. It’s extremely lightweight and has a bit of a cooling or refreshing feel. It also has a nice light floral scent with antioxidants and is also water-resistant. The dispenser can be a bit tricky or difficult to use, and even though the mousse/foam, which feels like a shaving cream, was very spreadable, it kinda feels a bit greasy, but it disappears and melts into the skin easily. I usually use this for the body, but a lot of people also use this on their face. This gives me good coverage under the sun while it’s also fun to apply. The only problem is that because its packaging is pressurized, you’re not gonna be able to carry this when you travel.

 

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Spf 30 in Aloe Vera (4 oz: $6.50) – I’ve always enjoyed this organic and water-resistant affordable sunscreen, plus, it’s pretty much easy to find. I like that this feels like a moisturizing lotion and it melts into my skin very well without leaving a white cast and it’s non-greasy. This scent can be a bit too sweet, like sweet lemons, but it’s not a bad fruity scent. It reminds me of Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream’s scent, but this one is great for sensitive skin with no parabens, no harsh sulfates, and made of 100% vegetarian ingredients. It’s a cheap but effective suncare.

 

Coola Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 50 in Guava Mango

 

Coola Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 50 in Guava Mango & Spf 30 in Citrus Mimosa (3.4 oz: $24, 8 oz: $36) – Probably one of the best (if not the best) scented spray sunscreens I’ve ever tried. Made of organic ingredients, antioxidant-infused, and water resistant for 80 minutes. These sunscreens are ideal for just about any activity you want to do under the sun. I use this for running, hiking, and gardening. It doesn’t feel sticky even after I sweat a lot. I also never get sunburned with this, and it gets absorbed by my skin rather easily, plus it leaves no white residue whatsoever. In addition to that, the sprayer sprays evenly and finely onto the skin making it easy to spread and apply all over the arms and legs. Further reviewed HERE.

 

Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 70

 

Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 70 (6 oz: $8.99) – One of the first ever sport sunscreen I’ve ever used, and it’s supposed to be made of high-performance formulations-antioxidants, water-resistant for 80 minutes, supposed to stay on your skin even after you sweat, and won’t run into your eyes and sting. Oh well, if I had not tried other sport sunscreens, I would have thought that all sunscreens are as sticky and strong-smelling as this. This particular sunscreen feels a bit thick and greasy upon application, and it gets even greasier once you start sweating with it. It almost feels gross, like your skin cannot breathe and it feels a bit hot. The nice thing about this is that it has a very high Spf, otherwise, there’s definitely other sunscreens that are better than this.

 

Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray Broad Spectrum Spf 30 (5 oz: $36) – This was a hit for me the moment I first sprayed this on my skin. That powdery-floral scent could last for a good 4-6 hours and I never get tired of it. This spray has a very “summer on the beach” vibe, and it’s also great to spray on your hair to protect it from drying when exposed to a lot of sun and also from salt water. This is definitely my favorite suncare oil spray because it’s not greasy, it disappears into the skin easily, it leaves no white cast, and it protects me from the sun. I wish it has a higher Spf, but so far, I never had a sunburn or redness with this.

 

Top Care Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum Spf 50 (8 oz: $5.99) – Found this at my local supermarket when I was in sudden need of a sunscreen. This may be hard to find online nowadays, but I’m pretty sure you might find this in your local grocery stores. This was an impulse buy for me and I picked this not knowing anything about this particular product or brand at all. Of course, I had other choices, like Coppertone and Neutrogena, but after my experience with Coppertone’s Sport Continuous Spray, I felt like, Nah, I’m gonna have to pass. Also, I love Neutrogena products, but their sunscreens are too thick and too sticky for me. They also leave a white cast on my face and skin to the point that I looked like Casper. LOL. So, I picked this Top Care sunscreen and much to my surprise, I actually love it. It’s very moisturizing and it goes through my skin easily. I also love the delightful clean scent. It feels just like a lightweight lotion and it’s not greasy. I really like this a lot.

 

FACE

 

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid Spf 50, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Non-Tinted

 

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream Broad Spectrum Spt 50+ Wetforce For Face (1.2 oz: $22, 2 oz: $36) – This sunscreen smells so good and a little bit goes a long way when it comes to its application. A tiny dot is pretty much all you need for your face because this feels very concentrated and thick for a facial lotion. It also tends to leave a bit of white cast on the face, but it goes away after a few minutes, still, you’re gonna have to go easy on this. I like that this is hydrating and very lightweight. Also, this sunscreen kinda makes my face a bit luminous or slightly dewy. It’s also water-activated, so this becomes even more effective when exposed to water or sweat. So far, I also never get a sunburn or even a tan from this. Another big hit for me.

