Review: Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

If you missed out on my thoughts on Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 <<<

I did an update on Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 <<<

On to the next mineral sunscreen I tried…

It’s the Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+!

• Non-nano zinc oxide
• Prevents sunburn, protects from UVA and UVB rays
• Broad spectrum SPF 50+
• Decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun
• Water resistant (80 minutes)
• Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
• Dye-free
• Fragrance-free
• Lanolin-free
• Paraben-free
• Formaldehyde-free
• Botanical Extract-free
• Non-greasy
• Gluten-free

I was very excited to try Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, since it provides higher sun protection. The sunscreen felt lightweight on the skin. It contains only 12% zinc oxide. Hmmm! Yes, it does contain Butyloctyl Salicylate. This ingredient is second on the ingredient list. So, it’s not a true mineral sunscreen. It’s a hybrid. Ugh! Not this crap again! I glanced at the ingredient list before purchasing. I was going to make peace with this ingredient if the product worked out. It had so many good reviews that I couldn’t pass up trying it!

Once again, it’s lightweight on the skin. It’s not a thick zinc-based sunscreen. It’s very light and smooths over the skin nicely. It does leave a bit of a white cast on my skin. If you have deeper, richer complexion, it may leave your skin with a very white cast. I’m pretty pale. I thought this sunscreen made my skin too white. It was unnatural-looking. I didn’t like it. The texture was nice, but it had some flaws as mentioned.

The sunscreen left my skin looking very shiny. Not glowly. Extremely shiny. How am I supposed to re-apply if it makes my skin look awful, lol. So after a day of using Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, it gave my the worse type of acne. And that is, cystic acne. So much for the non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) claim! Yeah, it didn’t work on my acne-prone skin. This sunscreen is pore-clogging from my own experience. I immediately rinsed it off and stopped using it. If you have acne-prone skin, do a patch test first. It was pore-clogging on my skin.

Here’s to another Vanicream sunscreen product that didn’t work on my skin. First it was Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Now it’s Vanicream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+. This is what happened. It’s time to move on…

Update: Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

It hasn’t been too long since I reviewed Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. But I’m ready to do another update on this product. 

I was hoping that Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 would be my main moisturizer and sunscreen for mornings, but it didn’t work out like I thought it would. It’s moisturizing and provides SPF 30 with 19.5% zinc oxide. I love that it’s a true mineral sunscreen. That’s exactly what I was looking for! When applied to the skin, the sunscreen feels sticky and heavy. It’s moisturizing, but it left my skin looking very shiny. The more product I applied, my skin looked even more shiny. It wasn’t a pleasant look. I don’t want to walk around with an extremely shiny face.

That’s not the reason why I stopped using it. I would’ve kept using it even though it was shiny on my skin. The reason why I stopped using it was because it irritated my skin and caused breakouts. The sunscreen clogged my pores. It’s labeled as non-comedogenic, but it wasn’t on my skin. It’s way too thick on the skin and messed up my skin. I ended up with some breakouts and redness out of the blue. I didn’t think it was the sunscreen because I wanted it to work. I kept using it until I finally convinced myself that the new breakouts, redness, and skin irritation was from the sunscreen. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 didn’t work on my skin. I have a ton of product left that I can use…I guess…in my dry areas such as my eye area and neck. But I’m never using it on my facial skin ever again. The ingredients are nice in this product. Check out the ingredients right here:

purified water, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, isopentyldiol, squalane, glycerin, coco-caprylate/caprate, bis-octyldodecyl dimer dilinoleate/propanediol copolymer, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, polyhydroxystearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, sucrose stearate, ceramide EOP, ceramide NG, ceramide NP, ceramide AS, ceramide AP, carnosine, phytosterols, hydrogenated lecithin, dimethicone, triethoxycaprylylsilane, polyacrylate crosspolymer-11, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol

The formulation wasn’t compatible with my skin type. I love the moisture that it provided my skin. With my skin type (oily skin that’s acne-prone), it wasn’t happening. This sunscreen would probably work better on someone that doesn’t experience breakouts and have dry skin. I won’t purchase this sunscreen again. Very disappointed this time around. 

