THREE TINTED SUNSCREENS I'M OBSESSED WITH FROM WANDER BEAUTY, BLISS AND SOLARA SUNCARE - BEST TINTED SUNSCREEN, BEST PRIMER WITH SPF
I had such a cool, exciting first week of summer. To kick it off, last weekend a good friend and I hopped on a pair of Citi Bikes and rode all around Brooklyn, ending at Coney Island, the iconic oceanside amusement park.
I haven’t been on a bicycle in years. Not since I hung up my bike jersey after my days as a long-distance cyclist. Believe it or not — and it’s almost hard for me to imagine now — I rode a racing bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles and even across Alaska. That was back in the early 2000s. Jeez, those were the days!
Then later in the week, I attended my first-ever sound meditation session. Replete with chakra chants (is that what they’re called?!) and mantras. It was not what I imagined. I was expecting to be sitting in complete stillness while a meditation master lightly tapped a gong. It was kinda cool to learn about the nature of each of the seven chakras and how we harness them — or don’t.
And of course, I wrapped up the week and kicked off the weekend by getting my nails done at the hottest nail art salon in the City, Vanity Projects NYC. The crew of Japanese nail artists literally take their craft to an almost incomprehensible level of creativity.
My new nails are everything…
The skincare stuff starts here.
Like nearly everyone else on the planet, I love summer. And probably unlike most, I loathe the cold. My greatest trauma as a child was waiting for the school bus in bone-chilling zero-degree weather. It was during those character-building moments that my adult life in warm, sunny Los Angeles had its origins. I spent 15 years in LA before moving to New York to work for Kiehl’s at the age of 37.
And while I was always an avid user of sunscreen, including around my eyes, it wasn’t until I got to New York City, interestingly, that I really understood the importance of sun protection. It was then that I began to view a sunscreen for face as the most important and effective anti-aging treatment available. In fact, a face cream with SPF doubles as the best anti-aging cream for wrinkles and pretty much all other visible signs of aging.
Even today, with irrefutable evidence that the sun’s UV rays are the most damaging to the skin and the greatest factor in skin aging, skincare marketers fail at communicating the vital importance that a daily sunscreen plays in overall skin health. I guess it’s just not sexy enough and there isn’t enough money to be made.
Whether or not sunscreen is sexy is, of course, beyond the point. Whether or not you use an SPF for face is the sole determining factor in the health and youthful appearance of your skin at any age.
Unprotected sun exposure and the resultant UV damage is the leading cause of lines and wrinkles, loss of collagen, hyperpigmentation and dark spots. And that’s just a quick list of all the skin-aging downsides of not wearing sunscreen every day.
One of my most cherished learnings from my work at Kiehl’s, and my favorite of the brand’s many wisdoms, was that it’s essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days. Too many people make the mistake of thinking that they can outsmart the sun; that they don’t need sun protection in winter or on a cloudy day.
Truthfully, the sun’s rays always find a way to our skin. You cannot hide.
The Best Sunscreens For Face
It is essential to wear sunscreen even on cloudy seemingly sunless days.
Did you know that a lack of daily sun protection in the eye area can exacerbate the appearance of dark circles? Not using a sunscreen around the eyes actually makes dark circles worse.
I’ve had so many conversations with people lately about whether or not they use sunscreen in the immediate eye area, right inside the orbital bone. It’s no coincidence that the skin around the eyes is the first place to show signs of aging. In the eye area, skin is the thinnest of anywhere on the face. It’s the most exposed to UV damage, whether you wear sunglasses or not.
I recently posted a TikTok video about what I referred to as The Most Important Product You're (Probably) Not Using! (Psst…it’s sunscreen for the eyes!) You can catch the video along with my recommendations of the best sunscreen for eyes on the blog here.
The Most Important Product You're (Probably) Not Using!
What’s the Difference Between Mineral and Chemical Sunscreens?
While I prefer a mineral sunscreen, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. What’s most important is that you love using your facial sunscreen product. If you love using a chemical sunscreen, that’s perfectly okay. One of my all-time favorite daily sunscreens for face is the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++ — a 100% chemical facial sunscreen that’s such a pleasure to use. As crazy as it sounds, I look forward to applying it! (You can catch my review of Daily Dose on the blog here.)
