A 360 SUNSCREEN ROUTINE FOR FACE AND EYES! - BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN FOR FACE AND BEST SUNSCREEN FOR EYES
MD SOLAR SCIENCES: A 360 SUNSCREEN ROUTINE FOR FACE AND EYES!
This product review originally appeared in my blog article titled, My Winter Sunscreen Picks - Best Mineral Sunscreens For Face From Supergoop, Farmacy And More! You can catch it here.
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There’s this wild misperception about the use of sunscreen that has always given me pause. It’s that sunscreen is only really important in the summer months, when the sun is at its brightest and most intense.
It’s somehow not as important to wear sunscreen in the winter, when the days are shorter and the sunshine dimmer. As if the sun’s damaging UV rays take a long vacation during the winter months.
Which is why I do my best to push the importance of sun protection throughout the year — even on cold days, on rainy days, and on cloudy, seemingly sunless days. I actually wear sunscreen whether or not I’m going outside — those damaging UV rays come through the living room windows, too!
So I’m eager to share my facial sunscreen picks for the colder, winter months — in the middle of January!
What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens?
For some real insights, there’s an excellent article by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients. In the piece, the team explains the differences and benefits of mineral and chemical sunscreens — and dispel a myth or two.
“The two types of sunscreen ingredients are mineral and synthetic [chemical], and both are equally protective. Further reassuring is that each can be included in formulas created for every skin type. For example, if you have normal to oily skin, there are weightless, non-greasy options; if you have normal to dry skin, it’s possible to find skin-smoothing, hydrating SPF products.
What’s the Difference Between Mineral and Synthetic Sunscreen Ingredients?
The differences aren’t about which type is more effective; rather, it comes down to personal preference and how sensitive your skin is—mineral sunscreens are considered the most gentle options.
Mineral sunscreens: There are only two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxideand zinc oxide. They work in skin's uppermost layers to both absorb and, to a lesser extent, deflect and scatter the sun’s harmful rays. These mineral ingredients are sometimes referred to as physical sunscreens or physical blockers, although that’s not a factual representation of how they work.
Synthetic sunscreens: There are over 30 synthetic sunscreen ingredients, all of which absorb into the top layers of skin, where they work similar to mineral sunscreens: by scattering and deflecting the sun’s harmful rays, and by converting UV rays into heat and “deactivating” them. (Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing.) Common synthetic sunscreen ingredients include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone. These are sometimes labeled “chemical sunscreens,” which is both misleading and false. All skin care ingredients, even water, are chemicals.
MD Solar Sciences | Mineral Crème 50
MDSolarSciences was founded by dermatologic oncologist Dr. Robert J. Friedman. The brand’s sunscreen products are top-rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) — with four formulas receiving the coveted rating of “1”. Among the four is the brand’s top seller, the Mineral Crème SPF 50.
I’m a big fan of the brand and reviewed it in the summer of 2019 in my article titled, Brands I Love: MD Solar Sciences Doctor-Developed Facial Sunscreen Products. It’s still available to read here.
The brand’s non-toxic, cruelty-free and reef-safe Mineral Crème SPF 50 is a 100% mineral sunscreen with a blend of 2% Titanium Dioxide and 17% Zinc Oxide — and leaves only a minimal grayish white cast on application that dissipates before I’m out the door.
That’s when it works its mattifying magic that keeps my skin looking healthy and fresh, not greasy and slick. It’s been torture-tested on the hot streets of Brooklyn on the most humid days of summer and on the least humid days of winter.
Because it’s so reliable, the MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 has earned its place as one of my sunscreen go-to’s — and why it’s on my list of the best sunscreens for face.
MDSolarSciences powered up their non-comedogenic formula with three of the most potent antioxidant botanical extracts — Green Tea Extract, Cranberry Fruit Extract and Pomegranate Extract. That’s some serious antioxidant power!
Perhaps the most intriguing of the formula’s ingredients is Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate — the stable oil-soluble form of Vitamin C that is similar in potency to L-Ascorbic Acid, the purest form of Vitamin C.
The MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 has a thick, rich texture and a little certainly goes a long way. That slightly thicker texture actually results from the addition of CoQ10 (Ubiquinone), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin C) and Squalane — one of the most skin-compatible non-fragrant plant oils.
These make Mineral Crème SPF 50 an ideal option for colder months as the blend helps keep skin moisturized and comfortable in the dry air.
So what’s the deal with Ubiquinone, or coenzyme Q10? According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, “it is a vitamin-like, fat-soluble substance naturally present in the body. Applied to skin, it can have antioxidant benefits due to its energizing effect on factors in skin that tend to slow down with age and cumulative sun exposure.”
With the addition of these three replenishing ingredients, I’d say that Mineral Crème SPF 50 is a near perfect sunscreen product.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 for $30 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
MY SUMMER EMPTIES : SUNSCREENS, VITAMIN C SERUMS & MORE FACIAL SKIN CARE!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
MDSolarSciences | Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick SPF
One of the mistakes we all make is to apply sunscreen to our faces in the morning and not think about sun protection again until the following day. The truth is, most sunscreens are absorbed, evaporate, rub off or get watered down by sweat throughout the day. By midday, there may not be much protection left — and if there is, it’s unlikely to be uniform, meaning some areas of your face remain protected while others are exposed. For the eye area, that can be particularly damaging.
