Sunscreen Texture Comparisons / Swatches

Some sunscreens and their consistencies for the future reference. Tried to get photos how they looked like after properly spreading and patting in but it was impossible in bad light and with a phone camera!  Let's just say that all products look different on my arm compared to face and physical sunscreens always leave the white cast, even if minimal.

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sensitive Advanced Face Super UV Fluid SPF50+

Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dryness Super UV SPF50+

Nivea Sun UV Face Sensitive SPF50

My favorite is Garnier's Face Super UV Fluid, especially for summer. It definitely absorbs the best and is lightest. I think the name is something else now but the formula is the same?

Garnier Anti-Dryness is more moisturizing than Nivea despite Nivea being more creamy when it goes on skin. I feel I like Nivea more, it's less shiny after it absorbs compared to Garnier. Maybe because it has less protection ingredients (SPF50 compared to SPF50+). Both work for me well during winter, even replace moisturizer sometimes! But during summer I think they are too heavy. I can use them, but I prefer something lighter.

Nivea looks somewhat yellow compared to Garniers and it feels like a true cream. Garnier UV Fluid is the most liquid-y. Garnier Anti-Dryness feels like a true emulsion, but it is also the most moisturizing one for me.

After blending, none of these sunscreens had whitecast.

SVR Sun Secure Blur Optical Mousse Cream SPF50

SVR Sun Secure Extreme Multi-Resistant Ultra-Matt Gel SPF 50+

SVR Sun Secure Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+

SVR Sebiaclear Creme SPF50

Etude House Sunprise Mild Perfect Relief SPF30 PA++ Review

Tosowoong Soft Touch Sun Cream SPF32 PA++ Review

Missha Time Revolution White Cure Blanc Tone-Up Sun Protector SPF50+ PA+++

The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi Protection Essence SPF50 PA++++ Review 

Tonymoly BCDation Multi Use Sun Oil SPF50+ PA++++ Review

Missha Time Revolution White Cure Blanc Tone-Up Sun Protector SPF50+ PA+++

Tosowoong Pink Sun Block Natural Pink SPF35 PA++

Etude House Sunprise Mild Perfect Relief SPF30 PA++ Review

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 SPF50

Innisfree Blueberry Rebalancing Watery Sun Cream SPF37 PA+++ Review

Clio Kill Protection Matte Sun Base SPF 50+ PA++++ Review

Clio Kill Protection Glow Sun Base SPF 50+ PA++++ Review

Innisfree Rebalancing Watery Sun Cream SPF37 PA+++ 40 ml Review

A'Pieu Madecassoside Sun Cream SPF 39 PA++ 40 ml Review

Now that I've had a lot of time to compare these 4 sunscreens I think I really dislike Garnier UV Water because it leaves my skin feel slimy, Pirkka leaves skin a bit creamy slimy but it's not as oily so it's bearable.

Nivea and Garnier Kids are my favorites out of these. But I must say Nivea is easier to remove and absorbs maybe better? Even though there is no prominent white cast with Garnier, it still leaves more of an layer if you go looking for it, also it might bunch up on my neck for example when I sweat. Probably Nivea does too, but I can't notice it. But Garnier is so darn difficult to remove so I bet it survives beach trips amazingly.

I think Garnier smells better than Nivea even though they are not strong scents and they are not disturbing at all.

None of the sunscreens left a white cast after absorbing. They all also where a bit sticky all that time I left them on, about 30 minutes. Garnie UV Water was slippery oily sticky. Pirkka Sun Lotion was slippery sticky. Garnie Kids and Nivea Kids were just sticky, I think they dried the best.

Palmolive Naturals Nourishing Delight Shower Milk 250 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Cocamide MEA, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Lactose, Lactis Serum Proteinum, Mel, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, CI 19149, CI 16255

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- The bottle is boasting about "with 100% natural honey" but I have no idea how much they actually have the honey in the product

- Also the product is promising a velvety consistency etc etc, now really??? It was a watery soap, that's all

- Smells of milky coconut, ugh disgusting

- Didn't enjoy the product, wasn't a delight for me



+ Well, it is a soap and works ok

+ Cheap

+ At least the smell wasn't very powerful or lingering?

+ Didn't make my skin dry or cause irritation

* Bought this on a whim while I saw some other lady to go for it without hesitation.

* I'm just happy the bottle is finished and gone. Hated the smell the most and the fact that they promise something honey-like with honey and there was nothing honey-like about it!

Price: 

1,75 € / 250 ml

Bought from: 

Some grocery store

Buy again? 

