Although summer is about half over, just thought I’d weigh in on my two favorite lightweight facial sunscreens. Both are cruelty-free and unscented.
- Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 (reviewed initially here)
- Coola Sun Silk Drops 70%+ organic SPF 30
Importantly, both sunscreens are fluids, and they go on like water on my skin. They both dry down completely to a matte finish and feel weightless.
I wear Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 when I am going to be outdoors for a long time since it has the higher SPF. Also, because it comes in a plastic tube, I take it with me to the beach, and it’s easy to reapply. Note, the formula contains dimethicone which I like because it smooths and can also function as a moisturizing primer under foundation.
Coola Sun Silk Drops SPF 30 comes in a translucent pink glass dropper bottle, so it isn’t portable. I love the dropper with the button at the top that allows me to dispense it drop by drop.
Coola recommends 3-5 Sun Silk Drops per area of the face (e.g. each side of the face, neck, T-zone, forehead) added to moisturizer or foundation. On occasion, I will apply it directly to my face and neck. I tend to wear the Coola when I am not going to be outside for more than a couple of hours. Also, Coola Sun Silk Drops are said to provide protection from digital rays/blue light from computer and phone screens.
Both of these super lightweight sunscreens are chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens are applied before skincare products and/or makeup because they are absorbed into the skin. They work by creating a chemical reaction that absorbs UV rays, converts the rays to heat and then releases it from the skin. Some people are sensitive to chemical sunscreens, and should use physical sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that work by sitting on top of the skin and reflecting the sun’s rays. I use both chemical and physical sunscreens, and truth be told, I would prefer to use physical sunscreens. However, physical sunscreens are not as lightweight as chemical. Because Massachusetts went from winter directly to a hot summer, I’ve been reaching for the lightest moisturizer/sunscreens I can find, and these two are them.
Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 50‘s formula contains antioxidants to protect against environmental stressors. The full size 2 oz. tube is currently on sale on the Paula’s Choice website for $28.50. It also comes in a travel size on sale now for $8.50. Paula’s Choice is also sold at Nordstrom.
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.0%, Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 2.0%
Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), Silica (absorbent agent), Dimethicone (hydration), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Matricaria), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (antioxidants), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract(antioxidants), Peucedanum Graveolens (Dill) Extract (antioxidants), Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Fruit Extract (antioxidants), Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran Extract (skin-soothing), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract(antioxidants), Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Fruit Extract(antioxidants), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Titanium Dioxide (texture-enhancing/texture-enhancing), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (hydration), Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (hydration), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (film-forming/suspending agent), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancings), Sodium Carbomer (texture-enhancings), Benzyl Alcohol (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (stabilizer), Potassium Sorbate (stabilizer), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).
Coola Full Spectrum 360 degrees Sun Silk Drops SPF 30‘s formula hydrates with hyaluronic acid, and it contains lots of natural ingredients. In addition, it has the following additional benefits:
- 70%+ certified organic ingredients
- Plant-derived Full Spectrum 360° complex helps mitigate the effects of HEV blue light, IR, and pollution
- Lightweight, sheer and breathable formula
- Vegan
- Reef Safe/Reef Friendly
Coola Sun Silk Drops is pricier than the Paula’s Choice. The bottle contains 1 fl. oz. and is priced at $46. I bought it during the Ulta 20% off coupon event a couple of months ago. It’s also sold at Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and the Coola website.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS (SUNSCREEN): Avobenzone – 2.0%, Homosalate – 10.0%, Octisalate – 5.0% Octocrylene – 6.0%
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (ORGANIC), Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Carthamus Tinctorius (ORGANIC Safflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Leaf/Twig Extract, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ecklonia Kurome Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycerine, Glycerin (ORGANIC), Glyceryl Stearate, Jasminum Sambac Leaf Cell Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Melanin, Nylon-12, Olea Europaea (ORGANIC Olive) Fruit Oil, Plankton Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (ORGANIC Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Water (Aqua), Xanthan Gum
These are my go-to daytime facial sunscreens this summer. What are your faves?