 

EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum Spf 46 (1.7 oz: $32.50) – A sunscreen that’s ideal for people with sensitive skin, especially to those who are acne-prone, has rosacea or even has discolorations or hyperpigmentations. While this claimed to not leave any residue, I still somehow noticed a bit of a white cast on my face. Also, this sunscreen tends to pill with time, but it’s very lightweight and fragrance-free. With that being said, this sunscreen has a very strong Spf scent that you could smell like it for the entire day, which can be really overwhelming on the nose. However, this never gave me any breakouts, and it is indeed great for sensitive skin. I also never had a sunburn while using this, perhaps, just a bit of tan, but this can feel a bit sticky when you sweat. You also need to reapply this a lot whenever you’re in a hot and humid place, or even when you’re sweating in your face a lot. I also find this to be too pricey for its Spf and for its packaging size, but I like its silky texture and it could almost look dewy on the face.

 

Coola Classic Face Sport Broad Spectrum Spf 50 in White Tea (1.7 oz: $32) – With a nice and clean tea-floral scent that’s ideal for any skin types. It’s water-resistant for 80 minutes, super lightweight, and non-greasy. This organic suncare and moisturizer don’t leave a white residue on the face, and it almost has a gel-like texture. It goes onto the skin easily and I never felt any greasiness nor stickiness. This even goes well with any foundation and it’s hydrating on the face. Also, this feels soothing, and it’s meant to reduce redness and balance the skin tone. To me, this is a great overall Spf moisturizer that truly delivers what it’s supposed to do. Further reviewed HERE.

 

Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid Spf 50 (1 oz: $28) – This is a lightweight sheer fluid that spreads easily on the skin and you don’t need to apply a lot of it. It also has Alguronic acid and antioxidants with an oil-free formulation that’s supposed to give a matte finish upon application. While I like this a lot when I tried this in-store and thought that it also had a pleasing vanilla-ish scent, Oh well, when I finally tried this at home, I was surprised by its strong awful glue-like smell. I almost couldn’t stand it and wanted to throw it away, but as I spread it all over my face, the scent sort of disseminated and became bearable. This also feels greasy but it settled on my skin somehow and though it didn’t really look mattifying on the face, it’s still ok under foundation. I think you could for sure find other face sunscreens that are much better than this.

 

Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Non-Tinted (1.7 oz: $43) – This is one of the best facial sunscreens I’ve ever tried. I just love that mild, clean, and irresistible scent. This goes on smoothly on my skin and it doesn’t feel greasy because it’s oil-free. It’s hydrating but not so dewy, and it’s great to go under makeup. I also noticed a mattifying effect on my skin, regardless of what foundation I use. I love that this fights free radicals and shields the skin from pollution. Also, this feels extremely lightweight, doesn’t leave a white cast on the face, and it doesn’t sting the eyes.

 

RECAP

 

sunscreen roundup review

 

BODY:

 

Best in Scent: Clarins Care Oil Spray, Coola Sport Continuous Spray, Top Care Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion

 

Most Hydrating: Clarins Care Oil Spray, Top Care Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion, Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen

 

Most Water Resistant: Coola Sport Continuous Spray, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Spf 60 Cooling Water-Lotion

 

Great for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Spf 60 Water-Lotion, Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Spf 50, Coola Sport Continuous Spray, Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen

 

Weightless: Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse, Clarins Care Oil Spray, Coola Sport Continuous, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Water-Lotion

 

My Personal Favorite: Coola Sport Continuous Spray Spf 50, Clarins Care Oil Spray, Top Care Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion, Supergoop! Super Power Sunscreen Mousse

 

FACE:

 

Best in Scent: Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution, Coola Classic Face Sport, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream Wetforce For Face

 

Most Hydrating: EltaMD UV Clear, Coola Classic Face Sport, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream

 

Most Water Resistant: Coola Classic Face Sport, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Wetforce, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution

 

Great for Sensitive Skin: Coola Classic Face Sport, EltaMD UV Clear

 

Weightless: Clarins UV PLus Anti-Pollution, Coola Classic Face Sport, La Roche-Posay Anthelios Water-Lotion Spf 60

 

My Personal Favorite: Clarins UV Plus, Coola Classic Face Sport, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Wetforce for Face.

