Important facts about sun protection // Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock, Body Mist Sunscreen Review

Let’s talk SUNSCREENS, they're only the most important skin care product. That’s why this post has been on my mind ever since the hot summer season started. As you can see from the pictures, I actually have two sets of sunscreens, one is empty & the other is new. If its not broke, why fix it right? Both these sunscreens have worked well for me when I first used them so I have repurchased them.

Some important points about sunscreens:  

Fact 1: UV rays that reach our atmosphere are of 2 types-UVA & UVB. UVB rays cause sunburns & skin cancer. SPFs measure only UVB protection. Any SPF 15 product filters out 93% of the UVB , SPF 30 filters out 97%, & SPF 45 filters out 98% of UVB rays. The best UVB protection you can offer your skin is SPF30.

Fact 2: UVA rays may also cause skin cancer. But the amount of protection against UVA rays cannot be measured by SPF. Presence of ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, ecamsule, and oxybenzone indicate UVA protection. Sunscreens with both UVA & UVB protection could be labeled multi spectrum, broad spectrum, or UVA/UVB protection. PA+ is a Japanese UVA rating (‘+’ is the lowest rating & ‘+++’ is the highest).

Fact 3:  SPF in makeup & skincare only protects you from UVB rays. In order to protect your skin from UVA rays, its mandatory to use a sunscreen having ingredients mentioned in Fact 2. To quote WebMD, “Ultra-protective makeup is a boon for skin. But think of it as the Robin to your sunscreen's Batman — a dynamic duo stronger together than either is alone”.

Fact 4: Sunblock is a physical kind of protective lotion containing both organic and non-organic ingredients that act as a barrier between your skin and UV rays by reflecting or scattering them. Sunscreen is the chemical kind that penetrates the skin and absorbs the UV rays before they reach the protective outer epidermis layer of your skin & damage it.

When you’re looking for a sunscreen in India, go for one that has an Sun Protection Factor(SPF) of 30 or higher and is broad spectrum(i.e both UVA & UVB protection). Why? See Fact 1 above. For me, the sunscreens that met all the criteria are the Neutrogena Dry Touch ones. There are many more 

in the market but currently these two are the only ones that give you a bang for your buck.

The Neutrogena Dry-Touch technology claims to leave a clean, lightweight, non-shiny finish. Neutrogena Dry Touch sunscreens are also non-comedogenic (don’t clog pores), oil free & PABA(Para-AminoBenzoic Acid) free. They also have claims such as ‘broad spectrum’ (mentioned in Fact 2) and ‘helioplex’. Helioplex is stabilized version of Avobenzone (mentioned in Fact 2), which deflects a wider range of UVA rays than other anti-UVA ingredients. It is stabilized so that it doesn’t degrade in sunlight i.e its staying power is extended.  These sunscreens need to be applied 15-30mins before sun exposure!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+:

Price: Rs.175 ($2.75)/Rs499($8)

Qty: 30ml(1 fl.oz)/88ml(2.97 fl.oz)

Availability: Nykaa | Flipkart |Amazon

Ingredients:

Water, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzophenone – 3, Octocrylene, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Styrene copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Beeswwax, Gylceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan gum, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 crosspolymer, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate copolymer, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylstearate, BHT, Trideceth – 6, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Methylisothiazolinone, Diethylhexyl 2, 6 Napthlate

Review:

I've been using this since a long time, I had even mentioned it in a summer skin care post last year.I use this sunblock primarily for my face & feet. It’s a white colored creamy product, inspite of being ‘dry touch’, it spreads easily on the skin. However it’s not comfortable to spread all over the body unless I’ve properly moisturized, and it feels too heavy on my body post moisturization (that’s why I use the sunscreen reviewed below) It claims to give a ‘non-shiny’ finish, however, after application my skin does look slightly shiny, even after powdering on top. But it doesn’t feel greasy on the skin. It needs to be applied 15-30mins before going out in the sun. It’s also waterproof, sweat proof & resists rub off. I can’t attest to the waterproof claims but I do think it resists rub offs. I always buy the small size(30mls) and carry it in my purse as well to reapply when I’m outside for longer durations. It does protect my skin from tanning & I would definitely recommend this product to everyone having normal to oily skin type.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 30:

Price: Rs.675 ($10.6)

Qty: 141g (5 fl.oz)

Availability: Nykaa | Flipkart |Snapdeal

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone

Review:

I use this spray-type of sunscreen only for my body. I like using it for the whole body because it’s very convenient and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin when used post moisturization. One thing that I’m not too fond of is that it makes my skin look shiny post application. Shiny skin looks good if you have waxed your arms. If you haven’t, it’s not an appealing look. It can make the skin really greasy too, if you apply alot. But this is something I have to overlook because of the ease of use. I do wish this bottle was available in smaller sizes so that I can always carry one around in my purse & reapply whenever I’m outside for longer durations. According to the instructions, once you spray this onto your skin, you do have to rub it in. I haven’t used this on my face, my sister tried it a couple of times on her face & it broke her out so I would not recommend it. As for sun-protection, I think it has prevented my arms & legs from tanning & if used liberally it protects my feet from tanning but not for long, which is why I use the sunscreen mentioned above.  It is water resistant for 80min. This is the cheapest sunscreen spray in the Indian market & I definitely recommend everyone to try it out at least once.

