THE 2023 SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: PAVISE DYNAMIC AGE DEFENSE SPF 30 MINERAL SUNSCREEN - Do any mineral sunscreens not leave a white cast?
At the end of every year I ponder, probe and obsess over which single product of the hundreds I came across is the most exceptional, the most noteworthy – the best.
Not this year.
At no time in the six years since I started the Skincarma Blog has the Skincarma Product of the Year been so clear.
Without a doubt, the Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen was the most innovative, exciting and, well, coolest product I discovered in 2023.
That’s not to say that there haven’t been other true contenders! They include one of the best Retinol serums, definitely the best Vitamin C serum, and possibly the best exfoliating treatment for dark spots. I would have loved to designate any of them as that single most innovative, pro-skin health, and useful product of the year.
But Pavise’s singular facial sunscreen straight out of the MIT labs is truly groundbreaking. The Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 is the first 100% mineral sunscreen that is 100% transparent on all skin tones. And that’s only the start of the formula’s superior innovation.
THE BEST SUNSCREENS FOR FACE
How did the scientists at MIT develop the first all-mineral sunscreen to actually be transparent on all skin tones, with zero white cast?
Well, Pavise’s proprietary DiamondCore Zinc Oxide molecule is “diamond-augmented,” allowing it to reflect, scatter and absorb the sun’s UV rays more efficiently. Its chemical structure relies on the physics of light refraction to disperse light in a way that appears transparent on the skin. Hence, an inherently white Zinc Oxide molecule that doesn’t appear white.
The Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 also contains a powerful cocktail of antioxidants, including Astaxanthin, Niacinamide and Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, that boost protection against photoaging – responsible for up to 90% of the signs of skin aging.
With its combination of highly effective sun filters and potent antioxidants, the Dynamic Age Defense SPF sunscreen moisturizer is the best anti-aging cream on the market today.
Read more about it in my original product review from earlier in the year here.
“Responsible for 90 percent of visible changes to the skin, photoaging is a direct result of cumulative sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life.”
- The Skin Cancer Foundation
5. Product Review
THE SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR:
PRODUCT REVIEW: PAVISE DYNAMIC AGE DEFENSE SPF 30 MINERAL SUNSCREEN
THE OTHER 2023 CONTENDERS:
PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE 25% VITAMIN C + GLUTATHIONE CLINICAL SERUM
PRODUCT REVIEW: NATURIUM RETINALDEHYDE CREAM SERUM 0.05%
PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA'S CHOICE TRIPLE ACTIVE TOTAL REPAIR SERUM
PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINFIX ACNE+ ADAPINOID GEL
PRODUCT REVIEW: LION POSE UNSPOTTED 4X ACID JELLY NIGHT SERUM
CATCH THE SKINCARMA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR ON TIKTOK!
1. Do any mineral sunscreens not leave a white cast?
Mineral sunscreens are notorious for the white cast, the unsightly film they leave on skin, particulary melanin-rich skin. The finish is not only unappealing, but a deal-breaker for many people who would otherwise prefer to wear a mineral, rather than chemical, sunscreen. It’s a serious concern on darker skin tones.
There are numerous facial sunscreens made with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide – the two common mineral sun filters – that may not leave as visible of a white cast. While cosmetically elegant, the toned down whitening effect is made possible through the use of chemical fillers; they are not 100% mineral sunscreens. Of course, the chemical fillers defeat the purpose of choosing a mineral sunscreen in the first place.
Similarly, hybrid sunscreens formulated with a blend of mineral and chemical filters offer the benefits of each and are often among the most comfortale and elegant on the skin. Again, they’re not 100% mineral-based.
To date, there is only one 100% mineral facial sunscreen that is 100% transparent on all skin tones – from types I to VI along the scale of Fitzpatrick skin phototypes (FSP): the Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30.
Explore my picks of the best facial sunscreens on the blog here.
Sources: New York Magazine, The Cut: 24 Best Sunscreens Without a White Cast 2023; Refinery29: 3 Tricks For (Mostly) Beating Mineral Sunscreen’s White Cast
2. What are the pros and cons of mineral sunscreen?
Pros of mineral sunscreen include:
- Mineral sunscreens rely on mineral (physical) sun filters Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide that remain on the skin surface, physically blocking UV rays. By contrast, chemical sun filters are absorbed by the skin. Thus, mineral filters are considered safer sun protection long-term.
- Studies suggest mineral sunscreens are absorbed into the bloodstream to a far lesser degree than chemical sunscreens, making them a potentially safer option. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concluded that six common chemical UV filters (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, homosalate, and octisalate) were absorbed by the skin and seeped into the bloodstream. You can read the particulars of the study here.
