Available on: Yesstyle HERE * (Receive % off using CVQFZA)
Volume: 50ml
Price: £7.49
Made in: South Korea
What is it?: A hydrating and soothing SPF which is excellent for acneic skin which does not sting or burn.
An organic (Chemical) Sunblock. Contains UVA and UVB protection (ageing and burning ray protection). Meant for everyday use.
Description: ”A gel-textured sunscreen that cools down the skin upon application and delivers protecting, hydrating, and soothing ingredients while shielding the skin from sun damage.”
”Contains ice plant, glacial water, antozone-rose and thanaka extracts to refresh, moisturize and reduce blemishes on skin.” – Missha
Note: Missha state that this is water and sweat-resistant. I agree as I work out and this doesn’t seem to melt/disappear and run down my face (of course always re-apply sunblocks).
Good For: Recommended for normal to oily skin types.
And also good for:
- Those who hate white cast when it comes to sun blocks.
- Those who like chemical (organic) sun blocks
- Oily Skins
- Those who like a matte finish
- Those who want a lightweight, almost weightless texture
- Those who need a sunblock to exercise in
Packaging: (As seen in the picture) – Velvet/Matte squeeze tube bottle with a screw-top lid. A sleek, matte tube but because of the matt-ness, there are black scratches on the tube that can’t be rubbed off.
Easily to squeeze out product and not squeeze out too much due to the little nozzle.
Also because it’s in a tube format, I suspect when I reach the end, I wont be able to get the last remainder out – So I will need to cut it to scoop the last bits out.
Directions: Apply like as you would an SPF, after your moisturiser.
How I use it: I apply this in the AM at the end of my routine. I do have to use a moisturiser or serum under this, this absolutely does feel drying if absolutely nothing is added onto clean skin. This requires some sort of hydrating cream or serum underneath. I use a 1/4 teaspoon for my face and a 1/4 teaspoon for my face and then another 1/4 teaspoon for the back of my neck and my ears. I also usually add just a tad bit more on my eyes.
Key Ingredients: ”Contains ice plant, glacial water, antozone-rose and thanaka extracts to refresh, moisturize and reduce blemishes on skin.” Apply regularly.
Antioxidant: Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Soothing: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Full Ingredients list: (please know that alcohol/ethanol in SPF is a necessity if one wants a lightweight texture and no it does not usually dry out the skin as it is in a small %; besides, you usually wear a serum or cream underneath an SPF, thus preventing alcohol having any sort of drying effect it could possibly have. An example is the Krave Beauty Beet the Sun SPF which also contains ethanol (in most likely a small amount).
Water, homosalate, alcohol denat., ethylhexyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, silica, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, vp/hexadecene copolymer, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, water, limonia acidissima extract, artemisia princeps leaf extract, camellia sinensis leaf extract, chrysanthemum indicum flower extract, cinnamomum cassia bark extract, diospyros kaki leaf extract, morus alba fruit extract, pueraria lobata root extract, centaurea vyanus flower water, helichrysum italicum flower water, thymus vulgaris (thyme) leaf water, methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 dimethicone, dimethicone, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sodium hydroxide, butylene glycol, cyclopentasiloxane, BHT, disodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, fragrance
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full product breakdown HERE
The Sun Filters: Sunscreen: Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate
I don’t like Thyme Leaf Water as I’m not a fan of essential oils. There’s a lot of ‘floral’ ingredients and flower extracts which I don’t think are necessary. I think Missha has put them in to state that they provide a sort of soothing and calming effect to the skin. As someone who has suffered with easily irritated and acne prone skin, this SPF does not seemed to have irritated my skin.
Texture: This is definitely a lightweight and matte formulation with no white cast. It’s spreadable and I don’t have to hang around to wait for this to dry. It rubs in easily and well. Yes when first applying, this does have a strong ‘chemical’ scent, but the texture is so good, I forego it, because at least it doesn’t flood my nose with essential oils or a sort of fragranced ‘soap’ scent. This absolutely does have a ‘cooling’ effect on the skin when applied – making it good for Winter and Summer use.
Smooth, milky and light as you can see in the texture shots. This soaks up into the skin easily. It’s a matte finish, so no, I don’t get a moisturising effect from this product, but that is what moisturising creams and hydrating serums do for me underneath my SPF.
I will say – this is so light so it can sometimes drip down one’s fingers (because this is very much like a milk).
This product disappears into the skin after it’s been rubbed in. Yes it has a sort of chemical-like smell but I’ve smelled worse from other SPF (i.e. the moonshot SPF smells intensely strong).
