Even though we are in fall right now, you should still be applying sunscreen every day. As I’m sure you know by now, sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays that can cause skin cancer and premature aging. It always seems to be a challenge to find the perfect facial sunscreen. Over the past few years, mineral sunscreens have become more popular than traditional chemical sunscreens. Skincare companies are listening to consumers’ concerns and are offering alternative ingredients for sun protection.
The difference between a mineral sunscreen and a chemical sunscreen is that a mineral sunscreen contains zinc oxide as its main ingredient. Zinc oxide is an ingredient that sits on the skin rather than being absorbed into the skin’s surface. It works as a barrier against dangerous UVA and UVB rays.
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz for the past year about Drunk Elephant. The skincare line with the unique name offers products that are clean, which means it is paraben-free, and cruelty-free as well. Drunk Elephant sells everything from moisturizers, eye creams, a cleansing balm, masks, serums, and two sunscreens.
I decided to try the Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spf 30. I noticed that the reviews on Sephora’s website and YouTube were mixed. So, I decided to give it a try since it is a clean sunscreen. At $34.00, my hopes were high. It contains zinc oxide 20%. Also, other ingredients include Astaxanthin- rich Algae Extract, which is a carotenoid that contains powerful antioxidant attributes. Sunflower Sprout Extract is additionally added as a way to neutralize free radicals.
When I first applied it onto my face, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It didn’t have that overwhelming and strong sunscreen smell that other sunscreens possess. I found that this sunscreen has a very light scent, it wasn’t overpowering at all. The consistency is a thick, white cream. When I applied it to my face, I did notice that if I put too much on, I had a white cast on my face. Because of the zinc oxide ingredient that is in this sunscreen, the white cream doesn’t absorb into the skin.
After I massaged it into my skin, at first, I didn’t notice any piling. However, after I kept on massaging it in, I noticed that it started to pill slightly, and there was a buildup from the sunscreen around my eyebrows. Applying makeup with this sunscreen was interesting. I noticed that this sunscreen made my foundation appear to be lighter than what it is. I have fair skin, so my foundation is already on the lighter side.
The last thing I need is my foundation to be ghostly looking, and unfortunately, that is how my face looked while I wore this sunscreen.
Overall, the positives of Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Protection Spf 30 sunscreen is that the scent is very light and that it’s a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t have any added chemicals in it. Is it worth $34.00? In my opinion, No. I feel that other mineral sunscreens on the market perform better.
The biggest negative for me was the fact that it left a white cast. Hopefully, in time, as technology in skincare advances, labs will develop a way for mineral sunscreens to absorb more easily into the skin so that there won’t be a white cast that remains on the skin’s surface.
What are your favorite mineral sunscreens? Are there any that are currently on the market that performs amazingly that you have tried? Leave me a comment, I’d love to know any recommendations.
Digest of Beauty 