Nope. Not my product at all.

Worth the money? 

Yes, if you like the smell.

Gunry Cherry Blossom Shower Cream 400 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Parfum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 20

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Watery for something they call "cream"

- Doesn't smell anything like cherry blossoms

- Because the product is so watery, it ends quite quickly despite being a big bottle. I don't remember it lasting for many months!



+ Ok shower cream, fulfills its purpose

+ Even though it doesn't smell like promised, it was fine, flowery, not too strong

+ Dirt cheap!

+ Didn't dry my skin or cause irritation

* Nothing unusual, amazing or anything, just cheap, passable shower soap I happened to grab from the shelf

Price: 

1 € / 400 ml

Bought from: 

Citymarket

Buy again? 

Nah, no. Going to enjoy some other cheap soaps!

Worth the money? 

Yes. Almost free product.

Innisfree Rebalancing Watery Sun Cream SPF37 PA+++ 40 ml Review

Ingredients:


Water/Aqua, Propanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide / CI 77891, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methylpropanediol, Cyclomethicone, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Glycereth-26, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrocotyle Asiatica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Betaine , Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Orange 4 / CI 15510, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose Stearate, Cellulose Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Pullulan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aluminium Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- The tube design is a disaster for a liquid product like this, the product leaks everywhere and you either get too little or too much and you have to think in which position you keep the tube all the time

- Cooling feeling it leaves on the face is not that nice during winter when it's already zero or under celsius

- Sadly, this sunscreen pills under my make-up products...

- Because it's liquid it's kinda difficult to guess how much I should use it and if it's covering every part of my face equally



+ Wow, very minimal white cast despite it being physical sunscreen! Looks almost like bare skin (doesn't hide imperfections or correct skin tone)

+ This is the first sunscreen I actually felt like I was able reapply during the day because it's so light (if I didn't have make up/light make up, that is)

+ It's called "watery sun cream" but let's be honest, its consistency is like water, like a serum, no where near cream: it's easy and fast to spread to face and it dries fast

+ Smell is not the most pleasant, weird plastic herbal, but so much better than perfume fragrance so I prefer this very much

+ Leaves a cooling feeling to your face for maybe an hour or two, very weird but nice during summer

* Not sure if this sunscreen is breaking me out... I have come to the conclusion that all physical sunscreens I've tried clog my pores noticeably, but they do not cause irritation. Chemical sunscreen filters I've tried cause me interesting problems varying from redness to cystic acne to bumps so far but I haven't tried many sunscreens so it's all just speculation.

* This is not as moisturizing as the other physical sunscreens I've tried, but it doesn't make my skin dry either.

* Overall verdict: quite a pleasant product for summer! EDIT: This sunscreen uses only Titanium Dioxide as a filter. So maybe it should be only a winter product.

Price: 

8,70 € / 40 ml

Bought from: 

Ebay seller ibuybeati

Buy again? 

Maybe. For a second I thought this sunscreen was exactly what I had been looking for but the pilling is annoying and I'm still wondering if a non clogging sunscreen exists. But otherwise a great product. Maybe I will buy this for my mom too, she might like it. 

Worth the money? 

Almost, I wish the tube would be a bit bigger because it ends quite quickly due to the watery consistency and the fact that you can actually add it during the day. Great that it doesn't have the white cast, but it also means it has a bit lower sun protection. (And still pore clogging for me!)

The Saem Pure Natural Mask Sheet Snail Review

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-75, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fragrance

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Doesn't cover my potato nose and sides of my face (huge angular jaws)

- I feel like it doesn't want to stay put, moves a bit and is not in contact with skin everywhere

- The essence tickled my fingers??? When I put it on. Also my face slightly after 20 min and even after taking the mask off and putting other products for about 1 hr

- I didn't see any brightening, soothing, etc results, I didn't even feel it refreshed

- Didn't notice any plumpness or softness afterwards

- Next day I had one irritated spot on my nose, otherwise face looked like it usually looks



+ The fit is very good around the middle of the face, perfect placements for eyes, nose, mouth, covers my forehead fully

+ Nice amount of essence, very wet sheet but not drippy

+ Strangely the smell is not strong even though when you open the package it bursts for a moment; I don't even know what it smelt like then, just general skincare product smell

+ I think the material is nice and soft? But I have nothing to compare to!

+ The mask was easy to put on face, it's very sturdy and I tried pulling it after I took it off and it didn't rip or stretch

* My first sheet mask experience, ever. I got this for free with some order and thought that I'll get to it at some point, it can't be very good because they can be given out as freebies, right?!