Trying Out Mineral Sunscreens…

I’m trying out mineral sunscreens again! I picked up some mineral sunscreens I used in the past to test once again. They are Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. I’ve been using chemical-based sunscreens for some time now consistently. I’ve been getting really bad migraines from them. My eyes would burn constantly even though I’d only applied the sunscreen to my face. It would seep into my eyes somehow. I even wash my hands before applying mineral sunscreen on the skin around the eyes. Still, my eyes would end up burning no matter what. Reapplying chemical-based sunscreens was terrible. It’s just so irritating. I’d have teary eyes all day. I’m over chemical-based sunscreens. I have a few more bottles of chemical-based sunscreens left. I will use them up eventually. I’m just not interested in using them right now. I think it’s time to switch back to using mineral sunscreens. So let’s begin with Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50…

I picked Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 because it’s a thin liquid. I wanted a sunscreen that’s lightweight. I’m getting tired of thick sunscreens. I’ve used it before, but I wanted to see if it’s going to be different this time. My skin is pretty good right now, and it’s easy to detect if a product is working or not fast.

Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 contains 12% zinc oxide. It has a SPF of 50. How? This sunscreen isn’t a true mineral sunscreen. On the ingredient list, it lists Butyloctyl Salicylate as the third ingredient. I’ve noticed that mineral sunscreens with high SPF that doesn’t feel heavy or doesn’t give off too much of a white cast contain this ingredient to boost the SPF.

This sunscreen is truly lightweight on the skin. That’s one of the main reasons why I chose it. When dispensed from the bottle, the sunscreen is a liquid. It’s white. It smooths over the skin nicely. It smells like plastic though. I hated the smell of it. Once applied to the skin, the white cast somewhat fades away, lol. It’s not too bad. It’s pretty easy to blend into the skin. The sunscreen is silky and smooth. As I said before, it’s truly lightweight.

As for irritation and breakouts, I noticed both. The sunscreen feels like silicones. It ended up irritating my skin. It made my skin extremely itchy, especially the neck area. I can’t recall this sunscreen giving me a rash in the past. I also noticed some clogged pores. Even though it feels lightweight on the skin, it does feel like plastic wrap on the face. I stopped using this sunscreen on my face immediately after noticing irritation and breakouts. I’m quite disappointed in the outcome when used as a face sunscreen. But, as a body sunscreen (on my arms), it works pretty well. It’s lightweight, doesn’t have a white cast, and absorbs quickly. It doesn’t stain my clothes either. Unfortunately, I’m not going to purchase it again for these reasons. It’s not a true mineral sunscreen. It irritated my skin and caused breakouts. The size of the sunscreen is too small for a body sunscreen. I know it’s not a body sunscreen. I’m currently using it as a body sunscreen but will not repurchase to use as a body sunscreen. I would rather go for a larger sized sunscreen bottle for the bottle to save money.

Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 was another mineral sunscreen I chose. I picked it for its moisturizing properties. This sunscreen is a true mineral sunscreen with 19.5% zinc oxide! I remember this sunscreen being thick and heavy. It’s thick but absorbs into the skin very nicely this time. I actually like it. It feels very gentle on the skin. I didn’t experience skin burning, eyes burning, itchy skin. It’s soothing. It has a white cast that fades into the skin. My experience with the Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 has been good. I haven’t noticed any breakouts. Just moisturized skin. This sunscreen is definitely for sensitive skin. We’ll see how it goes in the next week or so. Hopefully no new breakouts from this sunscreen! I think this might be my to-go-to sunscreen if it works out!

Those are my thoughts on Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Vanicream Mineral Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30! I’ll make an update soon. 🙂

Review: Sun Bum Kids Clear Face Stick SPF 50

I’ve been trying a bunch of different sunscreen products. I’ve already finished Sun Bum Kids Clear Face Stick SPF 50. The outer layer (packaging) peeled off all of a sudden.

• Glides on clear
• Water-resistant formula
• Can be applied on wet or dry skin
• Broad spectrum protection
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Paraben-free
• Gluten-free
• Water-resistant (80 minutes)
• Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant
• Oxybenzone-free
• Octinoxate-free
• No synthetic fragrance

This sunscreen is 0.53 oz (15 g). It’s really small for the price. I thought I would give it a try anyways. I love clear sunscreen sticks. They work very well for re-applications. They’re convienent and easy to carry around and use. This sunscreen was just that. It’s easy to toss it in my bag and easy to re-apply. I can use it anywhere without hassle.

