Skinceuticals • Physical Fusion SPF 50 • Sunscreen

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jessitanner on 7/14/2012 11:24:00 PM more reviews by jessitanner

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

Best sunscreen that I have tried for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. My dermatologist recommended it to me a couple of weeks ago and I can't imagine using any other sunscreen.

In the past I have used Khiels sunscreen, Cetaphil, Shisedio, and some drug-store brands, but nothing compares to this one.

It goes on smooth and doesn't irritate my skin at all. It sinks into the skin very fast and I can barely tell it's there. No harsh smells. My skin has had no reaction to this. And it protects skin very well from the sun's rays. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND YOU TRY!

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slim34 on 7/13/2012 8:29:00 PM more reviews by slim34

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

The first time I tried this sunscreen, I gave up on it because it didn't mix well with my liquid foundation. I've started using it again, but with a mineral foundation on top of it - and it works really well now. I find that this sunscreen evens out my skin tone enough that on most days I only need to apply a little bit of concealer and MMU on top of it. It looks more natural than my liquid foundation, but it really does even out my skin tone nicely.

Its my 2nd favorite sunscreen, after Replenix Physical Sunscreen Spray, but I use it more often because its currently serving as my foundation as well. I would definitely repurchase.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Seajewel on 7/13/2012 1:20:00 PM more reviews by Seajewel

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Absolutely love it. I've used it for four days now, so I will update if I end up breaking out, but so far so good (and I often react very quickly to products). It has a light tint that is fairly undetectable on my skin (NC20), but it makes me look very glowy and polished. (I powder over it with Silk Naturals Blur powder, which I love). It's like my skin on the days when I wear makeup (just sheer foundation) except BETTER, because the SC PF doesn't settle into lines or create foundationy streaks on my nose where my glasses rest, and is not as shiny as fdtn. It also feels basically like nothing on compared to most makeup and sunscreens. I used to wear La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Fluid and it always caked around my nose where glasses rest and would be shiny, streaky white in places on my face, it never dried completely throughout the day and would settle into my lines. still i bore with it for the sake of the protection.

According to Skinceuticals, this has a PPD of 21, which is very high. It's also physical which means that it doesn't need to be reapplied like chemical sunscreen unless it is being wiped off (which does happen a little throughout the day, but I still feel more protected than when I wore chemical sunscreen for 10+ hours).

Anyways, I love it. It feels good on, looks GREAT on (polished as if I have light fdtn or tinted moisturizer on, glowy, but without caking, ever), is supposed to be very protective (and muaers have reported no pigment darkening or spots while wearing this in the sun). It's holy grail status. It does supposedly sting if your skin is sensitive (like if you're on a retinoid). I'm not currently using any actives and my skin has a very slight tingling sensation after applying, but no discomfort.

The main drawback is the price. It is very pricey--but it's completely worth it. I haven't found a sunscreen I like this much since Sofina.. and with a PPD of 21? I'm in, basically forever, unless my skin revolts or the protection ends up being shitty. I pile it on to make sure I have enough protection and it looks great.

ETA: I did repurchase, but after a few months I realized all was not right with my skin. I was having overall very rough textured skin and many breakouts around my jaw and chin. It took me a long time to realize what was the matter, as I incorporated a few new items around the same time, and the breakouts came a few weeks after starting SCPF. After 3 months of loyal use and trying to blame every other product I've used, I finally quit SCPF and my skin is healing. Too bad, as this was HG material for me in terms of the tinted finish and all-day lasting power.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Moonchitaa on 7/5/2012 11:27:00 AM more reviews by Moonchitaa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Hate it, hate it, hate it. I think this product is terrible- and I usually LOVE skinceuticals but they've let me down with this one :( Firstly, the packaging is cheap and nasty. This really isn't a huge biggie but combined with the fact that its so expensive and the product sucks, it contributes to my general feeling of disappointment. Secondly, the colour of the tint is TERRIBLE - it comes out a dirty greyish colour. Now, I know that sometimes once applied, colours can transform but this doesnt- it just makes my NW25 skin look ashy, grey and ill looking. Thirdly, my combination skin didnt like this at all- it made my dry cheeks and under eyes even drier and made my face feel tight and uncomfortable and emphasised every single laughter line that I have (and I dont even have that many at all!). Fourthly, if this sunscreen was HG, I could overlook the slight nano-particle (z-cote) concern that I have but since its not, the fact it contains z-cote bothers me. For all these reasons I dont recommend this sunscreen at all and I am actually very surprised by the positive reviews.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ccsh on 7/4/2012 2:25:00 PM more reviews by ccsh

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Love this sunscreen! The formula is very thin and liquidy, so a little goes a long way. It sinks in immediately with no sticky residue, and makeup goes on easily over top. The tint is a non issue for me-as soon as I rub it in it disappears completely. I have fair/med skin tone. For providing great sun protection with no issues this has been the best I've found so far!

