BELLFLOWER | WATERMELON FRESH SUNSCREEN SPF 50+ / PA++++

This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Super Light Sunscreens I'm Crushing on for Spring: Best Sunscreens for Face, Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin (And All Skin In Spring!) You can catch the full piece here.

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No matter where I am in the world, no matter the climate, the one product I consider indispensable every day, all year round is sunscreen. It saddens me (it really does!) that so many people only wear sunscreen when it’s sunny out — and very often only in the summer months when the sun is peaking.

That’s just absurd. Sunscreen is vital every day. A simple truth I live by: if you can see the sun, the sun can see you. Sunscreen is the most valuable (make that invaluable!) anti-aging product available to us — every day of the year. Whenever asked for my recommendations for the best anti-aging creams, I always answer sunscreen!

One of my favorite sunscreens of all time is the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk from the Japanese personal care conglomerate Rohto. I’ve included it in multiple blog articles, including one of my faves, A Complete $100 Skincare Routine with The Inkey List, The Ordinary, Benton & More! (You can catch it here!)

PRODUCT REVIEW: SKIN AQUA SUPER MOISTURE MILK SPF 50 – ONE OF THE BEST SUNSCREENS FOR OILY SKIN

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I’ve joked around about how Skin Aqua’s Super Moisture Milk is so exceptional that I suspect it may be some sort of alien technology that made its way to Earth. It’s just so otherworldly.

What’s important is that you find a sunscreen you love to use so much that you wouldn’t even think of skipping it.

What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens?

For some real insights, there’s an excellent article by the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients available here. In the piece, the experts explain the differences and benefits between mineral and chemical sunscreens — and even dispel a myth or two:

“The two types of sunscreen ingredients are mineral and synthetic [chemical], and both are equally protective. Further reassuring is that each can be included in formulas created for every skin type. For example, if you have normal to oily skin, there are weightless, non-greasy options; if you have normal to dry skin, it’s possible to find skin-smoothing, hydrating SPF products.
What’s the Difference Between Mineral and Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients?
The differences aren’t about which type is more effective; rather, it comes down to personal preference and how sensitive your skin is—mineral sunscreens are considered the most gentle options.
Mineral sunscreens: There are only two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxideand zinc oxide. They work in skin's uppermost layers to both absorb and, to a lesser extent, deflect and scatter the sun’s harmful rays. These mineral ingredients are sometimes referred to as physical sunscreens or physical blockers, although that’s not a factual representation of how they work.
Synthetic sunscreens: There are over 30 synthetic sunscreen ingredients, all of which absorb into the top layers of skin, where they work similar to mineral sunscreens: by scattering and deflecting the sun’s harmful rays, and by converting UV rays into heat and “deactivating” them. (Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing.) Common synthetic sunscreen ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone. These are sometimes labeled “chemical sunscreens,” which is both misleading and false. All skin care ingredients, even water, are chemicals.

In my days working at Kiehl’s, we had a saying that has always stuck with me:

“It is essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy seemingly sunless days.”

I believe that to this very day. And I practice it nearly every day. The pandemic has literally upended that ritual, too. I mean there have certainly been days where I’ve not left the apartment and thus don’t have an urgent need for sunscreen. And, over the past several weeks, the weather has been awful here in NYC. So, on days where it’s raining or fog-laden and I’m not going outside, I’ve been giving my skin a rest.

PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPERGOOP! BRIGHT-EYED 100% MINERAL EYE CREAM SPF 40 – BEST ANTI-AGING SUNCSREEN FOR EYES

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But, spring is coming, and with it more intense sun rays — and, hopefully, a whole lot more sunny days to enjoy outside. (Not in sandals, of course!) So, it’s about the perfect time to have a look at a few lightweight sunscreens that I’ve been exploring — and really enjoying. Some are new to the market, some are just new to me.

Let’s have a look at one of the five new-to-me super light sunscreens I’m crushing on…

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COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN!

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Bellflower | Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen SPF 50+ / PA++++

Similar to the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream, the new Bellflower Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen SPF 50+ is a classic K-Beauty sunscreen. They're both super effective sunscreens — and super affordable at just about $10-12.

But unlike the six-year-old COSRX formula, Bellflower’s Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen formula has a bit more pro-skin health goodness going on in it. IMO it feels like an upgraded version of that iconic Aloe Soothing Sun Cream.

Watermelon Fresh has, as the name indicates, a lovely, refreshing texture that’s quite pleasurable — and wearable. Not exactly unexpected for a Korean facial sunscreen product. The Koreans love a good refreshing texture!

As I said, it’s a bit of an upgrade with humectants Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate and Watermelon Fruit Extract. There’s a healthy dose of brightening Niacinamide, too, at ingredient number seven — perhaps 3-4% of the formula. You really can’t get enough Niacinamide in your skincare routine so that’s a welcome extra 4%!

For sunscreen filters, Bellflower relied on both Tinosorb S and the A-beauty UVA rockstar sun filter, Uvinul A Plus — manufactured by BASF, a German multi-national chemical manufacturer. Regrettably, of course, this new state-of-the-art sun filter isn’t available for use in US-made and marketed sunscreens because the FDA hasn’t approved a new UV filter since like 1786 — just ten years after the nation’s founding. So I bought it illegally on the internet.

What is Uvinul A Plus?

I found the following info on the US distributor’s website:

Uvinul® A Plus Granular is the only photostable organic UVA-I absorber that covers the long wavelengths of the UVA spectrum. It has good solubility in cosmetic oils and also a unique solubility in ethanol. It is compatible with inorganic UV filters like Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide. The outstanding photostability of Uvinul® A Plus Granular provides reliable and efficient sun protection for the whole day.
Sun care products with added anti-aging benefits have a special appeal. Uvinul® A Plus provides not only reliably filters the sun’s dangerous UVA rays, but also provides outstanding protection from free radicals and skin damage. The oil-soluble granular offers excellent formulation flexibility and easily qualifies for EU UVA-PF/SPF recommendation. It is free of preservatives and highly efficient at low concentration. Uvinul® A Plus is ideal for long-lasting sun care and face care products with anti-aging efficacy.
BASF Personal Care offers a wide range of products in various personal care market segments such as Antiperspirant/Deodorants, Body Care, Oral Care, Sun Care, and more. These high-performing products enable the development of formulations that fulfill consumer’s needs.
Features & Benefits of Uvinul® A Plus Granular

Efficient shielding against UVA radiation for prevention of skin damage
Outstanding photo-stability for reliable and long-lasting protection
Excellent formulation flexibility and solubility
Easy achievement of EU recommendation
Does not contain preservatives
Helps to prevent long term skin damage
High efficiency at low concentrations

Bellflower actually has two refreshingly lightweight sunscreens — the Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen SPF 50+ and Carrot Mild Sunscreen. Both are quite nice, but there’s something about watermelon that just reminds me of the warmer summer days ahead.

There’s also a tiny amount of centella asiatica extract for additional hydration and antioxidant protection. It’s not a lot, but I’ll take it.

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Bellflower Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen Spf 50+ / PA++++ for $11.12 here.

BUY BELLFLOWER WATERMELON FRESH SUNSCREEN SPF 50+