I first started using this sunscreen on my body, especially my neck and hands. I didn’t want to risk using it on my face at first. The sunscreen feels nice on the skin. It smells like bananas. I actually like the smell of the sunscreen product. It’s truly clear. It doesn’t leave the skin feeling extremely sticky. It goes on well. I haven’t had any big issues with this sunscreen. I just wish it would absorb a little faster. Otherwise, it works for me.

After testing it on my body, I decided to try it on my face. I liked that it’s a sunscreen stick. It wasn’t as messy compared to a lotion. With the Sun Bum Kids Clear Face Stick SPF 50, it felt moisturizing on the skin, but it felt a bit drying after it sets on the skin. I didn’t like the feeling of it on my face. Also, it burned my eyes. It’s a chemical sunscreen, by the way.

Here are the ingredients:

Active Ingredients:

Homosalate 10%, Octocrylene 10%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%

Inactive Ingredients:

octyldodecanol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, butyloctyl salicylate, dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide, dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, trimethylpentanediol/adipic acid/glycerin crosspolymer, tocopheryl acetate, fragrance, pongamol

I love that it’s a sunscreen stick that smells good. It works well on the body. I haven’t used it at the beach or anything. I haven’t used it when my skin is wet. I’ve only used for everyday use. I can’t comment if it works in extremely high UV cases. It worked for everyday use. As for my face, I don’t like it that much. I prefer to use it on my body. But, as a last resort, I would use it on my face. I didn’t experience breakouts while using it. Shocker! I was surprised by this. Maybe I’ll repurchase in the near future. Just not right now.

Review: Elf Camo CC Cream

I’ve been searching for a new foundation that’s similar to a CC cream or BB cream. I prefer those varieties of makeup instead of traditional foundation. So I stumbled upon Elf Camo CC Cream. I’ve used another Elf foundation before, plus some other face products from Elf. They weren’t too bad. I didn’t stick to them because I wasn’t too impressed. They were OK for the price. Here’s more about the Elf Camo CC Cream!

• Medium-full coverage
• Contains broad-spectrum SPF 30
• Semi-matte finish
• Contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides
• For normal, oily, dry, combination skin

I was super excited when I first got my hands on this CC cream. I really needed a new foundation. Yay, finally trying out a new one! Here’s my experience with it…

I picked up shade Fair 150 C (fair with cool undertones). I was aiming for another shade, but this one was on sale. That’s what I ended up with. The color of the CC cream was decent. It worked on my skin just fine. I tend to lean towards warm/neutral, but the cool undertones weren’t too bad. The texture of the CC cream didn’t feel like a CC cream or BB cream at all, in my opinion. It felt somewhere between a CC/BB cream and traditional foundation. The texture wasn’t silky like I thought it would be. I was hoping for a softer, silkier feel to the product. But I continued to use it anyways.

It was pretty simple to blend the CC cream into my skin. I have oily skin, and my sunscreen is super moisturizing too. I didn’t have any issues applying this product. It blended seamlessly into my skin without any problems. The first application using this product was very nice. It worked out great. For reapplication, it was easy to use due to the pump bottle. I could dispense some product out of the tube effortlessly. It’s non-messy and easy to apply. The coverage was nice too. It was exactly what it’s supposed to be. It’s medium-full coverage. But…

Something happened when using the Elf Camo CC Cream. I didn’t expect this to happen since it was working perfectly fine. Well, my skin started to burn. I developed a rash around my eye area. The skin around my eyes became super swollen, and my eyelids became extremely itchy. I stopped using the product immediately. Once my skin healed, I didn’t bother trying the product out again. I chucked it quick. Ugh, I thought I found a good product, but it did more damage than good. Now off to find a new CC or BB cream that doesn’t give me a weird reaction like the Elf Camo CC Cream did. Whatever is in this product, my skin didn’t like it.

On to the next… 😓