 

There you go guys! that’s a wrap for all the sunscreens I’ve tried this summer and in the previous ones. I’ve tried other sunscreens before that are not included in this review, but those didn’t register much to me. Hopefully, there will be more breakthroughs in sunscreen products for the next summer soon…

 

Bye Bye Summah! Hello Fall!

 

More reviews to come soon, including a couple of Travel Diaries (which I’m currently up to) and some more beauty stuff. Stay tuned…

 

Song of the week: Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey.

 

*Coola Products provided courtesy of Coola Suncare

 

Follow on Instagram: @reviewsandotherstuff

 

 

Samples of The Week: Coola, Lancer, Tarte, By Terry, Charlotte Tilbury, Burberry, Boscia, Ren, Laura Geller, & Ciate

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream

 

Happy Labor Day guys! I hope you’re all having a great time. I have some samples to review today which are quite interesting and somewhat new. So, without further ado, let’s get this Labor Day review started.

 

 

Burberry, My Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum review

Burberry, My Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum (0.25 oz/rollerball: $29, 1 oz: $68, 1.6 oz: $90, 3 oz: $120) – I surprising LOVE THIS SCENT the moment I sprayed it on my wrist. It’s a breathtaking fruity floral scent that is irresistible, yummy, sweet, feminine, and pretty at the same time. I haven’t been a fan of floral scents lately (except YSL Mon Paris) because a lot of them tend to be sickly sweet, but this one is different. It has the right kind of sweetness that is not overbearing because there’s a bit of freshness to it. The pomegranate tone is refreshing to the senses. I’m a fan of Burberry scents like the “My Burberry Eau de Toilette“, “Brit Sheer“, and even the “Mr. Burberry Eau de Parfum” for men, and this My Burberry Blush definitely does not disappoint.

 

By Terry Hyaluronic Face Glow in #2 Nude Glow review

Boscia Charcoal Deep-Pore Exfoliating Peel Gel with Volcanic Sand (5 oz: $34) – This is a mild facial peel gel in which the scent reminds me a lot of Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser (reviewed HERE). This one has a very similar consistency with that cleanser as well, and at first, it has a gritty/exfoliating texture, but once applied on the face, you’ll realize that there’s some kind of tiny leaf residue that sorta balls up or clumps the moment you scrub this black gel on your face. The nice thing is it’s not gonna be a rough scrub, but more like a mild one, but the problem is that the whole process can be messy since the clumpy residues tend to fall off the face easily, making a mess on the floor or on the sink. It does clean and soften the face though.

Boscia Charcoal Deep-Pore Exfoliating Peel Gel with Volcanic Sand review

By Terry Hyaluronic Face Glow in #2 Nude Glow (1.43 oz: $66) – I was so surprised by the amazing powdery jasmine scent of this one. It’s a strong scent, but it’s also a nice one. The type that’s kinda hard to resist. The coverage of this is very sheer, so it’s almost better to layer or mix this with your favorite BB or CC Cream, or any foundation as well. I love the very subtle glow that it gives on the face even if it’s quite sheer.

 

Tarte Tarteist PRO Glow Liquid Highlighter in Stunner

Coola Mineral Face Spf 30 Matte Tint Unscented (1.7 oz: $36)– A light coverage sunscreen/BB cream that has a whipped texture and it feels cushiony like the Coola Dawn Patrol Primer (reviewed HERE). It is creamy and it slightly blurs some redness on the face. I still use some foundation after using this because the coverage of this is not enough to cover my blemishes or some post acne marks. I love that this feels really lightweight and didn’t break out my skin.

 

Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector (1 oz: $95) – This luminizing cream has a floral scent, but it’s not extremely strong. Its shimmers are also very fine, thus giving a natural subtle glow on the face. I wish there’s a bit more coverage to it because this one’s really sheer, but it’s great to mix with BB creams or with some other foundations. It really does make the face look luminous and less flat.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream Treat & Transform Moisturizer (1.7 oz: $100, 5 oz: $255) – This cream has a similar scent to Fresh Rose Face Mask or Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Cream, Serum & Eye Gel. It also reminds me of Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask, both with scent and consistency, although the Sisley one has a more whipped formulation. This one from Charlotte Tilbury is quite balanced in texture and in consistency that is also very hydrating and my skin absorbs this easily. It even kept my face hydrated when I applied this on my face overnight.