What’s the difference between a mineral sunscreen and a chemical sunscreen – and is a mineral sunscreen better than a chemical sunscreen? For helpful 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 the two — 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.
—
Which Sunscreen is Best?
As we said, the right sunscreen for you is the one you’ll look forward to applying daily. It should be rated SPF 30 or higher and provide broad-spectrum protection to prevent damage from the sun’s killer UVA and UVB rays. Beyond that, to make an informed choice, you need to know how your skin type responds to different sunscreen ingredients and textures: those containing mineral actives, synthetic actives, or a combination of both.
Mineral sunscreens:
Begin to work immediately on application, but must be absorbed to be most effective and to ensure they don’t wipe off on clothing.
Have almost no risk of irritating skin.
May leave a white cast, especially on darker skin tones, but the best pure mineral sunscreens go on almost sheer.
May need more careful, liberal application because of the way they work in formulas. So, go ahead, slather these on for brilliant protection!
Do not penetrate past skin's uppermost layers.
Synthetic sunscreens:
Begin to work immediately on application, but must be absorbed to be most effective and to ensure they don’t wipe off on clothing.
Are generally found in products with thinner textures.
Tend to be preferred for water-resistant formulas because they don’t turn milky-looking when you sweat or get wet. But, as with any sunscreen, you must reapply them often.
Can be sensitizing for those with extra-sensitive skin.
Can penetrate the skin and be absorbed in small amounts that are not shown to have health risks.
Read the full article here.
THREE AMAZING SUNSCREENS I TOOK WITH ME TO CABO FROM SUPERGOOP, COCOKIND AND COSRX - BEST SUNSCREENS FOR FACE
So, an anti-aging sunscreen is a must for me. As is a sunscreen for the eyes. Chemical or mineral, it doesn’t matter. What matters is compliance. As one of my fave sunscreen brands, Supergoop!, says about wearing a facial sunscreen: Every. Single. Day.
Lately, I’ve been exploring tinted sunscreens, SPF with tint, and sunscreen primers — ideal for under makeup or alone. Funny, I have found that the right tinted sunscreen for face actually adds a little bit of color to my beard! Who knew?!
Over the last several weeks, I’ve tried maybe a half dozen or so tinted sunscreens and three of them stand out. I first reviewed the Wander Beauty Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen on the blog at the start of spring. It has a super lightweight texture, a high level of mineral sun protection, and is a real pleasure to use.
Since I first discovered Solara Suncare in 2018, it’s become one of my go-to sunscreen brands. And Solara Suncare’s Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 30 is one of my favorite sunscreens of all time. You can catch my review of it on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SOLARA SUNCARE TIME TRAVELER AGELESS DAILY FACE SUNSCREEN – BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN
So I was excited to have the opportunity to try Solara Suncare’s new collection of on-the-go sunscreen products. Among my favorites from the range is the Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen. The product spreads easily over the skin, unifies your complexion and leaves it with a subtle luminosity.
Last in the trio is the new Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen. It’s been a while since I tried a Bliss product and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away. But I was! I love the texture and spreadability of Block Star.
Unlike the Wander Beauty Pack Up & Glow and Solara Suncare Vacation Glow sunscreens, Block Star has a mattifying effect – something I know I’ll appreciate on a 90-degree August day standing on the hot AF subway platform with my face melting down my neck and onto my new Supreme T-shirt.
I’m excited to share my insights, likes and dislikes about each of them. With that, let’s take a look at the three tinted sunscreens that have caught my attention as summer kicks off here in New York City…
Wander Beauty | Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen
I haven’t been one to use much makeup or even hybrid skincare-makeup products like a tinted moisturizer, concealer or BB cream. I prefer a natural, bare-faced glow powered by lots of Niacinamide and Vitamin C!
The one exception is my favorite tinted sunscreen specifically formulated for the eye area — the SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50. With its mineral sun filters and thick, putty-like texture that stays in place, it’s probably the best sunscreen for eyes on the market and a real unsung hero for crow’s feet.
