Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 & Happy New Year!

Even though it’s winter and so many days, lately, it’s been gray and rainy, sunscreen is still a necessity. But of course, you already know that!

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36

Trying A Trial Size First

I am always on the look out for sunscreens that don’t leave my face with a greasy glow. Recently, I tried a trial size tube of Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 that I received for free along with a purchase at Sephora. The small tube lasted me for about two weeks, and I liked it so much, I bought a full size tube.

A Little Info on Innisfree, the Brand

Here’s a reminder or a little background info if Innisfree isn’t top of mind for you. Innisfree is a Korean brand of skincare products that are affordable and effective. If you haven’t tried anything from the brand, you should head over to their website and take a look. Over the past couple of years, I’ve used a few Innisfree products, and I’ve never been disappointed.

Chemical vs. Physical Sunscreens

Daily UV Defense Sunscreen is a chemical sunscreen, so if you are a fan solely of mineral/physical sunscreens, this one won’t suit you. Although I prefer the idea of a mineral sunscreen that sits on top of the skin rather than being absorbed, I haven’t found one that I love enough to stick to it, though I have tried many. So I find myself gravitating back toward chemical sunscreens. Because chemical sunscreens are absorbed, they have fewer of the issues that physical sunscreens have, i.e. leaving behind a white residue, a greasy finish or a heavy coating that can interfere with foundation etc.

The Benefits of Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen For Me

What I like about Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 is that it’s perfect for this time of year when I don’t need an SPF 50 facial sunscreen. It’s a white cream, but since it’s not a mineral sunscreen, it doesn’t leave behind a white cast after you rub it in. Also, Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen leaves out the three chemical sunscreen ingredients that are concerning because they harm coral reefs and may be hormone disrupters: Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octychrylene.

Daily UV Defense Sunscreen is water rather than oil-based, it absorbs quickly, and it feels lightweight on your skin. In fact, I think this facial sunscreen was formulated for all skin types including those with acne or oily skin because it contains salicylate and is water-based. Nevertheless, unlike Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Sunscreen that is lightweight but leaves my skin feeling dry, Innisfree Daily UV Defense makes my usually dry face feel like velvet! The key ingredients – green tea, sunflower seed oil, and other traditional hydrating ingredients – make my skin feel comfortable, hydrated, and like I said, velvety.

Plus, Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen contains cica, the pervasive K-beauty skincare ingredient, that addresses sensitive skin by soothing skin and calming redness from irritation, pollution or rosacea.

Though Daily UV Defense Sunscreen has a light and unobtrusive fragrance (if I smell the opening of the tube itself), I neither smell it when it comes out of the tube nor when I apply it to my face.

Formulated without:

• Parabens
• Synthetic Colors
• Mineral Oil
• Animal Products (vegan)
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Sulfate Surfactant
• Triethanolamin
• Polyacrylamide
• Coal Tar Colors
• Talc
• Artificial Colors

Innisfree is cruelty-free themselves, using other methods to test their ingredients and products. However, presently, they do sell in countries (i.e. China) that require animal testing for products that are not manufactured in China.

Retail Info

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 comes in two sizes: 50 ml and 100 ml. The 50 ml size is somewhat easier to find on the Innisfree website, Sephora and on Amazon

. The 100 ml size is currently sold out at both Innisfree and Sephora. Right now, the 50 ml sunscreen is 20% off on the Innisfree website ($12.80), while the regular price at Sephora and Amazon is $16. The 100 ml size, when it’s available, is about $29 for twice as much product.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.5%, Homosalate 7.0%, Octisalate 4.3%
Inactive Ingredients: WATER / AQUA / EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLOCTYL SALICYLATE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCRYLENE, ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, CETYL ALCOHOL, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPANEDIOL, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, OCTYLDODECANOL, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, XANTHAN GUM, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, ECHIUM PLANTAGINEUM SEED OIL, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL UNSAPONIFIABLES, CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM FLOWER/LEAF/VINE EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, GLYCERIN, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE.

This spring or summer, I will try to get my hands on a tube of their specifically moisturizing Innisfree Hyaluron Moist Sunscreen SPF 50+ that is sold by K-beauty websites. Innisfree does not sell it on their US website, boo!

Sale Today Only City Beauty

As you may have noticed, lip oil is having a moment. In fact, it’s a moment that has been going on for a couple of years!

I was so involved with New Year’s activities, I forgot that City Beauty is having a quick sale that ends today.

If you buy City Beauty Night Oil, you get a free tube of City Lips Clear. Good deal! If you are unfamiliar with City Beauty Night Oil, check out my review from 2023 here.

Happy New Year and Thank You!

As I mentioned, I was busy with New Year’s activities this year, and I enjoyed myself a little too much! One night during the weekend, we had a friend over for dinner. On New Year’s Eve, Jeff took me out to dinner for a yummy Indian meal that I hadn’t had in over a year. And on New Year’s Day when the sun finally returned to rainy Boston, we went for a New Year’s hike with our friend, out for drinks at our favorite hotel bar, The Beauport, and then we returned to the house to watch football and recreate the cocktail that we all ordered at Beauport, the beautiful Lilac Moon purple cocktail. I ended up having three of them, and no surprise, I spent all day Tuesday with a wicked hangover!

Hope you had a pleasant New Year’s and are optimistic about 2024. I wish you health and happiness in this new year.

Plus, I’d like to thank those of you who did some of your holiday shopping via my affiliate links. I appreciate it so much because it helps defray some of the expenses related to hosting Never Say Die Beauty.