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*TOP REVIEWER* DKER on 6/30/2012 2:43:00 PM more reviews by DKER

Age: Unknown   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

To echo many others...AAAAHHHHHHH THE BURN. And the watering eyes and running nose! Something in here is an irritant.

And the tint....it was too pale and pink/purple for my NC30 skin. I looked weird.

The finish however was lovely, matte but not too dry. I did like the applicator bottle and the consistency. Just not the too pale and pink tint or the burning sensation.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Seattlemama on 6/26/2012 1:12:00 PM more reviews by Seattlemama

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Edit 9/11: After using this several times lately I have realized that it makes my sensitive skin break out and it makes me feel greasy. Lowering my original rating. Original review: This is a great product in some ways, but did not work for me because it's too dark for my superpale (NC15) skin. It made my skin look dirty and several shades darker than my neck and shoulders - no thanks! Other than that, it has a nice feel, doesn't cause breakouts, no greasy shine, no white cast, and very effective sun protection. In other words, a great product for NC/NW20-25+. It offers very minimal coverage, and slightly evens out my ruddy skin blotchiness. For now, I'm sticking with my new fave, Vichy Dry Touch Face Emulsion, which is perfection in every way.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* ahryb on 6/10/2012 1:59:00 PM more reviews by ahryb

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Wow, this is the product I have been waiting for! You need to try it!

I love the "dry touch" liquid shaker style sunscreens (ie Neutrogena, Anthelios, Ulta) because they go on light and dry instead of feeling heavy, wet and cold. and they tend to have high SPF (usually 50-70). But until now, all have been "chemical' sunscreens OR if they have the physical sunscreens I prefer (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), they end up WAY too white at this high of an spf if you put on enough product to be effective. This added tint is perfect for my skin tone and doesn't leave a white or ashy cast at all. It is not too heavy of coverage (quite sheer) and the color is not too pink or orange-y like some I have tried (for example, I like the tinted liquid Athelios with Meroxyl but the tint can be too dark for me even though that is also pretty sheer). I'd say the tint is perfect for me (neutral light sheer tint)...but I have light skin so not sure if you have very dark skin. It also seems to leave a finish that is very nice, not too shiny and not too matte. To be honest, I actually wouldn't mind if this was a slightly more moisturizing/dewy finish but I like products that give a slight 'radiance/glow." No parabens added is wonderful as well!!!!

For reference, I am 38 and have been wearing daily facial sunscreen since I've been 28 (so I have tried a ton of sunscreens). I am light skinned, have some freckles/sunspots even though I avoid the sun, and still have mild to moderate acne. I would say I have combination to slightly oily skin naturally, although I use Proactiv/acne products and retin-A, so that can make my skin a little drier in places sometimes (mostly around mouth/chin).

If there are any negatives to this product, it would probably be that the sunscreen can make any flaky or drier spots stand out a bit (the product builds and catches there). So, not sure if a drier skin type would need to moisturize before using this. The second negative would be the high price......although spending on sunscreen along the way IS better than spending on skin cancer and aging procedures down the line! I ended up buying the "limited edition" 4.2 oz size for around $50 online (retail is $64) but I hope they continue to sell this size permanently. Lastly, I am not yet sure that this will not aggravate my acne because it doesn't say noncomedogenic or anything along those lines and while it hasn't made my acne worse, I still get some clogged pores as usual.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

DDP1 on 5/28/2012 4:04:00 AM more reviews by DDP1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this stuff! I wear sunscreen on a daily basis so it's important for me to find a sunscreen that is not only very protective but that is cosmetically elegant and that won't irritate my skin or eyes. I gave up on high ppd euro sunscreens. They looked greasy and left a white cast on my pale skin. also, they would sting my eyes. No such problems with this sunscreen. The tint becomes invisible on my ivory skin and it makes a great base for foundation (actually I use less foundation with this stuff because it kind of blurs my imperfections). It does not dry out my skin, but I do use a moisturizer underneath (which is ok to do according to the company). It actually feels nice when I apply it to my face, neck and chest. Love, love, love it!!!!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

