How hard is it to find a sunscreen that actually lives up to promise?!

[Medsy]

OK granted my skin is hyperreactive. But I'm getting exasperated with shelling out for sunscreen that doesn't do what I want it to, which is to soak into skin with ZERO residue. Is that even possible?!

I need a sunscreen that doesn't cause breakouts and just vanishes. I had high hopes for Ultrasun, all the reviews waxed lyrical about it being a great make-up base, no stickiness, etc.
Nope. For me it was still a little tacky and looked really bad under makeup.

Beginning to lose patience here and wondering whether this is one of those where my perfect product turns out to be a £3 own brand job!

Can anyone help?

I’ve started using ultra Violette Supreme screen and wow it is amazing.

no white cast either!

I once used the Clinique spray and really loved it. Never burned, no breakouts.

But it's expensive!

My dermatology recommended la Roche Posay Anthelios. It's brilliant stuff. Highly recommend

This is the answer

Think this really depends on how serious you are about SPF.
As far as I know ultrasun is the only SPF where one application (if done properly) can last all day. Anything else and you need to top up the protection during the day, either with a spray mist or by reapplying, which isn’t great if you plan on putting any makeup over the top.
If you are serious about SPF then you need broad spectrum protection so be very careful before you use something like the beauty pie one - which has a lovely texture but personally I would not rely on it for anything more than “winter” daily protection.
As for piling with foundation- sometimes you just have to trial different brands to see which one doesn’t do this.
Basically I would say if you think about what a decent spf has to do then I think you will always feel it on your skin - so you just have to find a formulation you like. There are lots of good ones now. Good luck.

I use nivea no shine factor 30. The 50 is too thick. You have to let it sink in so do it before teeth and coffee, then put make up on. Have you tried powder instead of foundation? I find it sticks better in the summer

Agree with Le Roche Posay anthelios, it has been the best I’ve tried. I was very disappointed with Heliocare 360 (so expensive too!).

I have read that you need to allow enough time for previous products to soak in, before applying the next - so serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, make up etc is a looong process.

Also pilling can occur if you layer a water based product over an oil based product or vice versa, so just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will for you if your products have different bases. No idea if that’s true.

Anthelios doesn’t affect my skin and soaks in well for me. Although I like the sound of a post makeup spray.

Tried many...Ultrasun breaks me out really badly. I use Eucerin Oil Control on my combination skin and I actually wear it every single day now. It is it spf50 but "only" 4 star though. But I think its better that I use it everyday than not.
Paulas choice used to have great spf 50 it was like regular moisturizer, but £££.
I didnt get on with LRP, thank you farmer, heliocare, niveas, garner and many others :(

Altruist is what your looking for. They do one just for the face. Completely disappears, no residue. Also very cheap!

Please be careful with sunscreen sprays in the face.

1. It’s hard to put a thick and even enough layer on to give the proper SPF rating.

2. SPF chemicals shouldn’t be inhaled and it’s hard not to when you are spraying them on your face.

Frezyderm is great.

ABSOLUTELY Frezyderm. Has a velvet like texture and all my friends have converted to it after trying mine. My skin is very prone to prickly heat and I have had many holidays ruined by it. Frezyderm and P20 are the only ones that don’t cause a flare up but I hate the yellow oil of P20.

La Roche Posay mentioned above has a great “sink in” feeling too but I got prickly heat with it.

I use the Tesco Soleil Kids spray factor 50. It's really light and absorbs fast.

I use the La Roche French one or one by Australia Gold. The Aussies are very stringent in their testing (more than us). It is tinted.

Can you explain why we should be looking for in a “proper” one? I’m not clear what is different between Beauty Pie and say Ultrasun. Thanks in advance!

I just mean that I think it is very hard to decipher some of the labels. I have hyperpigmentation so it’s really important for me to know my skin is protected. I have a friend who has had skin cancer and she is equally careful. I have used daily spf in the past and my skin has still changed so I think sun was still getting through (though I know heat can also trigger this). I think lots of “cosmetic” spf products offer some protection but I’m not sure it’s at the same level as e.g a broad spectrum Australian certified SPF 50 (Australia has the most stringent tests in the world I think?) Most spf needs to be reapplied about every 2 hours (more often if swimming/sweating etc). For me this is fine on a beach but not for under make up, as I know I won’t be reapplying the Sun screen often enough. If I’m on business somewhere hot I also take a spray to top up over make up during the day. And I have a very nice selection of hats!
I do trust ultrasun to last all day, and I also really like the Ultra Violette range and Coola. But basically my dermatologist said use the cheapest spf 30+ with broad spectrum protection that you like, because if you like it you will use it enough. Hope that helps!

Another vote for the nivea water. Its amazing