These both sound like excellent sunscreens, Allison. I am most curious to try the one from Coola, and I love that it dispenses with a dropper! Thank you for this review!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Soleil Toujours Sunscreens to Covet
I’m a sucker for Coola products and have been wanting to try those drops. Would prefer it to be mineral, but I do still use chemical sunscreens.
The Coola Sun Silk Drops are very cool coz you can add them directly to foundation or to a lightweight moisturizer and they feel like nothing.
I do like Paula’s choice products so when I need more sunscreen I may try it. The two I am using right now are Laroche-Posay Anthelios spf 40 and then I use Colleen Rothschild daily defense spf 25 on my face. I then use a foundation or cc cream with Spf to also go on my face. I have not been out in the sun much at all this year so both of these work well. If I am not wearing foundation I often use Sun Bum. I remember many years ago wearing no sunscreen and I sure have the sun/age spots because of that.
Me too, Sandy. I foolishly liked the look of a tan and even a burn on my face. What a huge mistake I made. I am covered with dark spots on my arms, hands and legs now. My mother was right! It sounds like you’ve got a good arsenal of sunscreens to choose from. I have a bottle of LaRoche-Posay floating around somewhere too. I thought that was an excellent lightweight sunscreen as well. I haven’t tried any Colleen Rothschild products yet, but I know you are a fan. It was so hot this past weekend, I skipped foundation, BB and CC creams and went for just the Paula’s Choice with a couple of dabs of concealer on my dark spots. Today, the temperature came down and it’s raining now. Yay!
I wish these were physical sunscreens as I’ve been trying to use those only lately. I like that you say these are lightweight though because that’s very important to me.
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I know what you mean, Stacie. I too would prefer physical sunscreens, but they tend to be heavier. The Derma E BB Cream that has SPF 30 via zinc oxide is about the best I’ve found for physical sunscreen. Did you try it?
I’m not exactly sure why mineral sunscreens can break me out. Physical sunscreens tend to be greasy and make me drip sweat everywhere! I’m up for trying new ones all the time. Texas is in the 100s right now😎
I know what you mean, Sherry. Mineral sunscreens, even the relatively lightweight ones, are still heavier than chemical sunscreens. The two that I mentioned are very lightweight. If you have Cover FX color drops, you can add a few to the Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Hydrating Fuild SPF 50 and you’ve got everything in one. The Coola Sun Silk Drops can be added to a lightweight foundation, and you’re good to go. I love ’em both! Texas must be unbearable now. It was in the mid 90s and humid here in MA for the past 3 days, and it was awful. You have to deal with this kind of weather every day. Ugh.
These both sound nice. I like lightweight because my face gets slick in summer. I would love to try the Paula’s Choice.
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I think you’d like the Paula’s Choice Youth Extending Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 because it’s moisturizer and sunscreen in one. If you have any CoverFX color drops, you can add those to the mix and you’re good to go
I have the Coola BB rosiliance spf 30 and love it. I’d like to try the drops next!
I know you love the Coola BB. The Sun Silk Drops are terrific to add to whatever you want. I love ’em
I love the Paula’s Choice!
Cindy Ingalls recently posted…KeraHealth Hair Supplements for Luscious Locks!
lightweight sunscreen is the best to layer makeup on top of!
I loooove those Sun Silk Drops, they’re one of my favorite sunscreens too! Now I need to try the Paula’s Choice one 🙂
Glamorable recently posted…What Are Your Must Haves for Summer?
I’ve used that Paula’s Choice one In the past, and it’s a good one!
I’ve used 3 bottles of that coola! So good!
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Love the dropper, how nice! Looks like a nice product!
These sunscreens sound great. I wouldn’t mind buying the Coola one, as I love the dropper!
The Coola liquid sunscreen is still my favorite, Sandi, because it is sooooo lightweight and can be used with any moisturizer! Love it. The dropper is cool too 🙂