I've been using a tube of this facial sunscreen. It is not greasy, like the sunscreen for the body, which is good. I like the high content of zinc oxide, it does have a bit of a whitish cast, but I don't mind since that means that there is enough zinc oxide to reflect the sun's rays. The color dissapear after a while anyways, the finish is matt and not oily. I uses mineral powder foundation on top of the suncreen, and it seem fine. The thing is that there's a deposit of suncreen at the opening of the bottom and it just becomes kinda hard, so I'm not sure if it's wasting the product but I guess it's not a big deal. The container seems linka big or bulky for the amount you get. I would purchase again since it is hard to find a high content zinc oxide facial sunscreen that's not greasy and natural/organic.
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UPDATE (12/2011): with colder drier weather, switched to this rather than BurnOut as regular sunscreen; then switched to Eco Logical Body as I just can't take the smell of the Face one any more. Sorry. Lippies must go. I'm leaving it on 4, though, as the stuff does its job well.
This is a very good all-zinc-oxide sunscreen, no fragrance, good on at least some sorts of sensitive skin. One of the best all-physicals I've used, one of the moistest all-zinc ones that are meant for the face (whilst being wearable and not Badger-like), and one of the most cosmetically-elegant sunscreens without silicones. Been using it for face and around the eyes; though the Body version is slightly better as an eye-area sunscreen. My other regular face sunscreen is BurnOut Ocean Tested, also ZnO & SPF 30+, but a lot cheaper.
Ticks all my sensitive-friendly boxes: no scent, none of my usual irritants and cloggers, no pointless crap–I’m cool with “fillers” when they’re the stuff that binds it all together into a beautiful-feeling whole, especially when it feels this nice–and no cyclopentasiloxane, which my skin loves to hate but sunscreen-makers love to, well, love.
No irritation, which is always a good start, being the first hurdle at which so many well-fancied favourites take a tumble. No clogging to report: though clog-prones might want to test before diving into this stuff, as the coconut derivatives (esp. the triglycerides) are frequent triggers. It’s smoother, silkier, feels almost silicone-ey. Sinks in very very fast (like BurnOut), matte: no shine, no grease, no streaks. White, but not whitening on me. Feels light to imperceptible on the skin: a properly wearable elegant aesthetically-pleasing sunscreen.
Con: It does have a weird smell, though, that I now really dislike. Sweet, over-sweet, hints of cheap ersatz caramel and Hersheys-type chocolate and plastic. Some people might like that, though!
Quick comparisons: Thinner and lighter than the Body version, a smidge thicker than BurnOut's Ocean Tested; both the Eco Logical s/s are moister than the latter. With dry skin, any of these three would be worth a try: zinc sunscreens can often be on the dry side, and these are some of the moistest. Does the job of protecting: tested out (back in August) in actual sun. Easy to clean off: I found regular cleanser does the job.
Packaging: recyclable, in a decent practical squeezy bottle that stands on its flip-top lid. Major quibble--the same for the face version: the tube's only about half-full. I suspect the manufacturers have bought packaging that was a size too big–fair enough, better that than too small–and there would also be sense in under-filling so as to allow room for, I don’t know, contents settling but being shakable-upable? the stuff expanding in hot weather? The issue will apparently be remedied in next year's batch (as per the manufacturers' contributions to a Skin Care Talk discussion thread).
Cruelty-free; environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, and reef-hugging (which also translates as: disperses well in water when cleaning off, without worrying about the consequences for the rest of known life; though the face version is not as waterproof as the body and baby ones–their oil content allows for greater adhesion to skin).
Techy innovative stuff: while the company (Eco Skin Care Inc.) is based in the US (San Clemente, CA), the sunscreen itself is “product of Australia” and “manufactured by Baxter Laboratories Pty, Melbourne Australia,” to Australian standards. No preservatives, but not just for the usual knee-jerk reasons, to satisfy scientifically-ignorant squeaky-green consumers: they're using a low-water formula, and there's basically nothing in the stuff for bacteria to feed on. The zinc is micro, and coated with a coconut-derived biodegradable covering (rather than the usual silicones in most of the Z-cote family).
Quibble: greenwash alert, issues with use of “all-natural” and LOL at “logical”: nope, it’s a sunscreen, inanimate, unthinking. Its reflective abilities are limited to physically blocking solar radiation. Sure, it’s “common sense for the environment” and “economically sensible”: but dear sweet manufacturers: next time, consult a dictionary--cheaper than marketing consultants and execs...
Price: depending on source, around US$14.00 for 1.8 oz/50 ml (it does indeed, as many report, feel like there’s way less in the container): nearly twice the price of my usual BurnOut. Bought online. Now available in at least the Hawaii and Portland branches of Whole Foods. Not a crazy price: cheap compared to department store, boutique, luxury, spa, derm etc. brands, and worth its weight in gold compared to the main "green" sunscreen market--different league for performance and aesthetics.
INGREDIENTS: Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%
Inactive ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Isoamyl Laurate, Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract*, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) Seed Oil*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract*. (* = organic) continued >>
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