SURPRISINGLY LIGHT SUNSCREENS FOR A HOT SUMMER DAY FROM GLOSSIER, SUPERGOOP! AND ZITSTICKA - BEST SUNSCREENS FOR FACE, BEST SUNSCREENS FOR OILY SKIN (AND ALL SKINS IN THE HEAT!)
I bookended the week with two extra-ordinary #selfcaresundays.
To start, I kicked things off with a conventional facial at my favorite new age spa in the Lower East Side of the City last Sunday.
Instead of the usual subzero cryofacial that always feels like I accidentally got closed into a meat locker with no way out for a few frightening hours, I ventured to the Kollectiv for a deep-clean facial with pore extractions and a pore-refining mud mask.
My facialist, Toni, a New Yorker who grew up in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan, quite coincidentally happens to be a fellow migraineur and we always compare notes on migraine triggers. We agree that soy is the worst trigger of all, followed by parmigiana cheese, a close second. (I don’t know how she grew up eating Chinese cuisine and I, Italian.)
I sure wish I could have one of Toni’s head massages on really intense migraine days. Come to think of it, more regular pore extractions couldn’t hurt either!
Then on Friday, with my complexion lit like the summer sun, I hopped on a plane and headed to hot AF Palm Springs, California, where the actual summer sun was unreal in its intensity. No joke, it was 104 degrees (40 celsius) when I deplaned on the tarmac at Palm Springs Airport. That didn’t last and quickly escalated to 108 my mid-afternoon.
Even though it’s a dry desert heat, that’s still hot, hot! 🥵
I met up with friends there from both coasts and we tried as best we could to stay cool. For them, that meant lots of ice-cold fruity cocktails. For me, it meant getting my nails redone in an air-conditioned nail salon and, since I don’t drink, acting as the designated driver for most of the trip.
Which was quite an extraordinary act of courage given the fact that I hadn’t driven a car since a friend and I met up in Nice, France, in 2006.
Yes, you read that right, I hadn’t driven a car in about 15 years.
I was never very fond of driving to begin with and in the time I spent in LA, having to drive was my least favorite part of my sunny Southern California lifestyle.
Of course, driving around the desert is hardly the nerve-rattling, tension-filled experience of getting behind the wheel in either Los Angeles or New York. But, I somehow adapted and actually enjoyed chauffeuring friends around the town.
Here’s to more sunny summer adventures…
The skincare stuff starts here.
No matter what season it is, what the climate is like, or where I am in the world, sunscreen is indispensable to my morning skincare routine. I apply sunscreen every day, unless I don’t plan to leave the house — or if it’s seriously storming outside and day has ominously turned to dark. (Regrettably, we’ve had one too many of those days this summer in NYC!)
When I was working at Kiehl’s, one of my favorite of the brand’s philosophies was that it is essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days. Of course, the mistake so many people make is in thinking that they can somehow outsmart the sun; that they don’t need sun protection in winter. Truthfully, the sun’s rays always find a way to our skin.
While I make it a practice of consistently applying sunscreen every day, all year round, the one thing that isn’t consistent is the texture of the facial sunscreen product itself. I prefer something heavier in the winter — a richer cream does the trick.
For those in the Southern Hemisphere right now, my most recent blog article on heavier sunscreens came this past fall, just as the colder months were kicking into high gear. The article, titled, New Sunscreens I'm Crushing On For Fall, is available to read here.
NEW SUNSCREENS I'M CRUSHING ON FOR FALL - BEST MINERAL SUNSCREENS FOR FACE FROM FARMACY, PURITO AND MORE!
In the spring and summer months, the lighter the better. I prefer super lightweight A-beauty or K-beauty sunscreen products, which I consider the best sunscreens for face period – any time of year.
One of my favorite sunscreens of all time, and a staple for me in the summer, 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 all-time 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
I’ve often joked around about how Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk is so exceptional that I suspect it may be some sort of alien technology that made its way to Earth. Even the bottle looks like an alien obelisk! It’s just so otherworldly and I’ve never tried anything like it.
Whether you get your hands on alien sunscreen technology or prefer sunscreen from a corner drugstore here on Earth, what’s important is that you find a facial sunscreen you love to use so much that you wouldn’t even think of skipping it.
“It is essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy seemingly sunless days.”
