THE SPF 50 SUNSCREEN YOU NEED NOW! PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM DEW-GLOW MOISTURIZER SPF 50 - BEST SUNSCREEN FOR SENSITIVE SKIN, BEST SUNSCREEN UNDER $20
NATURIUM | DEW-GLOW MOISTURIZER SPF 50
I’ve been having quite a bit of fun over the course of the year exploring Naturium and their extensive range of face serums for sensitive skin, oily skin, dry skin and, well, every concern of the skin I can think of.
I recall a quaint time soon after the brand launched when Naturium offered only a handful of well-formulated, affordable skincare products for under $20.
Things have come a long way in a year! Now, Naturium has an entire range of face creams, cleansers and serums with Salicylic Acid alone. Another range is infused with Vitamin C at multiple concentrations and textures. There’s even a collection of Niacinamide serums and face creams! In fact, Naturium’s Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% is one of my all-time favorite skincare products from the brand. Since I first discovered the brand, I’ve been through maybe a half-dozen bottles of their $16 Niacinamde serum for oily skin.
Psst…I included the Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% in a blog article on my latest Niacinamide finds titled, Niacinamide Serums to Get Your Complexion Going and Glowing. If you’re curious, you can read my review of it here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM NIACINAMIDE SERUM 12% PLUS ZINC 2% - BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUM FOR OILY SKIN
Another of my Naturium go-to’s is the brand’s $20 Vitamin C Complex Serum — one of the best Vitamin C serums for the price. It’s a water-based Vitamin C serum powered by an estimated 10% Vitamin C complex, essentially a duo of pure Ascorbic Acid and the Vitamin C derivative, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.
What is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate? Well, it’s one of the best Vitamin C molecules for oily and acne-prone skin! If you have a concern for either, you should look for Vitamin C serums and face creams that are formulated with it – like Naturium’s Vitamin C Complex Serum.
Notably, the formula also contains a healthy dose of Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant naturally produced by the body. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with the Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum.
I invite you to discover this fantastic antioxidant brightening serum on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM VITAMIN C COMPLEX SERUM - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM, BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM
If you want to know more about this curious little brand with some of the best hydrating serums and antioxidant vitamin serums for protecting and strengthening the skin, check out this deep-dive into Naturium on the Allure website titled, 9 Naturium Skin-Care Products Our Editors Can’t Get Enough of.
Here is an excerpt:
Because the options are endless, consumers are becoming more discerning, more educated, and as a result, more determined to find products that actually work (and won’t cost them their entire rent check). It makes sense, then, why scientifically-backed, highly-effective, yet affordable brands like Naturium (available at Target) are finding huge success among skin-care newbies and devotees alike.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen the interest in easy-to-digest skin-care education and results-driven products increase on social media,” Susan Yara, co-founder of Naturium, tells Allure. “What seemed to be lacking from the market was a brand that offered the education and the results, paired with elegant, well-rounded formulas and packaging at an accessible price.”
Yara should know — she’s been a popular beauty content creator for years, reviewing hundreds of skin-care products on her YouTube channel and listening closely to what her viewers were looking for to complete their skin-care regimens. “That’s what we offer with Naturium. Everyone that buys from us knows our products will work well, feel great, and fulfill our mantra that skin-care is self-care.” Naturium’s advising board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alexis Stephens supports Yara’s claim. “I like that Naturium makes highly effective, beautifully formulated products feel more accessible to everyday consumers. They use ingredients that are proven to help even skin tone, decongest pores, and encourage healthier skin in general. There’s a product that works for everyone,” Stephens tells Allure.
Naturium | Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50
Without doubt, Naturium has been one of my favorite brand discoveries of the last year or two. It literally came out of no where and its products are now featured regularly in my daily skincare routines. I reach for Naturium’s Vitamin C Complex Serum often throughout the week.
With a 10% concentration of Vitamin C and a wonderfully “layer-able” water-based, slightly pulpy texture, it’s a personal favorite – and among the best Vitamin C serums I’ve come across. In fact, Naturium’s $20 Vitamin C Complex Serum is included in my all-time top picks of Vitamin C serums, which you can catch on the blog here.
I have numerous Naturium favorites for affordably solving multiple skin concerns, including boosting antioxidant defense, how to fix dry skin, and even controlling surface oil in the hot, humid summer months.
Psst…my solution for oil control is Naturium’s Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%!