- Mineral sunscreens are considered more environmentally friendly since the physical UV filters do not enter water systems or ecosystems like the chemicals in chemical sunscreens can. Notably, the chemical sun filters Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) and Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate) have been found to be harmful to coral reefs, contributing to coral bleaching and damaging the coral’s DNA.
Cons of mineral sunscreens include:
- Mineral sunscreens are thicker and often leave a white cast or residue on the skin, particularly noticeable on darker, melanin-rich skin tones. Tinted mineral sunscreens can minimize the whitening effect.
- Mineral sunscreens may be less cosmetically elegant and harder to spread evenly compared to chemical sunscreens, mineral sunscreens with chemical fillers, or hybrid facial sunscreens.
- Mineral sunscreens are generally more expensive than chemical sunscreens.
Explore my picks of the best facial sunscreens on the blog here.
Sources: Health: The Difference Between Mineral and Chemical Sunscreen; MD Anderson Cancer Center: Mineral or chemical sunscreen: Which should you choose?
3. What is the best sunscreen for darker skin?
All 100% mineral sunscreens formulated with Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide will leave a white cast on skin, and especially on darker skins (tinted options can tone this down).
It is important to note that there are mineral sunscreens on the market that appear to be all-mineral and leave little, if any, whute cast. This effect is acheived through the use of chemical fillers that are not required to be called out on the product’s labeling.
The best sunscreens for dark skin tones include chemical sunscreens that do not leave a white cast, and hybrid sunscreens made with a blend of chemical and mineral filters.
To date, there is only one 100% mineral facial sunscreen that is 100% transparent on all skin tones – from types I to VI along the scale of Fitzpatrick skin phototypes (FSP): Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen.
Explore my picks of the best facial sunscreens on the blog here.
Sources: Reddit: Best mineral sunscreen for brown skin with no white cast?; Health.com: This Anti-Aging Mineral Sunscreen Is Effective, Gentle, and Doesn't Leave a White Cast
4. Do antioxidants reduce sun damage?
Yes, in fact, antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting against environmental damage, including photodamage, more commonly known as sun damage. Antioxidants help to protect the skin from the effects of UV radiation, one of the primary causes of photoaging – responsible for up to 90% of the signs of skin aging.
Several ways that antioxidants help reduce sun damage:
- Neutralize free radicals: UV radiation generates what are called free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage skin cells, leading to premature skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer. Antioxidants are the body’s way of neutralizing free radicals, helping to minimize the damage they potentially cause.
- Reduce inflammation: Sun exposure can lead to inflammation, which contributes to skin damage and photoaging. The best antioxidants possess anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe and calm the skin, reducing any redness or swelling caused by sun exposure.
- Prevent collagen degradation: Over time sun exposure, and particularly unprotected sun exposure, breaks down collagen in the skin, a leading cause of surface lines and wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Antioxidants help preserve skin’s collagen by protecting its structural integrity.
- Repair skin cells: Some of the best antioxidants can aid in the repair of damaged skin cells, promoting the healing process after sun exposure and preventing against skin aging.
- Enhance sunscreen effectiveness: When used in conjunction with a facial sunscreen, antioxidants can provide an additional layer of protection; however, antioxidants are not a replacement for sunscreen.
Explore my picks of the best facial sunscreens on the blog here.
Sources: National Library of Medicine, PubMed Central: Natural Antioxidants: Multiple Mechanisms to Protect Skin From Solar Radiation; National Library of Medicine, PubMed Central: Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging
6. Pros & Cons
What I like about it: The Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen is truly ground-breaking and the best mineral sunscreen for dark skin and, in fact, all skin tones. With its innovative, proprietary DiamondCore Zinc Oxide technology, it’s actually 100% transparent on all skins – without chemical fillers, colorants, or pigments. In addition to its superior UV protection against sun damage, I love its potent antioxidant complex that complements the formula’s defense against enviromental aging.
What I don’t like about it: Honestly, I like everything about it.
Who it’s for: All skin types and skin tones.
SHOP THE BLOG: Want to try it for yourself? Purchase the Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen for $148 here. Plus, it’s refillable here for $128.
The Ingredient List of the Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30 Sunscreen:
aox|emo, Astaxanthin aox, Bisabolol so, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Cetyl Alcohol emo|vc 2 2, Diamond Powder abrasive/scrub, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, Disodium EDTA chel, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Glycerin 
sii|h 0 0, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate emo|emu, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract so|sb, Isostearic Acid surf|emu, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Octyldodecanol emo|perf, Phenoxyethanol pres, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract aox, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate emu, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Propanediol solv|h, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Tocopheryl Acetate aox 0 0, Tranexamic Acid sb|so, Triacontanyl Pvp h|vc, Water solv, Xanthan Gum vc
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