The Best Sunscreens for Face
So with hot summer days upon us here in NYC and much of the Northern Hemisphere, I thought I’d pull together a few new super lightweight favorites for my SS21 sunscreen recommendations.
Among the three are the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++. As the sunscreen authority, the brand’s Daily Dose is one of the best facial sunscreens with Vitamin C that combines both broad-spectrum UV protection and free radical defense. It’s a light, silky serum that’s a pleasure to use. (Remember, if you love it, you’ll use it!)
Throughout 2021, I’ve taken a deep dive into the cult skincare brand, Glossier. At just $28 each, Glossier’s Super Pure Niacinamide + Zinc Serum and Super Glow Vitamin C + Magnesium Serum are superb serums, especially ideal for oily skin. In fact, the Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C + Magnesium Serum is one of the best Vitamin C serums for oily skin and acne-prone skin alike.
PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOSSIER SUPER GLOW VITAMIN C + MAGNESIUM SERUM - BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM FOR OILY SKIN
And, as those two serums are, the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35 is an excellent lightweight formula that’s ideal for oily skin and all skin types in the summer heat. I love the formula’s gel texture!
The newest of my SS21 collection is the Zitsticka MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum. It literally just launched a month or so ago and, like the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum, has an amazing serum texture that feels like nothing on the skin. True to the Zitsticka mission to bring skincare innovation to the marketplace for acne products, MEGASHADE is among the best sunscreens for acne-prone skin.
Let’s have a look at each of the three super light sunscreens that I think are ideal for summer…
Supergoop! | Ultra Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++
I have a super personal relationship with skincare products. There’s this one indicator that I’m sensitive to when it comes to whether or not I like a product during my initial experience with it.
Make that two indicators: Do I believe the formula is pro-skin health and do I like using it.
The Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++ had me intrigued from the start. It’s certainly pro-skin health and I actually LOVE using it. As I like to say, it’s important to find a sunscreen you love. If you do, you’re more likely to use it consistently — even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days.
Even though it sounds super cool, there’s nothing particularly innovative about a sunscreen formulated with Vitamin C. But there is something quite special and perhaps innovative about Supergoop’s Daily Dose sunscreen serum.
First, I want to give props to Supergoop! for calling out the PA rating of the Daily Dose packaging. It’s something you really see in US sunscreen products. If you don’t know what a PA rating is, it’s an indicator of a formula’s UVA protection — in the same fashion as SPF indicates a sunscreen’s level of UVB protection.
What Does PA Mean in Sunscreen and What Is the Difference between SPF and PA?
There’s an excellent piece from the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, What Does the PA+ Sunscreen Symbol Mean? on the brand’s website here.
The SPF rating on a sunscreen bottle stands for Sun Protection Factor, a measurement of how long you can stay outside during the day and be protected from the sun’s burn-causing UVB rays (assuming you’re applying sunscreen the right way). UVA rays are present, too; this is where the PA+ rating system comes into play.
Some sunscreens include PA+ rating on their products. The letters “PA” followed by plus signs (PA+, PA++, PA+++, and PA++++) on a label are a rating system developed in Japan to represent how much UVA protection the product offers.
The sun’s UVA rays do not cause sunburn; rather, they cause skin to turn brown. UVA rays are known as the sun’s silent killers because you don’t feel them affecting skin. Despite the lack of pain associated with UVA rays, they penetrate deeply into skin, causing a somewhat different type of damage than UVB rays.
This is what each PA rating means:
PA+ = Some UVA protection.
PA++ = Moderate UVA protection.
PA+++ = High UVA protection.
PA++++ = Extremely High UVA protection.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
MY 2021 VITAMIN C PICKS + THE BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE COMPLEXION!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
Aside from the PA indication of UVA protection right on the front of the bottle, what sets the Supergoop! Daily Dose apart?
It’s the whole package for me!
That includes the milky serum texture. The cute round bottle that fits in the palm of your hand. The fact that it’s infused with 10% Vitamin C in the form of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. And the way it magically transforms your complexion upon application.
Like my favorite Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk, it’s quite otherworldly and makes me feel like it’s right outta J-Beauty — that PA rating and all!
But I think the most notable characteristic about the Supergoop! Daily Dose is that it’s such a pleasure to use. How often would you dare say that about a sunscreen? Usually they’re a pain, feel uncomfortable on the skin, and are tough to blend in. The fact that Daily Dose is fun to use makes it exceptional IMO — and what makes it an exceptionally terrific pick for my collection of SS21 sunscreens.