You can tell how lightweight and almost watery this texture is. Do you see when spreading this out, initially you get worried that there will be a whitecast, but this is not the case.
Once spreading out, the white WILL disappear. Just letting the product dry down for a moment…
Voila. The product dries down, there’s no thick layer or sheen left behind and my skin feels like it can breath. Me personally, because this is so lightweight – I would go in with an extra layer just to make sure that my face is fully covered BUT even applying 2 layers doesn’t change the thickness or texture of this product. It is layerable.
Youtube Video Live Swatch AND Some more info on the Sunblock – you can see the texture of the product and how it compares with other products
Fragrance?: This has fragrance and floral ingredients added + Thyme water, but weirdly enough it doesn’t smell of ‘perfum’ to me or of essential oils. Instead this has a simple chemical fragrance when spreading. Do I wish they left out all these ingredients all together, yes. BUT the smell of this does not put me off as it just smells of a chemical sunblock, and the smell disappears once rubbed in. I’m not walking around all day with an SPF that noticeably smells.
White Cast?: NO! Initially when spreading this over the face, you get white streaks, but these disappear very fast and don’t linger.
Good under makeup?: Yes. This sinks into the skin and doesn’t sit on top (give it a minute or two after rubbing it in).
Oil control?: Yes this is a matte formula (but I would NOT say that makes one look dry) and therefore it is NOT sticky. Of course once you start sweating/working out, this SPF does little to hold back your sebum glands.
Irritation?: I didn’t get any, even with active acne. The only time this has stung is when I overdid it on retinol, but all Organic/chemical spfs stung.
Stings the eyes?: No. I sweat and exercise in this, it did not sting my eyes and also does NOT emulsify (turn milky or streak) when sweating.
What I Like:
- High protection (SPF 50, PA++++)
- Lightweight
- Dries down quick
- Easily Spreadable
- I didn’t experience irritation
- The fragrance although initially present (a chemical-like scent) it disappears.
- Doesn’t make me look dewy
- Does not become streeaky when I sweat
What I don’t Like:
- Why does every SPF have to be 50ml? It’s far too small and I run out too quickly.
- Applying this right onto plain skin does make the skin feel tight/dry (because it is mattifying and because I don’t find the formula moisturising – but I prefer this as I want a lightweight formula instead of a dewy thick/heavy texture. But this does mean that I can’t just wash my face, apply this and run out the door. I do have to wash my face, apply a serum or moisturiser, and then this SPF and run out the door.
- Because it is so lightweight, 2 layers are needed just to be on the safe side. This may be annoying for some people, but regardless, I double apply my SPF anyway.
- Not a fan of fragrance or the addition of Thyme water + so many floral extracts which I find unnecessary.
- Some people regardless of how quick the fragrance disappears, may not like the ‘chemical’ smell of this product and actually prefer a masking perfume or essential oil scent.
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4.7/5 -It’s not 5/5 because of the addition of some floral/essential oils. Also I really wish Missha sold this in 100ml instead of 50 because I run out so quickly. also because this isn’t in a pump bottle, it means that one can end up wasting product (when you get to the end of the bottle and you know there is still some remainder product in the tube. So then I have to cut the tube to get the remainder of product out by scooping it into an empty container and use that.
HOWEVER I still want to say that this is the best sun block I’ve tried so far. Mainly because 1 – it does not smell of perfume or floral-y 2. It does not give me a white cast and 3. It doesn’t make me feel greasy. 4. Because I work out – this does not sting my eyes when I sweat or become streaky.
Would I repurchase? Yes – absolutely. My favourite sunblock ever. Matte, non-greasy, lightweight and no white cast (and it isn’t streaky when I sweat). It’s perfect for me.
Dupe?: The only other sunblock I can think of which is the CLOSEST to this sunblock in terms of texture is the Moonshot SPF HERE – Extremely lightweight, water-based and cooling as well as being completely transparent once dried down. The only thing is, if you don’t like the smell of the Missha, you really wont like the Moonshot as that smells like a more concentrated version of the Missha. But I’ve also noticed that the moonshot is 40ml 😡
Western Dupe?: The Best Dupe of this in the Western World (so far) for me has been the Nivea SPF 50 Face Sun Cream Shine Control – Review HERE – This is thicker in texture but it is matte without suffocating the skin and is layerable.
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
My Skincare Regime 
31 thoughts on “Review: Missha All Around Safe Block Aqua Sun Gel SPF50+/PA++++”