So, a handy sunscreen product that’s easily carried around and can be reapplied midday as a touch-up is certainly welcome. And the MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 is exactly what you need to assure you’ve got ample sun protection at 2 p.m. — much like you did at 8 a.m.
The Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick is a superb formula with what the brand refers to as a “universally flattering light tint that easily applies to your skin and is perfect for on-the-go use.”
It seems so much darker in the tube than it actually appears on the skin. In fact, it blends in nicely and doesn’t (miraculously!) look like makeup when I’ve got it on. How that can be true is lost on me. But it’s a relief nonetheless.
The Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick formula contains a blend of mineral sun filters with 8.24% Titanium Dioxide and 6% Zinc Dioxide. It’s a simple sunscreen touch-up, an uncomplicated formula that feels really comfortable on the skin.
And, it makes the best sunscreen for the eye area, too!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 for $19 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
COOL CLEAN FACIAL SUNSCREENS TO KEEP US SAFE AND SMILING IN THE SUN
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
The Ingredient List of the Supergoop Cloud 9 100% Mineral Sun Balm:
emo, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter emo, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter emo|vc, C9-12 Alkane solv, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract so|aox, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Cetyl Esters emo, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate emo, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil emo|perf 0 4, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil emo 0 0, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax emo, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil emo|vc, Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil aox|emo, Rosa Alba (White Rose) Leaf Cell Extract aox, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil emo, Silica vc, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2-3The Ingredient List of the Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen:
aox, Hydrolyzed Verbascum Thapsus Flower aox, Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract perf, Alteromonas Ferment Extract so, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil aox|emo 0 0-2, Malic Acid exf|buff, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Myristic Acid surf|emu|perf 0 3, Glycerin 
sii|h 0 0, Hydrogenated Lecithin emo|emu, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2-3, Microcrystalline Cellulose vc, Alumina vc|abrasive/scrub, Behenic Acid surf|emu 0 0, Stearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 2 2, Caprylyl Methicone emo, Cyclohexasiloxane emo|solv, Isohexadecane emo|solv, Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone emu|surf, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Behenyl Alcohol emo|vc, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer vc, Cellulose Gum vc 0 0, Sorbitan Oleate emu 0 3, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Phenoxyethanol pres, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Potassium Sorbate pres, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Citric Acid buff, Sodium Phytate chelThe Ingredient List of the Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen:
sii|h 0 0, C13-14 Alkane solv, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate emu|surf, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter emo|vc, Coco-Caprylate emo, Propanediol solv|h, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil emo|perf 0 4, Hydrogenated Castor Oil emo|vc|emu|surf 0 1, Magnesium Sulfate vc, Copper Tripeptide-1 cci|so|aox, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4 h, Ceramide NG sii, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax emo, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Root Extract, Perilla Frutescens (Mint) Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract aox|so|emo|abrasive/scrub, Gardenia Taitensis (Tahitian Gardenia) Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate pres, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract aox|sb, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Phenylpropanol perf|solv, Sorbitan Olivate emu, Isostearic Acid surf|emu, Lecithin emo|emu, Cetyl Palmitate emo 0 0, Sorbitan Palmitate emu, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate emu|vc, Polyhydroxystearic Acid emu, Fructose hThe Ingredient List of the Skinnies Sungel SPF 30:
vc 0 0, Butyloctyl Salicylate solv, Coco-Caprylate emo, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Diisopropyl Adipate emo|solv 0 0, Isopropyl Palmitate emo|perf 1 3-4, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Propylene Carbonate solv|vc, Silica vc, Stearalkonium Hectorite vc, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) aox 0 0, Triacontanyl Pvp h|vcThe Ingredient List of the Skinnies Conquer SPF 50+ PA++++:
sunsc, Bemotrizinol sunsc, Octocrylene sunsc, Zinc Oxide sunsc 0 1, Bentonite vc 0 0, Butyloctyl Salicylate solv, Coco-Caprylate emo, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Diisopropyl Adipate emo|solv 0 0, Isopropyl Palmitate emo|perf 1 3-4, Propylene Carbonate solv|vc, Stearalkonium Hectorite vc, Titanium Dioxide sunsc|col, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) aox 0 0, Triacontanyl Pvp h|vc, Leptospermum Scoparium Oil (Manuka Oil) amic|aoxThe Ingredient List of the MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50:
sunsc, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, Iron Oxides col 0 0, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone emu, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate aox|sb, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract aox|so, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) ExtractThe Ingredient List of the MDSolarSciences Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Stick SPF :
Active: Titanium Dioxide 8.25% Zinc Dioxide 6%.
Inactive: Polyethylene, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Petrolatum, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Behenyl Olivate, Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone, Glyceryl Isostearate, Octyldodecanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Stearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid. May Contain: Iron Oxides (C.I. 77491, Iron Oxides (C.I. 77494, Iron Oxides (C.I. 77499).