You may know that Supergoop’s motto is “Every Single Day,” implying that you should use sunscreen no matter what’s going on outside. That goes for a cloudy day, a rainy day, the dead of winter. You gotta wear sunscreen…Every. Single. Day. You know I support the brand’s messaging 100%!
And Daily Dose is so dope, you kinda really want to use it every single day.
I’ve loved, loved, loved applying Supergoop’s Daily Dose on many mornings over the last several months. And as the product begins to run low, I always begin developing serious #dailydosefomo. At last count, I’d thrice restocked it.
The Daily Dose silky serum transforms on the skin to give you what appears to be a radiant veil that lasts for hours. The only drawback? It’s formulated with four chemical sun filters, nary a mineral sunscreen in sight. But somehow I still can’t resist getting my Daily Dose. Seriously, it’s that good.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++ for $46 here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPERGOOP! BRIGHT-EYED 100% MINERAL EYE CREAM SPF 40 – BEST ANTI-AGING SUNCSREEN FOR EYES
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COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN!
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Glossier | Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35
Honestly, there’s nothing scarier than someone who doesn’t wear sunscreen! I’ve made it my mission to try every sunscreen on Earth in an effort to uncover the best sunscreens for face all year long.
In fact, I’ve created a new navigation category on the Skincarma Blog site called the Best Sunscreens for Face. It’s available in the “burger” — the three menu bars at the top of a website. You can now browse my entire collection of the best sunscreens here.
No Skincarma Blog review about sunscreen products and the importance of sun protection would be complete without mention of Jeanne and Susan, identical twin sisters.
Seriously, I can’t imagine a Skincarma Blog article about the best facial sunscreen products for the summer heat without an introduction to my friends Jeanne and Susan — identical twin sisters.
No, they're not my actual friends; in fact, we’ve never met. But I feel like I know them. As good friends would, they inspire me to be better — and to wear sunscreen every single day of the year. If you need proof of the very real effects of sun damage on your skin, look no further than these two ladies.
The sisters looked exactly alike growing up. But Susan has spent her life in Florida worshiping the sun (she’s also a heavy smoker!) while sister Jeanne lives in Ohio and has generally avoided overexposure to the sun (and smoking) throughout her life. While both were 61 when the adjacent photo was taken, a scientific study of Susan’s skin at Case Western Reserve University showed an 11-year age difference — Susan has extreme hyperpigmentation (sun spots), deeper wrinkles and degradation in skin elasticity.
Be a Jeanne, not a Susan!
Among the multitude of sunscreens I try over the course of a year, only a few of them become part of my regular daily arsenal – my favorite sunscreens in the Skincarma Vault.
Generally, there are only a handful of straight-up non-mineral sunscreens that blow me away. There has to be something truly special about a chemical sunscreen for it to make the cut.
Over the past several months, I’ve been having a lot of fun exploring the cult skincare brand, Glossier.
As I mentioned, Glossier’s Super Pure Niacinamide + Zinc Serum and Super Glow Vitamin C + Magnesium Serum are some of the most intriguing, well-priced and well-formulated serums for oily skin.
Another personal fave of the brand’s extensive range of skincare is the Glossier Solution Exfoliating Skin Perfector, which I’ve reviewed on the blog here. I’m not a big fan of acid toners, but I have to admit that the Salicylic Acid in Glossier’s Solution pairs quite well with a healthy dose of Niacinamide for daily “pore maintenance” — effectively flushing out and unclogging pores to optimize skin health and prevent the occurrence of acne blemishes. That’s always a great idea on a hot and sweaty summer day!
PRODUCT REVIEW: GLOSSIER SOLUTION EXFOLIATING SKIN PERFECTOR – BEST SALICYLIC ACID TONER
Among the chemical sunscreen discoveries of 2021 that I really can’t help but love is the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35. Similar to the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum, the texture is literally everything.
Glossier’s Invisible Shield is an unusual lightweight gel that’s actually more like a thick serum. It’s not at all sticky and, yes, as a gel it’s completely transparent on the skin. Glossier describes it as “sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen.” I’m totally down with that!