The Best Vitamin C Serums & Face Creams
The brand does such a great job creating really effective, and supremely affordable face serums and hydrating creams – most of which are under $20. So I was really amped up to hear that Naturium was finally coming out with a sunscreen for face. I was certain of two things even before the product officially launched in October, 2022. First, I knew it would be a superb formula – that Naturium would nail the texture. And second, I knew it would be affordable.
And voilà!
At just $22, the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 is a terrific facial sunscreen formula and such a pleasure to use that I get excited to reach for it in the morning – and to shield my skin from the elements during my 10-mile bike rides across Brooklyn! That says a lot about a sunscreen. If you love to use it, you’re far more likely to remember to apply it.
Naturium’s Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen; that is, it relies on 100% chemical filters to achieve its high level of UV protection and photo damage defense. The formula is comprised of 10% Homosalate, 5% Octisalate and 3% Avobenzone.
I know many people prefer mineral sunscreens over chemical ones. That preference is most often driven by concerns over the effects of chemical UV filters on the body over time. Research on the effects of chemical UV filters continues and the jury is still out. I also hear of concerns for skin sensitivity, with mineral sunscreens understood to be better tolerated by sensitive skin.
But, products formulated with mineral sunscreen filters are nearly uniformly unappealing to people with melanin-rich skins. Mineral sunscreen products simply don’t blend into darker skin tones, and often leave the dreaded “white cast”.
SKINCARMA ON TIKTOK
Catch my first impression of it!
What’s the Difference Between Mineral Sunscreen and Chemical Sunscreen?
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 so much that it becomes a staple in your morning skincare routine. Like you wouldn’t even think of skipping it!
If you love using a chemical sunscreen, that’s perfectly okay IMO. The effects of photo damage are often irreversible, including deeper wrinkles, intense sun spots and, most importantly, DNA damage and loss of collagen. That’s why it’s crucial that you wear a sunscreen every morning without fail – as I have done for the past 30+ years.
One of my all-time favorite daily sunscreens for face is the Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Sunscreen Serum PA+++. It happens to be a 100% chemical facial sunscreen that’s such a pleasure to use I can’t resist it. As crazy as it sounds, I really do look forward to applying it. You can catch my review of Daily Dose on the blog here.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SUPERGOOP! DAILY DOSE VITAMIN C + SPF 40 SUNSCREEN SERUM - BEST SUNSCREEN + VITAMIN C
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 experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients. (It’s available here.) In the piece, the experts explain the differences and benefits between the two UV filters — 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.
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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.
With its trio of UV filters Naturium’s Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 is a super option for effectively daily protection against skin-aging photo-damage. I like to say an effective facial sunscreen is one of the only true anti-aging products to prevent wrinkles, loss of firmness and dark spots. Like any well-formulated sunscreen, Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 helps to do all those things.
Dew-Glow has a thicker texture than I was initially expecting, making it somewhat more preferable for the colder months, which is likely why the brand introduced it in the fall. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a sunscreen gel, or lightweight gel-cream with SPF coming in the spring.
With its high level of SPF 50 UVB protection, Naturium’s Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 is actually much more than a facial sunscreen. It’s also loaded with pro-skin health nutrients and soothing botanical extracts. Among these are antioxidant and brightening Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid – a potent derivative of pure Vitamin C, or Ascorbic Acid. To help soothe the skin are Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Squalane, Bisabolol, and Sodium Hyaluronate, the salt form of Hyaluornic Acid that’s more compatible with human skin.
At $22, you can’t go wrong with the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50.
What I like about it: For just $22, the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 is one of the most affordable and well-formulated facial sunscreens. I love its high SPF 50 UVB defense and potent cocktail of antioxidant vitamins, including Niacinamide and Vitamin C. I also appreciate its thicker texture, making it an ideal facial sunscreen for dry skin and just about all skin types on a cold winter day.
What I don’t like about it: Honestly, while I prefer mineral sunscreens, there’s nothing I don’t like about it. I would love to see Naturium’s third party analysis reporting the formula’s efficacy against UVA rays (the PA rating).
Who it’s for: All skin types, except very oily or acne-prone.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 for $22 here.
The Ingredient List of the Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50:
Active Ingredients:
Homosalate 10.0%
Octisalate 5.0%
Avobenzone 3.0%
Inactive Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Stearyl Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Olivate, Bisabolol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Octadecene, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyisobutene, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide.
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