Over the years, I’ve been through dozens of tubes of the Physical Eye UV Defense and while I have several SPF eye products, it’s been my consistent go-to. You can catch my review of it on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL EYE UV DEFENSE SPF 50 - BEST SPF FOR EYES AND DARK CIRCLES
If a brand puts sunscreen in a product, my interest immediately goes up! I can honestly say that while I do take exceptional care of my skin (and don’t look anywhere near my age), I have to credit my early use of a daily facial sunscreen for my skin’s youthful qualities today: plumpness, smoothness, relatively few lines and no wrinkles.
So, while I wouldn’t normally be intrigued by a primer, I was really interested in trying out Wander Beauty’s new Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen. Its promise to illuminate the complexion and the formula’s high SPF 40 protection caught my attention. I was truly honored to be among the first to try it out earlier in the spring and am now on my third tube of it.
I’m a big fan of the Wander Beauty brand. My faves include those iconic Baggage Claim Eye Masks, the B.O.M. Voyage Cleansing Balm and Wander Beauty’s Do Not Disturb Overnight Repair Concentrate. There are very few Retinol treatments that I can say are a pleasure to use — let alone as much of a pleasure to use as Do Not Disturb happens to be. It’s been one of my favorite Retinol creams for a while now.
PRODUCT REVIEW: WANDER BEAUTY DO NOT DISTURB OVERNIGHT REPAIR CONCENTRATE - BEST RETINOL FACE CREAM
As I said in my initial product review of the Wander Beauty Do Not Disturb Overnight Repair Concentrate, it’s a whole sensorial experience. Do Not Disturb is a lightweight cream infused with a multitude of nourishing non-fragrant plant oils, many with high antioxidant activity on the skin, including Camellia Japonica (Tsubaki) Seed Oil and Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Seed Oil.
There’s also a smattering of peptide-powered Matrixyl in the formula for perhaps a bit of a plumping, wrinkle-smoothing boost. The star active in Do Not Disturb is Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, or HPR. More commonly known as Granactive Retinoid, HPR is one of the most effective retinoids. It’s believed to have efficacy on par with Retinoic Acid, aka Tretinoin or Retin-A, but without the irritation. Which is why I’ve never experienced any irritation when using it. If you’re curious, you can catch my review of Do Not Disturb on the blog here.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Wander Beauty’s Pack Up & Glow Priming SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen. Since I don’t wear makeup and have nothing really to prime for, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I have.
I actually look forward to using it in the morning!
What surprised me most about Pack Up & Glow is how extremely lightweight and comfortable it is on my skin. I remember the first time trying it, I had dispensed some on the back of my hand, which is what I usually do when applying sunscreen. Just so I can be sure I’m getting the right amount — and in an even layer. Hey, it’s important to me.
With a sunscreen, I would normally massage the leftover product into the backs of my hands and tops of my arms. Instead, with Pack Up & Glow, I preferred to rinse it off. I turned on the warm water and ran it over the back of my hand, expecting to need a heavy cleansing oil to effectively remove it. That wasn’t the case at all; the product rinsed right off with a mild cleanser!
As the name indicates, the Pack Up & Glow Priming SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen relies on mineral sun filters for UV protection; these include Non-Nano Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. I always prefer mineral protection, but I firmly believe the most important thing is to find a sunscreen you love to use — whether it’s formulated with chemical or mineral sun filters. If you love it, you’re more likely to apply it each morning.
Looking closer at the Pack Up & Glow Priming SPF 40 formula, I get why it’s so lightweight. It’s not overloaded with plant oils, which keeps it lighter — and easier to remove. Of course, if you’re applying makeup over it, you’ll need a makeup remover and/or cleansing oil.
Pack Up & Glow has a lot going for it besides its effective sun protection. It’s loaded with antioxidant botanical extracts, hydrators and skin soothers. Among the soothing actives are Allantoin and Bisabolol — the active component of Chamomile.
I get tickled when I see Bisabolol, one of the most effective soothing botanical extracts, in an INCI. According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, Bisabolol is among the best ingredients used in skincare.
“Bisabolol is a well-known skin soothing agent. It comes in two different structural forms: alpha-bisabolol, derived from chamomile and other plants (although it can also be lab-created) vs. beta-bisabolol which is found in cotton and corn. The alpha form is the one used in skin care products.