This is the kind of chemical sunscreen that makes me want to chill on the whole mineral vs. chemical thing. Honestly, if you find a chemical sunscreen you love, you’re more likely to use it. I say go for 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.
Interestingly, the Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen’s actives are micro-encapsulated and burst when massaged into the skin. You can’t really feel that, but it sounds cool! Glossier says that makes it ideal for makeup wearers. #iykyk (And I don’t!)
I think the Invisible Shield makes for a terrific sunscreen for oily skin types, too. There’s also a trio of antioxidants, including Vitamin E, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract and Broccoli Extract — but they’re so far down the INCI I wouldn’t rely on much antioxidant protection from Invisible Shield. For that, you gotta go with the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum.
If you’re a makeup wearer or have oily skin, the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35 could be just what you’re looking for. It’s the best sunscreen for oily skin that I’ve come across all year.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35 for $25 here.
Zitsticka | Megashade Breakout-Proof Spf 50 Sunscreen Serum
I’m a longtime fan of the classic Zitsticka acne patches. Those things actually work! The brand has been on a roll with new product launches over the past year and I’ve been waiting for Zitsticka to introduce serious skincare beyond acne treatments. And boom! A cool new super light sunscreen serum, the Zitsticka MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum for oily, acne-prone skin.
Is it just me or are “sunscreen serums” suddenly a thing? I feel like the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum was the first breakthrough sunscreen serum and they kicked off a whole new (and fun!) way to protect your skin on a hot summer day.
PRODUCT REVIEW: ZITSTICKA KILLA ACNE PATCHES - THE BEST ACNE TREATMENT FOR BLEMISHES
It’s been 90 degrees here in NYC for most of the past month and on those days, I don’t want to put anything heavy on my face. The new Zitsticka MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum is mega lightweight and ideal for intense heat.
Zitsticka says MEGASHADE is formulated for oily, acne-prone skin (of course, that’s so Zitsticka!). But it’s a perfectly legitimate sunscreen for the rest of us, too.
Zitsticka’s MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum is a chemical-mineral hybrid with sun filter concentrations of 7.5% Homosalate, 7.5% Octinoxate, 5% Octisalate and 3% Zinc Oxide.
I do prefer 100% mineral sunscreens most of the year; but hey with an SPF 50, a cocktail of antioxidants, and a light, silky texture that reminds me of A-beauty sunscreens like the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk, I’m cool with it.
Plus the Zitsticka MEGASHADE formula is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free to prevent clogged pores and irritation of sensitive skin. That makes it even more ideal for a seriously hot, icky summer day!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Zitsticka MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum for $40 here.
That’s it, guys! I hope this helps you to find a summer sunscreen you love — and that won’t feel icky on your face.
See you next week…
💟 Carmine @skincarma
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A COMPLETE K-BEAUTY ROUTINE WITH THE BEST FACIAL SKINCARE FROM PURITO, COSRX, MISSHA & MORE!
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WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
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The Ingredient List of the Supergoop! Ultra Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++:
aox|sb, C13-15 Alkane solv|emo, Glycerin 
sii|h 0 0, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate emu, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate emu, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer h, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Phenethyl Benzoate emo|perf, Polyester-25, Silica vc, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract aox|sb, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract perf, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate h, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract so|h, Glyceryl Caprylate emo|emu, Disteardimonium Hectorite vc, Xanthan Gum vc, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate emu, Magnesium Sulfate vc, Sodium Chloride vc, Citric Acid buff, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chel, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Propanediol solv|h, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Chlorphenesin pres|amicThe Ingredient List of the Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen+ SPF 35:
aox, Betaine h, Acrylates Copolymer vc, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer vc, Hydroxyacetophenone aox, Phenoxyethanol pres, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide vc, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide vc, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil 
perf, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Carbomer vc 0 1, Tocopheryl Acetate aox 0 0, Aminomethyl Propanol buff, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Disodium Edta chel|vc, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract so|emo|h, Silica vc, Bioflavonoids so, Potassium Sorbate pres, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid so, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract aox|so, Ascorbyl Palmitate aox 0 2The Ingredient List of the Zitsticka MEGASHADE Breakout-Proof SPF 50 Sunscreen Serum:
Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Zinc Oxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Amodimethicone, Aqua (Deionized Water), Butylene Glycol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Extract, Ceramide NG, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Methyl Abietate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Polysorbate-20, Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract.