JavaJunkie on 5/28/2012 1:28:00 AM more reviews by JavaJunkie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I am in love with this product. My skin tends to be a bit oily, especially in the summer and humidity of New England. I absolutely hate sunscreens because they either make me break out or they feel slimy on the skin. This stuff is fabulous for me; it's a lightweight, elegant formula that works wonderfully on my skin without the nasty "sunscreen" side effects. It has a light and pleasant scent that doesn't linger; I'm not a fan of scented products on my face, but the upside is that it doesn't smell like sunscreen. This dissipates very quickly so I'm not bothered by it. I discovered something I didn't expect with this, too. It reduces the appearance of my pores and, if I buff on a bit of my mineral powder over it, they just disappear! I have a flawless complexion which stays put all day long. I can put away my foundation and tinted moisturizer for the summer and just use these two products for a smooth and protected complexion. The texture of this sunscreen is non-sticky, very light and fluid. You must shake it well before applying, and it has a slight tint to it to keep the telltale sunscreen "chalk-face" at bay. Once you blend the product in, the tint is invisible. I don't consider the price of the product a factor here; it beats the daylights out of biopsies and skin cancer. for the quality and staying power of this product, I'll bite the bullet. I will continue to purchase this as long as SkinCeuticals continues to make it.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* lemonz4us on 5/6/2012 4:09:00 AM more reviews by lemonz4us

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I wanted to love this so bad.
I was excited to have received my SC pf yesterday and tried it out this morning .
It tingled for a moment, I thought it would subside and dissipate but after about a minute it started to burn my face, it felt hot and stinging,itchy, like I had a chemical burn , like when I put niacin on my face by accident.
Maybe my skin was just getting used to It? No, the burning sensation wouldn't subside (and I don't consider myself super sensitive like others, only mildly so) so I had to oil cleanse it off and re-do my whole routine. Now i have a red rash across my forehead and little red clusters or irritation where my skin broke out, I guess where it was most sensitive? yay unicorn bump... Oh bioderma why did I try to cheat on you. It felt soothing compared to the sc pf !
Very disappointed this didn't work for me, I will be returning it .
In retrospect I should've seen this coming . Last night a applied a drop to my temple and I felt the tingling, it went away. I didn't have problems with it, though, i guess full force it just didn't agree with my skin

Moral of the story? Patch test! Always. Even if you think you have pretty tough skin.

I'm giving this a 3 star rating because I know it's a good ss it just didn't work for me.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

LexicoAmy on 4/9/2012 8:21:00 PM more reviews by LexicoAmy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Burned my skin. I loved the idea of this product - lightweight high SPF physical sunscreen, non-greasy which is ideal for my very oily skin. But it burned my skin. Maybe Retin-A makes me sensitive to something - the seaweed? Some antioxidant. Couldn't keep using it. I gave it to my husband, who used it religiously for months until it was used up, and might just buy another bottle for him. For myself, I use Elta MD Physical tinted sunblock now - good coverage, no irritation.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* wagashi on 3/8/2012 11:48:00 AM more reviews by wagashi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I am a certified sunscreen junkie, so I couldn't sit still and never try this stuff. I was mostly attracted to it because the company claims this has a PPD of 21, which is much higher than any sunscreen I've previously had (I haven't tried any European sunscreens because I'm afraid they're too greasy for me -- FYR my fave Biore Perfect Face Milk has an estimated PPD of 8 or something). Like others, I sometimes get a warm sensation where I apply this. I've heard that this is common with titanium dioxide, and it goes away in a minute or so, so I'm not too worried about it (PM me if I should be though D:). As for the texture and finish, I do find it on the greasy side.. I usually use Japanese sunscreens that are literally undetectable once applied so this really feels a lot different for me, especially since I use 1/4th tsp or possibly more. I have to apply powder after because my skin has an unflattering sheen to it, but I don't think I would want to apply liquid foundation over it because I suspect it would be a cakey mess. But on the positive side I do like the color which effectively evens out my skin tone and is a generally good color match. And even though I probably apply a larger amount of product than your average person, I haven't had an issue with breakouts (I am on Retin A which helps keep me clear though). The packaging is sturdy and easy to use. I've heard people say that there isn't enough product for the price but for me this is a TON of product because I'm usually paying international shipping for teensy bottles of Japanese sunscreens that are half this size. In the end, it doesn't break me out, has a nice concealing effect, and looks fine once I powder over it and stays all day.. AND it has a PPD of 21, so I think this will become my main daily sunscreen for the forseeable future! I would recommend it to anyone without super sensitive skin and who isn't super duper clog prone.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* junomacguff on 3/5/2012 12:34:00 PM more reviews by junomacguff