* I don't know what I expected and if the mask delivered it, but it didn't destroy my face! You gotta give it that at least

* Ugh, the feeling of putting a cold wet sheet on my face, it was just... disgusting and off putting

* My face was slightly red after taking the mask off but it was the usual spots and I had washed my face before masking so probably redness was from that? (Touching makes my face irritated.)

* Underwhelming experience overall but I am willing to give other masks a shot! I will warm my masks in the future I think.

* If all the masks turn out to be like this, I don't see any reason using them.

Price: 

On ebay US $4.49 for 3 pcs

Bought from: 

Gift, free with order, maybe from Jolse?

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Not for me. 

Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150 ml Review

Ingredients:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Polysorbate 20, Styrax Japonicus Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Ethyl Hexanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- So puzzled, as this low pH "gentle" cleanser totally made my skin dry and rough even after the first time I used it! My skin actually felt worse than for example after Tonymoly AC Control Acne Foam Cleanser samples even though I suppose that's a stripping cleanser.

- I think, it's breaking me out too in small bumps, or at least assisting other products in breaking me out, if this makes sense? Slowly, over time, not immediately.

- Saccharomyces ferment, again... probably this one hates me and I didn't know/realize when I bought the cleanser.

- The smell of Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is quite unpleasant but not undoable... It smells like old, damp shed or barn, a bit medical, not like tea tree oil in my opinion.

- Packaging feels cheap and ugly.

- Annoying to use. Everything should be packaged in pump bottles.

- Irritates eyes slightly. Not for eye make up removal.

- Overall not a pleasant product.



+ Has tea tree oil, my skin absolutely loves TTO (but sadly it's not enough to make this cleanser awesome).

+ Cleanses sweaty feet very well! Also armpits. If you were wondering how to manage to use the cleanser if it fails for you too.

+ But if you're not sensitive to this cleanser, yes, it cleanses face well, foams ever so slightly if you rub it and skin feels clean afterwards, no residue. But still it's nothing amazing, many cleansers can do that.

* I'm starting to feel a little bitter because the most popular and raved products don't work for my skin! But I do understand that it's just life and that's the reason I started this documenting blog.

* I used the cleanser for about 3-4 weeks I think, varying either once a day and some days twice.

* I'm not sure if it is truly breaking me out of course and it's just a cleanser that is washed away from skin so is it even possible?

* Now the sad tube is just sitting there and I don't know what to do with it, I was planning to test it on my face again when the winter is over (winter makes my skin dry) but honestly I'm wondering if it's even worth another test period.

Price: 

USD 8.25 / 150 ml

Bought from: 

Jolse

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

For me, no it wasn't. I could see it working for oily skin in a humid country though! Or someone with a thicker and less sensitive skin. But it's kind of unpleasant product to use so why would you buy it instead of some other cleanser, there are hundreds to choose from?

Current Skincare Routine / Favourites

January 2019 Update:

I've slowly made some changes in my routine and gone back and forth, trying to use up my stash... However my trusted basics are mostly the same. Here's a list of my currently most used products (some of them I've switched to because of winter):


Tosowoong Apricot Cleansing Oil

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

Konjac Sponge (just random)

Lumene Classics Micellar Cleansing Water

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Proofing Purifying Toner 

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10 %

The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil

The Ordinary Squalane + The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid + B5

Tea Tree Oil (diluted for spot control)

Mizon Original Skin Energy Hyaluronic Acid 100

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

Tosowoong Soft Touch Sun Cream SPF 32 PA++

Pladerm Dual Sun Cream SPF 48 PA++

Lumene CC Color Correcting Cream SPF 20

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder

Cezanne UV Clear Face Powder

Edit in February 2018: 

I made this post in December and now in February these are still my basics. My skin has been ok, no disasters of any kind. I have recently also added TO's Hyaluronic Acid + B5 as a part of my daily routine with Squalane. And it definitely delivers and my scars/marks/PIE (?) have been fading fast. My cheeks look so good compared to before that sometimes I want to cry happy tears when I look into mirror! Fingers crossed it'll stay this way.


December 2017:

Surprisingly I've stick to this routine now for 1-2 months! I've been on a wild ride testing many products and finally I have something that I'm reasonably happy with and none of these things seem to cause any reactions. My scars have been fading, my hormonal acne is minimal, my skin is softer. Considering that it's winter (but it's only been about -3 C or so) my skin feels quite comfortable, not dry at all! (My skin is still far from perfect or what I'd like it to be but I can see the changes, so far so good. All sunscreens and foundations seem to clog my pores so no favorites I'd like to recommend. EDIT: Pladerm's Dual Sun Cream is not clogging my pores. I think it's contributing to the clearer skin I've had lately.)

