I received a new box of skincare goodies from Paula’s Choice just in time for warmer outdoor weather.
Inside the box was a beige baseball cap with Team SPF (a $25 Paula’s Choice value) on the side. The best parts about the baseball cap (that I can always use) is that it:
- doesn’t have any stiffening material inside the front of the cap that make it stand up (I hate that)
- has a super long “bill” that really shields my face against the sun.
Inside the box were two Paula’s Choice sunscreen products:
- Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, one of my two all-time favorite sunscreens
- brand new, limited edition Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil SPF 30
Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50
I’ve written about Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 on the blog a number of times (Here, Here And Here). Over the years, I’ve bought about 3 tubes of this liquidy, chemical sunscreen, and I’ve received a couple more from Paula’s Choice. So I won’t go into all the details since you can read one of my earlier posts via the above links. But to summarize, Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SOF 50 is so lightweight it almost feels like water. In fact, it is recommended for normal, combination and oily skin, but in the heat of the summer, I can even wear it alone. In the winter, I wear an additional moisturizer along with it. $37 on the Paula’s Choice website.
Ingredients: Water, Octinoxate, Glycerin, Octisalate, Silica, Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract , Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Oat Bran Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
New Limited Edition Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil SPF 30
This new chemical sunscreen surprised me because I had never tried a sunscreen oil before. Frankly, I was thinking it might be too oily and greasy for a hot day. But I was eager to try it to find out.
The Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil comes in a glass dropper bottle just like my other favorite sunscreen from Coola Sun Silk Drops SPF 30.
You push the button on the top of the cap, and the dropper takes up the right amount of sunscreen oil, though to be honest, I don’t always use that much. I find that a smaller amount of Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil is enough to cover my face.
What I like most about Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil is how hydrating it is. It’s actually the polar opposite of Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid. Invisible Sunscreen Oil makes my skin feel like velvet. Like other oils, it does take about 5 minutes or so to completely sink into my skin. Nevertheless, the surprising bit is that the oil feels lightweight, not heavy, like I forget I’m even wearing it. For instance, I put it on this morning first (i.e. before my other facial skincare products), and I forgot to put on any other products besides my eye cream. It’s so hydrating that I didn’t miss them. Nevertheless, you are supposed to apply Invisible Sunscreen Oil as a last step, haha.
Oh, and the oil is non-fragrant sunflower seed oil. I like that it has no scent. In addition, sunflower seed oil contains beneficial fatty acids to help skin synthesize its own lipids (fats), e.g. ceramides, which help visibly repair the skin barrier for smoother, healthier-looking skin.
Here’s the info from Paula’s Choice:
“Meet the SPF you’ll be excited to wear: a weightless formula that combines clinically proven protection from UV rays, blue light & free radicals with a radiant, dewy finish.
- Proven to protect from blue light & free radical damage
- Antioxidant complex supports skin barrier
- Sheer finish suitable for all skin tones
- Use as the last step in your AM skin care routine”
I like this new Paula’s Choice Healthy Glow Invisible Sunscreen Oil for my dry skin! Because it’s SPF 30 and it’s a tad heavier than the Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50, I may save it for winter or just the cooler weather. It’s a unique SPF! $29 on the Paula’s Choice website.
Ingredients: Octinoxate, Avobenzone, Octyldodecanol, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Ethylcellulose, Butyloctanol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Tocopherol, BHT
I have been so curious about this new spf oil but also very confused by the product. Confused because typically all spf has to be applied liberally. But I can’t imagine applying the proper amount without this being overly oily. Plus, it’s such a small bottle, it would be used up after only a few applications. It’s a weird concept that I don’t fully understand so I plan to stick with the tried and true sunscreens I currently use from her line.
You’re right to be somewhat skeptical about the sunscreen oil because it is such a new idea. When you push the button at the top of the bottle, the dropper takes up the “right” amount of sunscreen oil. My Coola serum sunscreen comes in the same bottle, and that lasted me about a year, though I use it in rotation with other sunscreens. Since the Paula’s Choice sunscreen oil is SPF 30, I will most likely save it for late fall/winter/early spring when an SPF 30 is enough for me and when I could use the hydration that the oil gives me. The Paula’s Choice sunscreen oil is a limited edition, so I think the brand is trying it out to see what the reaction is. I’m sticking with the other Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydration Fluid SPF 50 because of the higher SPF and also because the Fluid is lighter weight, IMO.
These both sound fantastic, but I am most intrigued my the sunscreen oil! I wish that it had an SPF 50 as well. Paula’s Choice really makes solid performing products. am tempted by the sunscreen oil, but then you know my obsession with beauty oils, Allison!
Lola Seicento recently posted…The Spontaneous Growth of Sunflowers in My Yard
Honestly, I was thinking of you when I saw the Paula’s Choice sunscreen oil. I thought it was right up your alley! I also wish that it was an SPF 50, but I may save it for late fall/winter/early spring because this does double duty in hydrating my dry skin 🙂
I’ve never tried a sunscreen oil but this should be my first. I just opened two sunscreens (a tinted one and a very lightweight serum) but I’ll be stocking up on sunscreen before I leave for a long Florida getaway.
What’s the very lightweight serum, Marcia? I like the Paula’s Choice sunscreen oil, but I think I may end up saving it for the late fall/winter/early spring since it does double duty in terms of hydrating my dry skin. Glad to hear that you are going on vacation! You deserve it!