Bisabolol is commonly found in many personal care products, including moisturizers, cleansers, and serums. It often plays a bio-active skin-calming role thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and shows up in many products designed for sensitive skin.
Beyond its soothing properties, research indicates bisabolol may offer some discoloration-fading capabilities.”
So there’s a lot of protection and prevention going on with Pack Up & Glow. But what about the priming and perfecting qualities of the formula? What’s the coverage like?
Well, again because it’s so lightweight, I found the coverage ideal for me. It spreads evenly and easily and is super comfortable on my skin — both immediately on application and throughout the day.
And one of my favorite things about this priming sunscreen is how well it unifies my complexion without looking like I’m wearing makeup. That wouldn’t be cool and was the one thing I was most hesitant about.
And I have to admit, too, that I love the way it slightly tints my facial hair and temporarily dyes my beard blond, toning down the grey. Yup, Pack Up & Glow is good stuff!
What I like about it: With its super lightweight texture, the Wander Beauty Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen is such a pleasure to use. I love the high level of mineral sun protection and ability to unify my skin tone without seeming like I applied anything but skincare. And, I gotta admit that I love how it temporarily dyes my graying beard!
What I don’t like about it: Honestly, there’s nothing I don’t like about it. That’s what was so surprising! Look at me loving a primer!
Who it’s for: All skin types, except perhaps very oily and acne prone.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Wander Beauty Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen for $36 here.
The Ingredient List of the Wander Beauty Pack Up & Glow Priming SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Polyester-7, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), PEG-75 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethiconol/ Caprylylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Sodium Hyaluronate, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dimethiconol/Propylsilsesquioxane/Silicate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Mica, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Silica, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Sucrose, Dicrateria Rotunda Oil, Ruttnera Lamellosa Oil, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol.
Solara Suncare | Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen
As I’ve said, Solara Suncare’s Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 30 is one of my all-time favorite sunscreens for face. I first featured the brand’s Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen in a blog article on what I referred to as my dream skincare routine titled, A Complete $175 Clean Skincare Routine with Herbivore, The Inkey List, Solara Suncare & More! That was more than three years ago.
I love the Solara Suncare brand — and the incredibly functional, elegant sunscreens that the brand’s founder, Stephanie DiPisa, has created. So it was no surprise to me that the new Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen would be just as exceptional.
BRANDS I LOVE: SOLARA SUNCARE, THE BEST CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS! - BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN FOR FACE
As the name indicates, Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen is great for tossing in your weekend getaway bag. And I did exactly that on a trip upstate two weeks ago. To start, Vacation Glow has a lightweight creamy texture that lights up your skin as you apply it. Psst…if you’re looking for a mineral sunscreen with a tint, a subtle blurring effect and a shimmer, this is it!
As with all of the Solara Suncare facial sunscreens, the new Vacation Glow is much, much more than a mere sunscreen. It’s packed with multiple pro-skin health ingredients at relatively active levels. The top ten of the INCI is front-loaded with water-binding humectants and two solid antioxidant botanicals, including Acai Fruit Extract, and tried-and-true Green Tea Leaf Extract — one of the best antioxidant ingredients in skincare.
To me, antioxidants are as essential to skin health as sunscreen actives like Zinc Oxide. Both are key components in an effective anti-aging routine.
What Are Antioxidants and What Do Antioxidants Do for Skin?
Similar to safe sunscreen filters like Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and Tinosorb S and M, antioxidants possess numerous benefits for the skin, including preventing skin damage and multiple signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and loss of firmness. There’s an excellent article from the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, How Antioxidants Fight the Signs of Aging that you can catch here. This is what I found most insightful:
Antioxidants for Skin Benefits
Antioxidants play a unique role when it comes to diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Years of environmental damage (including unprotected sun exposure—one more reason to apply that broad-spectrum sunscreen!) slowly chip away at skin’s natural ability to look and feel healthy. As this damage builds up, skin gradually loses its ability to recover and bounce back as it once did. It’s not an exaggeration to say that after years of damage, skin becomes overwhelmed, and its “look young systems” begin to slow down.
