Growing up, it felt like every two seconds someone was asking me, "Did you get burned? You look a little pink!" Even when I'd worn sunscreen, I could not avoid redness showing. Still, today, estheticians are shocked by how red my face gets after waxing and exfoliation treatments - and the comments get old! By sophomore year of college, I was tired of people pointing out the redness, and tired of not being able to get it to calm down.
After years of trying SPF products for my sensitive skin, I have finally found my holy grail items! Hopefully my recommendations can help some of you avoid skin damage, and maybe even up your makeup game!
THIS product was how I finally figured out a way to reapply sunscreen over my makeup and on my scalp's part without it looking greasy. The Colorescience powder sunscreen was one of the first on the market and one the first approved / recommended by dermatologists. Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the two sunscreens providing protection from both UVA and UVB rays. These being physical sunscreens, rather than chemical, makes them much easier to use for those with sensitive skin / issues with eyes stinging from chemical sunscreens. This product lasts FOREVER which has made the investment so worthwhile. Lastly, while I adore this product, I do not recommend it as a stand-alone. I recommend a lotion sunscreen ( I'll highlight some below) in the morning, a layer of this at the end of your routine, and then reapplying this throughout the day!
The Flex Face Shield was the first product that allowed me to truly nail a no-makeup makeup look while protecting my skin. Another physical sunscreen, the Flex Face Shield starts out white, and then adjusts to the shade range you chose when buying (there's 4 to pick from). It gives incredible lightweight coverage! I've seen some people say it leaves a white cast. If anyone is familiar with physical sunscreens, they will almost always appear that way at first until it has had time to sit on your skin. Never judge a physical sunscreen by its first 3-5 minutes!! I apply this sunscreen with my hands or a makeup brush and have it act as a foundation / tinted moisturizer for 90% of my makeup looks. Additionally, using sunscreen as much as I do now has SINGLE HANDEDLY been the best thing I've ever done for my acne. DO NOT SLEEP ON SPF! Again, these products last you so long, so the splurge is worthwhile!
Not only have the appearance of my under-eyes SIGNIFICANTLY improved, the coverage of this concealer is amazing!! It is not too full coverage where it stands out when you're not wearing foundation, but its medium coverage, allowing you to really minimize dark circles. Daytime or nighttime, this is my go-to concealer for the type of makeup look I'm into. Additionally, I've learned that the skin under our eyes is some of the most sensitive and fragile on the body, so being able to protect it from sun damage and aging is huge! Again, this is a physical sunscreen, so no stinging in the eyes for you sensitive individuals! :)
I was recommended green colored primers before they were even a thing. I tried every green product Sephora, Target, and CVS had to offer between 2012-2019. When I saw this product circulating on TikTok, I knew I had to try it, and thank god I did! If there's two pieces of advice I can give about this product, USE A GENEROUS AMOUNT & LET IT SOAK IN!! The product is fairly buildable, but rub it in well. For those who worry about looking oily... that's what the powder sunscreen is for!! Another trick I've learned is to buy the mini size jars. While I wash my hands and keep my products clean, bacterial buildup in cosmetics is inevitable. Buy this product in smaller portions! Your acne will thank you later! (Sold at Sephora)
I am so glad that powder sunscreens are becoming a more mainstream thing! Are they always as effective as lotion sunscreens? No. But people using them and getting in the habit of reapplying is going to be so transformational in our generations' skin health long-term!! (Re)setting Mineral Powder Sunscreen, another physical sunscreen (shoutout to Zinc Oxide), is available at Sephora and is at a lower cost price point than its competitors! If you're someone who avoids sunscreen, jump on the powder SPF train... PLEASE!! I'm beginning to buy this as presents for people who aren't big sunscreen users and they're thrilled to receive it since they're actually willing to give it a try! My only notes in comparison to Colorescience: this powder dispenses very generously, so beware it'll take a bit to get the hang of not using too much. It also slightly smells like your typical sunscreen whereas the other products listed hardly have any scent at all. (Sold at Sephora)
