Where to purchase: Available at Estee Lauder: LINK / Look Fantastic: LINK / Boots: LINK /
Asos: LINK
Price: £36
Volume: 30ml
Made in: Germany
What is it?: A Chemical Sunblock containing Antioxidants to help protect the skin from UV damage.
What Makes this Different: Estee Lauder claim that this SPF has a next-to-nothing feel, so there should be a seamless application to this (very lightweight and no balling up, no greasiness or stickiness). Antioxidants have been added to soothe and protect the skin from dust/pollution + potential drying out of the skin.
Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types, especially Normal, Combination Skins.
What I think: I would agree! I have Oily-Combination Skin and have enjoyed this in both the Winter and Summer.
Vegan?: No
Cruelty-Free?: Estee Lauder Sell in China which may require Animal Testing.
How long does it last after opening?: 24 Months.
Packaging: Plastic Tube with a Screw Top Lid. Easy to squeeze and apply (product doesn’t ooze out).
Hygiene Tab
Western Sunblocks Youtube Review:
Directions: ”Apply in the AM as the last step of your skincare routine. This also is a great base for makeup.”
How I use it: I apply this in the AM (using the recommended amount to cover the face and neck). If I’m going to wear makeup, I don’t have a problem applying this as a base/primer as this doesn’t ball up.
Sunscreen Filters: Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene (Chemical Filters i.e No white Cast).
NOTE: This does contain Benzophenone-3 aka Oxybenzone which some are worried about as it enters the bloodstream. However it’s regulated in the EU and US (only up to 10% allowed) and is classed as ‘safe to use’.
Key Ingredients:
- The Antioxidants Included: Green Tea Leaf Extract, Cuspidatum Root Extract, Ergothioneine, Vitamin E Acetate (also help brighten the skin), EUK-134.
- Cholesterol + Squalane (Both Emollients and Skin-barrier reinforcing)
- Chamomile Extract + Sucrose (Soothing + Antioxidant)
- Hyaluronic Acid (Hydrating)
- Algae Extract (Moisturising + Antioxidant)
- Alcaligenes Polysaccharides (Moisturiser/Humectant)
- Barley Extract (Moisturising).
NOTE: This contains Denatured Alcohol which is used to thin out the texture of this product. Lots of ingredients have been added to counteract any drying nature of denatured alcohol, hence why I don’t feel like this dries out the skin. If you are worried about this ingredient, then simply apply a moisturiser underneath.
Full Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Homosalate, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Glycerin, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Opuntia Tuna Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’Orge, Sucrose, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Ergothioneine, Squalane, Dextrin Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Algae Extract, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ppg-8-Ceteth-20, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyclodextrin, Disodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
Texture: The company describes this as a water-light gel emulsion which I absolutely agree with. And yes, this does, once rubbed in; release a burst of hydration onto the skin. Even after wearing this for a while, it doesn’t seem to feel like it’s drying out the skin either.
Does this Absorb Quickly?: Yes
Is this Sticky or Greasy?: No
White Cast?: No
Does this Sting if the eyes?: Initially, no. But I find that when I re-apply (and of course, massage/rub around the eyes to re-apply the SPF), that’s when this starts to sting and wont stop. So it works better for me when I know I wont need to re-apply this. If I’m going to be out all day then I would use a different SPF that I can re-apply with, like the Etude Soon Jung SPF.
White Cast?: No White Cast.
Summer or Winter?: Summer (but oily skins could use this in the winter).
Layerable?: Yes
Video Swatch:
Fragrance?: No added fragrance and/or EO.
Good Under Makeup?: Yes. The company state that this is an ideal primer and I would agree that this works under makeup (doesn’t cause balling up).
How long have I been using this?: 2 Months
Will I use until Completion?: Yes.
How Long will that take?: Another 1-2 Months (I switch SPFs daily, but it would run out much sooner if I used this every day).
The Effect?: Hydrated and moisturised, protected skin.
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£2.00
What I like:
- No fragrance and/or EO
- No white cast
- Lightweight
- Doesn’t sting the eyes (when initially applying and this product has dried down + if you do not re-apply)
- Absorbs quickly
- No balling up
- Hydrating/Moisturising
What I don’t like:
- Very small amount 30ml
- Very expensive for 30ml
- Denatured Alcohol (I don’t mind it but I prefer formulas without it)
- If I rub my eyes or water/sweat is applied around the eyes etc, this product will sting the eyes and be very uncomfortable. Also this does sting my eyes when I re-apply (i.e. as I apply it near the eyes and it sinks in)
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4(nearly 3.9)/5 – For a Western SPF; this is very good as this basically feels and sits like an Asian SPF. It’s lightweight, it sits under makeup well, and it does a decent job at hydrating/moisturising the skin. Although I’ve had issues with this product stinging the eyes (If I sweat or water gets near the skin around the eyes or if I’m re-applying and rubbing/moving the product around, this can sting), I think it’s the lightest and smoothest Western SPF I’ve tried. I’m sure that is a big reason why this is so expensive (i.e. there’s nothing quite like it in the Western market). HOWEVER – there are a lot of SPFs like this in the Eastern Market, and for much cheaper. I do think if you are someone who is worried about the validity of Korean SPFs and their ratings etc, and want something EU approved, then this would be the SPF for you, but it is expensive. And it’s hard to enjoy an SPF that has such a similar texture to other Asian products for more ml and for half the price. I do appreciate the high SPF50 Protection however, and it definitely suits my Oily-Combination skin which I am happy with, and the addition of numerous antioxidants is beneficial to see in an SPF, just to improve that skin protection and neutralise free radicals.
So, who is this for?: It’s excellent for those who want an EU approved SPF rated Sunblock with a high protection of SPF50, no White cast AND so have no choice but to purchase Western SPFs.
Would I repurchase?: If I didn’t have other great alternatives, I would repurchase this as this genuinely sits well on the skin. It’s just the price makes me hesitant. If this was cheaper I would say yes.
Dupe?: K-Beauty Dupes are the Missha Aqua Sun Gel (Review HERE) or the Isntree Hyaluronic Watery Sun Gel (Review HERE). In terms of J-Beauty, the Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel Clear SPF is also a dupe (Review HERE).
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated 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.
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My Skincare Regime 