Antioxidants in skin care step in to help shield skin’s surface from further deterioration by calming stressed skin and defending against the visible effects of pollution —something all of us encounter on a daily basis.
What happens as a result of applying antioxidants to your face is truly impressive: Skin’s appearance begins to turn around! It regains a firmer feel and more even skin tone—and those wrinkles you’re probably not fond of will visibly soften.
Antioxidants for Your Skin: What Results You Can Expect?
Although we know that topical application of antioxidants in skin care helps to shield skin from ongoing environmental assault, the results aren't going to make you look 20 years younger—and they may take time to show up. Reality check: The claims attributed to these wonderful ingredients are more often than not overblown or a big stretch of what scientific research has shown to be true.
It’s best to think of antioxidants as part of a trifecta of beneficial ingredients you can use in skin care products to achieve and maintain visibly firmer, youthful-looking skin. Antioxidants should be joined by skin-replenishing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin plus a range of skin-restoring ingredients like retinol, peptides, and niacinamide. Together, these types of ingredients play a symphony your skin needs to hear—and you’ll love seeing the results every time you look in the mirror.
The trick is to be consistent with your skincare routine and make absolutely sure you’re protecting your skin from sun exposure every day with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater—and of course, it should be brimming with antioxidants, your skin’s new best friend.
The Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen was one of the products I took along with me on a recent weekend getaway to Upstate New York. I didn’t know what to expect, but I trust Solara Suncare and tossed the new sunscreen in my dopp kit sight unseen. I hadn’t even opened it yet!
Over the course of the three days away, it was both seasonally warm and unseasonably cool – giving me a chance to test out the wearability and, most importantly, comfort of Vacation Glow in drastically varying temperatures. I found it perfectly wearable on my skin. It blended right in without looking like makeup, leaving only a subtle iridescence that gave me a healthy glow.
It’s a bit thicker than Wander Beauty’s Pack Up & Glow Priming Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen and I’d almost go so far as to say Vacation Glow has the qualities of a BB Cream. Hmm…is it a BB Cream?!
I found a great piece on BB Creams on the Byrdie website titled, The Fascinating Rise of BB Cream and Why We're Forever Hooked.
Similarly to a foundation, BB creams vary in coverage, color, and finish (matte, natural, or dewy). But unlike a makeup foundation, which focuses solely on color and coverage, a BB cream goes a step further with added skincare benefits, such as hydration and sun protection. “The main benefit of BB Cream is that it offers a sheer source of hydration," says [celebrity makeup artist] Sir John. "It also offers a tint to the skin with easy maneuverability, making it a quick option for Zoom calls, for example.”
With 19% non-nano, non-coated Zinc Oxide, Vacation Glow has got solid sun protection along with a nice cocktail of hydrators and protective antioxidants – and subtle skin-unifying coverage that evens out your skin tone quite nicely.
What I like about it: The Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen is a really well-formulated facial sunscreen and quite affordable, too. I love the brand and would only expect a superior formula, which is what Vacation Glow is. Again, it has many of the qualities of a conventional BB Cream and, yes, is perfect for a weekend getaway – or as a daily sunscreen with tint.
What I don’t like about it: There’s nothing I don’t like about this one.
Who it’s for: All skin types, except very oily and acne prone.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen for $32.99 here.
The Ingredient List of the Solara Suncare Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen:
Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coco-Glucoside, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Sprout Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Sodium Phytate, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, May Contain +/- Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide.
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!
Bliss | Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen
It’s been so long since I experienced a single product from Bliss that I can’t even recall when the last time I tried the brand was. I remember there was this iconic Lemon & Sage Body Butter that a good friend was infatuated with. That had to be 15-20 years ago. Interestingly, even though Bliss has gone through a major rebrand, the Lemon & Sage Body Butter is still around. (In fact, I just text him and he says he still uses it!)
But I haven’t personally been a Bliss fan, though I have followed the classic skincare brand as it was rebranded and repositioned to target a younger, Gen Z consumer. That’s sure not me!
So I’m eager to experience Bliss anew! And I’m happy to say that the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen 100% mineral SPF for face is quite a solid formula. I really love the stuff. The single most distinguishing factor in comparison to the two others reviewed in today’s blog is that Block Star has a mattifying effect on the skin.