So my journey continues and I have some products waiting to be tested and been looking at some new things on the market BUT these things on the list I would recommend if your skin type and climate are similar to mine (look at the side bar) or you just feel adventurous!

I just love rose hip seed oil and squalane, definitely give them a go! Also konjac sponge is a must for me, everytime I use it I keep wondering why it makes such a big difference, it's just gentle exfoliating and cleansing, right? LJH Tea Tree Essence is the first essence that I feel is worth the money (out of the ones I've tried, ofc). Not to mention TO's Niacinamide product, there's some magic in that bottle, I notice the difference after a couple of days if I stop using it! Also I know Neutrogena doesn't always have a very good reputation, but these moisturisers... I've been using them for years and they just work. I don't have any reviews yet for TO's AGS 12% or SA 2% (I've been using them on and off for a while), but I think AGS 12% has been excellent so far!


Routine/Favorites/Recommendations:


Tosowoong Apricot Cleansing Oil

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

Konjac Sponge (just random)

LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence (Ending soon.)

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil

The Ordinary Squalane + The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid + B5

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturisers


Couple of times a week if I see the need, less if any dryness or irritation:


The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

Tea Tree Oil (diluted for spot control)

LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence 50 ml Review

Ingredients:

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Methyl Gluceth-20, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract, Trehalose, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- I haven't noticed any difference in skin tone, I'm not sure if it evens skin tone or brightens

- They market the essence for troubled skin but I don't know, certainly it's not an acne treatment. I haven't noticed any difference in my acne.

- I think the bottle is a little annoying to use, the dropper is so tiny and awkward... the bottle is also very bottom heavy and I never quite know how to hold it, The Ordinary's bottles&droppers are definitely cheaper feeling but their shape is good



+ Absorbs fast

+ Couple of drops are enough for full face when face is damp, spreads so nicely and easily

+ Leaves face feeling silky smooth

+ Hydrates very well, I definitely notice a big difference when I skip this step. Comparable to TO's Buffet I was addicted to previously last summer! (In hydration aspect. Otherwise they are completely different products.)

+ Doesn't pill or do anything funny

+ Surprisingly soothing, calming after washing my face, doesn't make my face feel dry at all (as opposed to hyaluronic acid products)

+ Very very light, fresh smell, practically nothing

+ Bottle is so cute! Feels sturdy and well-made.

+ The essence bottle was packaged in plastic wrap inside the box, now that should be the standard for everything! I like the security of knowing that the product stays fresh and no one can tamper with it

* Color me impressed or some other weird phrase: LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence is really nice and I somewhat get the hype! I was curious and because I have good experiences with tea tree products before I cave in and bought it. And good I did.

* When I first time tried the essence, I really couldn't say anything about it. Now later constantly using it twice a day, straight to damp face after cleansing, I can appreciate it.

* I have been using the essence for a month and barely made a dent in the bottle. Quite good value after all even though the bottle is small!

* The essence is basically water like, clear liquid.

* Yeah, I'm interested in trying the LJH Tea Tree Cream as well! I was contemplating on buying it at the same time as essence but chickened out. Been looking at the propolis ampoule too but it's a bit expensive. Might cave in anyway.

* I originally thought that maybe this tea tree essence could replace The Body Shop's Tea Tree lotions, but now I realize they are very different things. Haven't felt any need to use/buy other tea tree products while using this essence, though. I have used diluted tea tree oil as spot treatment a couple of times.

* EDIT: For one week after the LJH TTO Essence ended, I didn't use any replacement and all was good... The second week, my skin felt slightly more dry and uncomfortable. Third week, I introduced a new essence: Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica 100 Ampoule. My skin felt hydrated (actually better than with LJH) but. Weeks 4&5 my skin has been acting up in strange ways! Bleh, maybe LJH Essence really works as some sort gentle acne repellent?! 

Price: 

$13.45 USD + $2.09 USD shipping / 50 ml

Bought from: 

Rubyrubyshop

Buy again? 

Maybe. I think it's a good, quiet support product, you might not even notice much difference when you use it (especially if it's only a couple of times here and there) but will miss it when it ends! 

Worth the money? 

Yes. Goes for many skin types as well, I think. Seems to last a lot longer than you would think. EDIT: The bottle lasted me about 3,5 months, used twice a day, 4 drops to a damp face at a time. Now that the bottle has ended I'm still pleased with the product.