Hydrating Sunblock: Round Lab Birch Juice SPF50+ PA++++ Review

Where to purchase: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK / Beauty Bay: LINK / Ohlolly: LINK

Price: £ 24.49

Volume: 50ml

Made in: South Korea

What is it?: This is a high-rated protective, lightweight sunblock that aims to hydrate, moisturise and improve the skin while leaving no white cast.

Supposedly Good for: All Skin Types (Even sensitive skins).

What I think: I would agree. Texturally, this is really good for oily and combination skin types (combination in particular) however, this is not mattifying and is slightly dewy.

Vegan friendly?: Yes

Cruelty Free?: Yes

EU-Allergen Free?: Yes

Fungal-Acne Suitable?: No

How long does it last after opening?: 12 Months.

Packaging: Tube packaging. Easy to squeeze out product. Comes with a cap.

Directions: Apply at the last stage of skincare (apply an appropriate amount over the skin and spread gently over the face.

How I use it: I apply this before I leave in the morning to workout. This is easy to apply not only on the face, but also on the neck and ears etc, as this is lightweight and easy to spread along the skin. As someone with Oily-Combination skin, this is enough to moisturise and hydrate my skin before a workout. If I find this a little too dewy, I can apply translucent powder on top, but I don’t find this that dewy enough to do-so.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide (Anti-blemish + Skin brightening) / Ascorbic Acid (Brightening + Antioxidant) / Purslane Extract (Soothing + Antioxidant) / Sodium Hyaluronate + Hyaluronic Acid (Hydrating) / Liquorice + Allantoin + Roman Chamomile Flower Oil (Soothing).

Sunscreen Filters: Uvinul A Plus – (UVA), Uvinul T 150 – (UVB), Tinosorb M – (UVA + UVB), Uvasorb HEB – (UVB + UVAII).

NOTE: Tinosorb M is a half-physical and half-chemical sun filter, so it can be partly reflective (i.e. this makes the skin look slightly dewier).

Full Ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, DiethylaminoHydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2- Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice(1,425ppm), Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Adenosine, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, t-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Carbomer

NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE

Texture: This is a lightweight, almost weightless, yet creamy sunblock. It feels hydrating and moisturising when applying, but has a thin finish. As you can see in the swatch video below, this is not sticky or tacky.

Sticky?: No.

Greasy?: No.

Balls up?: No.

White Cast?: No

Sticky?: No

Dewy or Mattifying Finish?: Not a mattifying finish, and due to the Tinosorb M, this has a slightly reflective/shiny finish. I don’t look uncomfortably greasy or shiny (Oily-Combination skin), but this is not mattifying.

Does this Sting if the Skin has been Irritated / Sensitised by Shaving/Heavy Retinol Use?: Yes.

Summer or Winter?: Both.

Layerable?: Yes.

Swatch Comparison: No Product (Left) vs Product (Right)

This has a bit of a reflective/shiny finish (due to the Tinosorb M I’m guessing). It does lessen slightly the more this absorbs into the skin, but it is not mattifying.

Video Swatch:

• As you can see, this has a lightweight texture, is hydrating/moisturising-looking, and isn’t sticky or tacky. You can also see that there is no white cast.

Fragrance?: This contains Roman Chamomile Flower Oil which is fragrant (but this does not have a strong scent).

Good Under Makeup?: Yes.

How long have I been using this?: 2-3 Months.

Will I use until Completion?: Yes.

How Long will that take?: Another ~3-4 Months.

The Effect?: This leaves the skin feeling moisturised and hydrated (for my oily-combination skin) with no white cast, albeit slightly reflective.

What I like:

• Lightweight
• Moisturising / Hydrating
• Does not ball up
• Fine under makeup
• No white cast
• Not sticky
• Doesn’t feel greasy
• Cruelty-free

What I don’t like:

• Contains an Essential Oil
• Although I do not get a white cast, this is slightly reflective so I look a bit more dewy (oily-combination skin)

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4(nearly 3.9)/5 – Although the finish of this is slightly dewier/reflective than I would want, this is a lightweight, hydrating, moisturising and comfortable sunblock to wear. It isn’t sticky or greasy on the skin either. I appreciate that it has no white cast, even if I look slightly dewier than I would like (OIly-Combination skin).

Would I repurchase?: Even though this does make me look slightly dewier than I’d like (Oily-Combination Skin), I would repurchase this if, for instance, I couldn’t get the Tocobo Watery Sun Gel (Review), the Vichy Sun Fluid (Review), or the Skin1004 Sunblock below.

Dupe?: Skin1004 Cica Sunblock (Both are Vegan friendly) Swatches + Review HERE. This is just as lightweight and hydrating (not mattifying).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The Numbuzin Pure-full Calming Water Sunscreen is more suitable for Oily-Combination skins and is less reflective/dewy (highly recommend). Swatches + Review HERE.

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

• The Beauty of Joseon Sunblock (Swatches + Review HERE) is very similar in terms of moisture, hydration and no white cast. However, it is even dewier (more preferable to dry skins).

Available at: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK

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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