While I love a healthy glow as much as anyone, in the dog days of summer when heat and humidity are on full blast, the last thing I need or want is skincare that makes me glow too much! Standing on the subway platform waiting for the train in the middle of August is one of the most unpleasant experiences of every New Yorker. The air is stale and rancid. The heat is excruciating. And your face is a greasy mess.
So the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen couldn’t have come at a better time. This summer, I like to think I’m grease-proofed!
Block Star is a 100% mineral sunscreen with 4.1% Titanium Dioxide and 11.5% Zinc Oxide for a solid SPF 30 coverage. Don’t be fooled by the whole “you gotta have an SPF 50 to really protect yourself from sun damage thing.” The difference in UV defense between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is negligible – just one percent.
What’s the percentage of UV rays blocked by sunscreen?
SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays.
So, the difference in UV rays blocked by SPF 30 and SPF 50 is about 1 percent.
While the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen doesn’t contain the robust antioxidant defense of Solara Suncare’s Go! Vacation Glow Illuminating Mineral Sunscreen, it’s does contain a similar blend of antioxidant botanicals. They’re just not in the top ten of the INCI.
Much of the Block Star formula’s top ten is the two mineral sun filters and multiple forms of silicone. That’s not a deal-breaker for me, but I know a lot of people prefer to avoid them in their skincare. They do a lot to enhance the formula’s texture, but don’t have much of a benefit for the skin beyond preventing dehydration.
As I say repeatedly, what’s important is that you find a daily facial sunscreen that you love so much you look forward to applying it. The Block Star is clean, full of pro-skin health actives, and has solid mineral sunscreen protection. That all makes it a winner for me.
I love its mattifying effect and appreciate the smattering of replenishing plant oils like Squalane, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil and Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil — one of the best anti-aging face oils. Regrettably, none of these beneficial oils, as with the antioxidant extracts in the formula, is at a significant level. Let’s say they’re nice to have but don’t have enough oomph to be truly effective.
What I like about it: The Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen is a terrific mineral sunscreen for face with a mattifying effect that I really love. At just $25, it’s well-formulated for the price.
What I don’t like about it: The level of antioxidant extracts in the formula isn’t sufficient to meet my expectations for antioxidant protection. And, the concentration of replenishing plant oils is too low to do much replenishing.
Who it’s for: All skin types, especially oily skin.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen for $25 here.
That’s it guys! Thanks for checking in on the Skincarma Blog! I hope this helps you to find a sunscreen you love so much you wouldn’t even consider skipping it — even on cloudy, seemingly sunless days.
For my top picks of the best sunscreens for face, check out the blog here.
See you next week…
💟 Carmine @skincarma
The Ingredient List of the Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen:
sii|h 0 0, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate emo|vc, Disiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, Dimethicone emo 0 1, PEG-10 Dimethicone emu, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate solv, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer vc, Vaccinium Angustifolium(Blueberry) Fruit Extract so, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract 
aox|so, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract h, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract h, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil 
amic|perf, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil emo, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil so|perf, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Oleanolic Acid, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Glyceryl Caprylate pres, Aluminum Hydroxide emo|h|vc, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate emu, Sorbitan Caprylate emu, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2-3, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite vc, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dipropylene Glycol solv, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer emu, Disteardimonium Hectorite vc, Magnesium Sulfate vc, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Iron Oxides col 0 0WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
THE BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUMS FOR CLOGGED PORES AND A BRIGHTER COMPLEXION
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
THE SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: BALM LABS 3-STEP REGIMEN - BEST ACNE REGIMEN, BEST CBD SERUM
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
SKINCARE HACKS: GLYCOLIC ACID IS THE NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
THE YEAR’S BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS WITH PAULA'S CHOICE, SUNDAY RILEY, THE INKEY LIST AND MORE!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
THE BEST HYALURONIC ACID SERUMS FROM PAULA'S CHOICE, THE INKEY LIST, GHOST DEMOCRACY & MORE
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
A SELFCARE SUNDAY NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART – WITH THE PAULA’S CHOICE 25% AHA PEEL!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
MY 2021 VITAMIN C PICKS + THE BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE COMPLEXION!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