 

Tarte Tarteist PRO Glow Liquid Highlighter in Stunner (0.56 oz: $29) – This liquid highlighter’s glow is blinding and out of this world, but a huge challenge to work around. You don’t need to apply a lot of this because a little bit goes a long way, and it’s also easy to blend, but it sets pretty fast which can make the application patchy. The effect can be blinding like you have too much glitter on because the shimmers are not finely-milled. It’s super glowy and ultra-luminous which makes the glow on the face quite unnatural.

 

Ciate London Liquid Velvet Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bitter Sweet

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream (1.7 oz: $45) – This cream is really moisturizing and it’s great for sensitive skin, but I just couldn’t quite like it, no matter how hard I tried it several times. It’s that after-application scent that’s kinda acidic like a strong lemon and rose mix with some citronella (anti-mosquito). It’s a weird scent and I can’t seem to get used to it. Other than that, this cream really moisturizes any dry skin very well.

 

Laura Geller Color Luster Lip Gloss in Cookie Dough (0.21 oz: $21) – This is a very lightweight long lasting lip gloss that has a medium coverage. It doesn’t feel sticky at all and has no discernible scent. I’m not usually a fan of shiny pouts but this one gives a natural shine that doesn’t look over the top, and it keeps the lips hydrated all day.

 

Ciate London Liquid Velvet Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bitter Sweet (0.22 oz: $19) – A brownish gray shade that is simply pretty and quite like in the 90’s. It complements any skin tone, and it’s even more complementing for medium to dark complexions. It has a strong soapy jasmine scent with a true matte finish that’s long lasting and not so drying. It’s pretty much one of the best matte liquid lipsticks out there. More shades reviewed HERE.

Ciate London Liquid Velvet Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bitter Sweet

These are really interesting set of samples that I’ve played lately, and a lot of them are really nice to have in full sizes, but if I have to narrow them down to my top 3, I’d say, the Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum is really at the top of my list, followed by By Terry Hyaluronic Face Glow and Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector.

 

Have you tried any of these?

 

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Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30

I discovered a new favorite makeup primer lately. It’s so perfect and just what I’ve always wanted in a makeup primer. Is it lightweight? Check. Has Spf? Check. Does it smell good? Yep. Does it make your makeup last longer? Oh yeah! Vegan? Definitely. Organic? You bet. Is it from Coola? You guessed it right.

 

 

Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30

 

Just like Nars and YSL beauty products, there isn’t a Coola product that I didn’t like. I love how there’s an element of care and thoughtfulness in their products. They’re cruelty-free, vegan and organic. You can only hope that most products nowadays should be made like that, but nope. Fortunately, Coola is around and you know that you’re getting a quality product with their sunscreens, primers and BB creams. This Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30 is no different. Just like their Rosilliance BB Cream (reviewed HERE), this primer is simply amazing. I’m all about products that protect the skin, so anything with added Spf is a major plus for me, especially when I might have forgotten to apply either a moisturizer or a foundation. With that, a good primer with Spf add-on is a health saver. Unfortunately, that’s kinda hard to come by. Even the most popular brand of makeup primers doesn’t even add any Spf to most of their products.

 

Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30

Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30 review

 

What I like a lot about this transparent Dawn Patrol Makeup Primer is the scent. Most primers smell like silicon, but this one smells like Honeysuckle, Iris, and Lily. Slightly grassy too. The scent is never boring and the texture is silky smooth. A lot smoother than Smashbox’s. It feels very lightweight and hydrating at the same time. I love that it blurs my pores and it makes my foundation look even smoother. It may have a very slight silicon feel to it, but it doesn’t pill and it doesn’t irritate the skin. I swear, this is probably the best makeup primer I’ve ever tried. You will never notice the smell of sunscreen in this.

 

Coola Dawn Patrol Classic Makeup Primer Spf 30

 

Another thing I enjoyed is that for 1 oz bottle at $42, you’ll get a lot of product in its glass packaging. Love the pump release for mess-free application. This will definitely last a long time and is a good investment if you’re a fan of makeup primers like me. On top of that, this is such a time-saver if you’re prone to skipping steps in your makeup application. Would I say that this is better than the classic Smashbox Photofinish Primer? Hmmm, let’s see… With the nice scent, smooth texture, practical sleek packaging, and added Spf, oh yeah, this is definitely a winner, no doubt.

 

coola makeup primer

 

The Coola Dawn Patrol Makeup Primer Spf 30 is available at Sephora and Ulta.

 

(Disclosure: Product sample provided by Coola. The reviews, photos, and opinions herein are solely mine)

 

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