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Update 5/15/12: I've been using this pretty much everyday without irritation or breakouts and the dryness issue doesn't bother me if I wear Cerave lotion underneath. I've noticed that when I'm out in the sun that my freckles and sun spots aren't darker at the end of the day like most sunscreens. This makes me pretty confident in it's UVA protection. I just ordered another bottle.
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I don't use this everyday because it seems to dry my face out a bit (I'm pretty dry) but I do wear it on days I know I will be outside. Doesn't irritate like most high SPF sunscreens and doesn't bother my rosacea. I like that it's not whitening like the La Roche Posay Mineral SPF and it's not greasy at all. I use either Clinique TTDO Balm or Mary Kay Creamy Cleanser #2 with a warm washcloth to remove it. It has just a little tint to it which helps tone down the redness in my cheeks, bonus!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* luxed2 on 10/26/2011 11:24:00 PM more reviews by luxed2

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This clogs my pores like crazy. I tried it on several occasions but by the end of the day I had mega-breakouts every time. Another thing is that whenever I used this I would get a strange sensation of feeling overheated throughout my body and also a bit dizzy which would happen within 1/2 hr of applying - I never had this happen to me before or after using this product. Maybe I am allergic to the plankton. I did give it 3 stars because it's a great neutral color that will suit many skintones and also it protects very well from burning, tanning.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Horny on 10/17/2011 11:11:00 AM more reviews by Horny

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

I have quite sensitive skin, so after realising chemical sunscreens were irritating my skin, I researched physical ones and bought this based on the reviews. I wasnt disappointed! Perfect texture, slides on smoothly, and the tint melts into my skin tone fine! (NC30/C4) Non greasy but I do have to add a tiny bit of powder on top. I havent experienced any irritations with this. UPDATE: 13.8.12: I have deducted 2 lippies as I am not sure about the protection of this. The site has removed its claim for a high PPD rating, which would mean that the PPD based on the percentage of zinc and titanium dioxide alone would be quite low, 5.3 - 6.3 PPD approx. I also dont think it is very protecting as I have noticed a bit of a tan on my face during summer, and experienced some new age spots since using it. I have since swapped to a high zinc sunscreen (Chanel) which seems to protect my face better as my skin is now more even and paler since the switch.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Tess35 on 8/22/2011 1:04:00 AM more reviews by Tess35

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is very light and disappears in your skin. It may emphasize skin flakes but that's not a turn off to me. I fell in love with its texture the minute it touches my face. My biggest gripe however is my super sensitive skin. My face becomes very itchy and red with this ss. I cannot comment on its actual UV fighting criterion as I cannot use it long enough to test that. But overall, I think it is a superior formula for most people whose skin is not very sensitive.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* girrl65 on 8/18/2011 12:03:00 PM more reviews by girrl65

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This is great stuff! It is like a tinted moisturizer and helps to even out my skin tone while adding sun protection. I like that this does not use any chemical sunscreens. The tint really is universal.....I'm quite pale in my face because I never expose it directly to the sun. This product is not too dark at all. It really blends into the skin so I think any skin tone except maybe the very darkest ones could use this with success. I love this! It's waterproof and lasts all day, especially when powdered. I will be repurchasing!

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jessicaerabbit on 8/7/2011 9:46:00 PM more reviews by jessicaerabbit

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

The best sunscreen for those with acne prone skin! I cannot begin to tell you what a blessing this product is. I generally detest all sunscreens because they cause massive breakouts all over my skin but this one doesn't!!! Buy this is you want a sunscreen without clogged pores!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

dsbirnbaum on 8/2/2011 7:51:00 AM more reviews by dsbirnbaum

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I love this sunscreen. It is chemical filter free, paraben free, and uses broad spectrum physical filters. The silky sheer fluid blends easily into the skin and dries quickly. It has a weightless feel on the skin and does not leave a residue, so it does not interfere with subsequent make-up application nor does it leave a greasy cast. My skin is acne prone, many sunscreens have caused break outs on my skin, yet this product has not sparked any acne flare ups. This formula is a translucent beige tint that is designed to adapt to all skin tones. I don't notice the color at all on my medium, warm toned skin. I have used this product while spending many hours outside in the hot sun and it proved effective at working throughout the day, despite the humidity. I suffer from melasma and hyperpigmentation caused by past sun exposure, use related treatments that make me sun sensitive, so a high quality, effective sunscreen is a must. This is the best one I have tried to date.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No