Part of my wow factor with this product is that I have never found such a good color match in my LIFE (24N if you're curious). That won't be the case for everyone, but I was a happy camper. This tinted moisturizer has a beautiful medium-coverage, buildable formula that blends into the skin and gives you a dewy, hydrated look! The shade I use has a peach undertone which I find to be incredibly effective for minimizing my redness. You may ask, "why?" On a color wheel, orange / peach does not cancel red. HOWEVER, on myself, and many of my pale friends, our redness contains a lot of purple, and orange DOES cancel out purple. Give it a shot, especially on acne and blemishes! :) Something I love about this product is its price point! It is RARE to find a foundation or tinted moisturizer in a retailer such as Sephora for less than $30 (see what I did there ;) ?). It is definitely worth the price. The moisturizer is a mixture of physical and chemical sunscreens and other makeup products lay on top of it beautifully. I personally use this on top of another lotion sunscreen, but that's not necessary! I've also been struggling with some small breakouts in my t-zone for the past month. I'm unsure if this product aggravates it or not, but I can keep you posted! (Sold at Sephora)
Yeah yeah yeah... MONAT this, MLM that, but this sunscreen is no BS. This has been my go-to lotion sunscreen for years and I'm not giving it up anytime soon. This product is a physical sunscreen, absorbs BEAUTIFULLY into the skin, and gives you a dewy finish without an oily look. I put it on over my moisturizer and under any makeup / products listed above - it acts like a perfect primer. Again, as with any physical sunscreen lotion, give it a second to sit on the skin and soak in, you won't regret it!
Look, I may be a little biased as this is my employer, HOWEVER, I cannot deny that this is one of the best absorbing and luxurious SPF products I've ever used. As a physical sunscreen, AGAIN, let it sit, and the dewy glow will blow you away. This is such a hydrating product for my skin and I'm really grateful that the brand I work for sells results and not BS! Use after or in place of your favorite morning moisturizer, layer some makeup / products listed above on top, and witness the magic!
(Don't judge how dirty the cap is!!) Okay, I no longer consider this item a holy grail, but it does serve its purpose when I need a more full coverage product to cover the occasional stubborn blemish. This product is great, it's just too full coverage for my taste. It transfers too easily, and it oxidizes fairly quickly, therefore becoming too dark. While it may have these challenges for me, so many people love this product. It's easily accessible and affordable which adds to its pro's column. :) (Sold at Target & Ulta)
This lotion is the easiest introduction to all-over body sunscreen. It is an SPF version of the moisturizer I use nightly after showering. It glides on easily, covers a large surface area, and absorbs quickly. It doesn't leave a residue on clothes once it has dried onto the skin, and it makes your body look hydrated and refreshed. It does smell like standard sunscreen, but that fades, and with a little perfume, it's fine! As someone who consistently lives in cities with a high UV index, having this on hand helps me transition into taking care of my body, even if it's not as consistently as for my face. NOTE that sunny or cloudy, indoors or out, high UV index or low, WEAR YOUR SPF!
Up Next on my List To Try:
COLORESCIENCE LIP SHINE SPF 35
COLORESCIENCE SUNFORGETTABLE® TOTAL PROTECTION™ COLOR BALM SPF 50
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50
ILIA C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
KOSAS Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25
SAIE SLIP TINT BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 35 TINTED MOISTURIZER
SAIE SUNVISOR
SUMMER FRIDAYS SHADEDROPS BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30 MINERAL MILK SUNSCREEN
Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40
Supergoop (Re)setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40
Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen
Comment your SPF favorites below and let me know if you want more details on any of these products, my inbox is always open! If there's other things you'd like to hear me talk about, send me a message. I'm always open to suggestions.
(Note that some of the items above I lined to my amazon storefront rather than the brand's page for commission earning purposes. These brands have in no way sponsored this post nor would they be the ones paying that commission. Any items linked on Amazon are the brand's official retail page, so all products will be legitimate)
For any collaboration inquiries please email sara.nicole.kahn@gmail.com | All images are my own
Until next time, everyone!! :)
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