January, in my opinion, is skincare month. Or it has been. Usually during the holiday season, our emphasis shifts to makeup. In January, when we seek a fresh and healthy start in so many thing, skincare returns to the forefront.
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Dermstore is one of the online retailers that sends me frequent emails announcing discounts, sales and new products. I think the Dermstore Skin Cancer Foundation Sun Care Kit came to my attention via one of those emails just a couple of weeks ago. Of course, it was on sale before the holiday, and it still is.
What really got my attention about this sunscreen discovery set is that it came with a full size (1.7 oz.) bottle of Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46. I’m pretty sure that this is the facial sunscreen that Marcia uses, so I wanted to try it. Also, that size Elta MD UV Clear is usually priced at $37, so the $40 I paid for the full kit was well worth it.
The large (9.5 x 5.0 x 3.5″) clear plastic makeup case that came with the kit will be perfect to use if I ever travel anywhere again or to bring to the beach.
I’m just getting started using these sunscreens, so I will come back at a later date and tell you which are my favorites. The kit is supposed to provide sun protection for the entire person: face, body, lips, and hair.
This is what the kit includes:
- Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 1.7 oz./MSRP $37 with skincare ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and other moisturizers. Active ingredients: both physical and chemical: zinc oxide and octinoxate. Lightweight white cream goes on sheer
- Dermstore Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 0.75 oz. with skincare ingredients like moisturizers, PHA, vitamin E and dimethicone. Active ingredient: zinc oxide/physical sunscreen. Tinted lightweight cream goes on sheer
- Supergoop Glow Screen Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 0.34 oz. Active ingredients: “clean chemical sunscreen”: Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene. Tinted, pearlescent, lightweight cream goes on sheer. Also protects skin from blue light and works as a facial primer before foundation (I need to try that!)
- LaRoche-Posay Mineral Anthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 0.17 oz. Active ingredients: physical sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. White lotion that goes on sheer
- LaRoche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 100 0.17 oz. Active ingredients: chemical sunscreen with Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene. White heavy cream that goes on sheer. According to the pamphlet that came with the kit, it can be used on body as well as face.
- Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ 0.23 oz. Active ingredients: chemical sunscreen with Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene. Pale peach gel-cream that goes on sheer. Has a light fragrance. This is super-lightweight.
- Coola Liplux Peppermint + Vanilla Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 full size 0.15 oz./MSRP $10 70%+ organic lip balm with skin ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, peppermint oil. Active ingredients: Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene. No color.
- Oribe Power Drops Color Preservation Booster 2% Vitamin C Complex 0.1 oz. with haircare ingredients: vitamin C, bioflavinoids and quinoa protein to protect haircolor from UV rays and dimethicone
I have tried using a little of all the facial sunscreens, and I would put them all in the ultra-lightweight category. They literally disappear on my skin. A couple do leave a slight coated feeling, though much less than most of the facial sunscreens I’ve tried. For non-summer use, I would need to apply a separate moisturizer after many of these sunscreens. Today, however, I am trying out the Dermstore Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 over BeautyStat Vitamin C Skin Refiner, and I do not need another moisturizer, most likely because the BeautyStat Skin Refiner has petrolatum as one of the ingredients (imagine that, an $80 dermatologist-recommended serum that has petrolatum in it!).
I’m glad I bought this sun care kit, although earlier this season, I bought another tube of Paula’s Choice RESIST Youth-Extending Hydrating Elixir SPF 50, a lightweight chemical sunscreen lotion that’s another one of my favorites. I often need another moisturizer of some kind with the oil-free Paula’s Choice.
So, there you have my first impressions of the sunscreens from this Best of Dermstore kits, this one put together in partnership with The Skin Cancer Foundation.
I’m looking forward to trying the Oribe Power Drops Color Preservation Booster on my hair in the spring or summer to see if it keeps my hair from fading (though it’s a tiny sample). Sadly, I’ll be giving away the full size Coola Liplux because of the peppermint oil. Boo. If you’re on the lookout for a new lightweight facial sunscreen, the Dermstore Sun Care Kit is a good place to start.
The full-size Elta sunscreen captures my attention! My sister uses one of their sunscreens and it’s her holy grail! Thanks for letting us know about this set, Allison!
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The whole idea for a sunscreen discovery set is so perfect for me because I am always looking for something better to try. However, there is only one physical sunscreen in the set, the Dermstore Daily Mineral sunscreen, so if that’s your preference, the set wouldn’t be worth it. The EltaMD UV Clear has both physical and chemical actives.
I’m intrigued by the liplux product with peppermint oil. I’m sure it’s good!
I can’t wear any lip balm with peppermint oil because it actually burns my lips. Weird, right?
Hi, Allison – Wow, these are all such high-quality products and what a deal! I didn’t know the DermStore was so great. I love that most of these are trial sized because I need to test products for safety before using it on sensitive skin. Thanks for letting us know about this sale – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
I am flabbergasted with the price. I bought a new Elta MD Sunscreen but I could have gotten this instead. And I bought it from Dermstore. Dang. I’m so tempted to buy this but I haven’t even opened my new Elta!
Marcia recently posted…Dermstore Skin Cancer Foundation Sun Care Kit
I’m sorry especially since you bought your replacement EltaMD from Dermstore. I know it takes a while to go through a bottle of sunscreen, so I am not sure about the expiration dates and whether it would be worth it to get it.