Now, coming to another important fact about sunscreen-

Fact 5: You need to apply at least a 1/4^th tea-spoon sized amount on the face & neck each for the sunscreen to be effective. If you’re using a spray, it should be applied until an even sheen appears on the skin. Sunscreen should always be the final step of your skincare/makeup routine, because anything applied over your sunblock will reduce its effectiveness. ANY sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or heavy perspiration or outdoor activities.

Before you rate a sunscreen for not working, make sure you’re using it properly girls!

I would suggest you to try out at least one of these sunscreens, and definitely buy them online because its always cheaper than buying at the store! Let me know your favorite sunscreens in the comments!

Why I've been loving The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink !!

So, do you remember my The Body Shop haul that was a gift from me to myself, for International Women’s Day? I decided to try out some products that were otherwise pricier & have been on my wish list for a while. One of the things (and the only makeup product) I purchased was the Lip & Cheek stain in the shade Rose Pink (01). These lip & cheek stains are available in 3 shades and Rose Pink is the only one that doesn't have any glitter, the glitter in the other two are OTT. Let me tell you right away that I have been so addicted to this stain ever since I started using it back in March.

My experience with The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain Rose Pink (01)

PACKAGING ~ It comes in the kind of tube a lip gloss comes in. I wish it had a brush instead of a sponge tipped doe foot applicator though; a brush is more hygienic because its easier to clean. The tube is the same size as a lip gloss tube as well. Another thing that bugs me is that the stain, which is very runny, easily gets all over applicator and the inside of the lid, especially when the tube is kept horizontal.

COLOR vs. SKIN TONE ~Rose Pink is a very deep pink color in the tube. However, it is sheer when blended into the skin, and looks just like a neutral rosy pink shade. If you apply too much of it, it will make your cheeks like they are punched :P The color will look good on all skin tones as it can be applied to look very sheer and very deep easily.

on the left: one swipe, on the right: one swipe blended out

COLOR vs. STYLE ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain is great for natural looks. When the right amount is applied, it looks beautifully natural on the cheeks, and mimics what my cheeks look like when post exercise! On the lips, after two sheer layers it still looks quite natural. I very have pigmented lips and this isn’t the best product to use for my kind of lips.

APPLICATION & AFTER ~ The Rose Pink Lip & Cheek Stain is very pigmented and easy to use, I definitely recommend it to beginners. I use the applicator in 3 ways; either I directly dot my cheeks with the sponge tip or I use my fingers to transfer the product from the body of the applicator to my cheeks. The consistency is very watery so the product easily gets all over the applicator and I recommend cleaning up the sides (or making use of the product there!) &  the mouth of the tube frequently.

 For a month or so I applied it using the latter technique only, then I tried it on my lips a couple of times and realized that I prefer using it for cheeks only, so I switched to the former technique (i.e. using the sponge tip directly on my cheeks). This stain really stains your fingers and dries moderately fast, once you dot it on your cheeks you have a couple of seconds to blend it out. I usually apply 4 dots to each cheek and blend it out, I do this 2-3 times on each cheek till I get a good flush of color!

PRODUCT vs. DURABILITY ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink lasts for a really long time, I’ve worn it for straight 8 hours & it only slightly faded by then. If you apply more layers the color will last longer. For 2-3 layers, nearly 8 hrs weartime is pretty good IMO!

PRODUCT vs. PRICE ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain retails for Rs.850($13.6) for 8ml(0.27oz) which is pricey, however, The Body Shop website runs sales frequently so you can get it for cheaper online or even at the store during the sale period. Another thing is, you need a small quantity of it when used as a blush or a lip stain, so it will last you a long time. The Lip & Cheek Stain is available in one more color Coral(03) on the website but it has a lot of obvious glitter.

REMOVAL ~ I need a makeup remover to completely clean it off from the cheeks. I don’t apply more than two sheer layers on my lips and that easily comes off.

Overall verdict: 5/5 

I really love The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in the shade Rose Pink, I definitely recommend it to everyone, even beginners will enjoy using it. Its very easy to use & lasts for a long time, making it pretty much perfect for everyday wear to office and even summer season.