PRODUCT REVIEW: SKINNIES CONQUER SPF 50+ PA++++ - BEST MINERAL SUNSCREEN FOR FACE, BEST SUNSCREEN FOR SLUGGING
SKINNIES | CONQUER SPF 50+ PA++++
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!
Skinnies | Conquer SPF 50+ PA++++
I consider sunscreen the most important skincare product I apply every day. And I’ve made it my mission to seek out the best sunscreen products the world over — having them shipped to me illegally. In the U.S., sunscreen products are considered drugs and it’s apparently illegal to ship them over the border. But who cares? I sure don’t.
There’s been a lot of innovation in the marketplace for sunscreens but, regrettably, it’s all happened outside the U.S. So contraband sunscreens it is!
For over a year, I’ve amassed some of the best facial sunscreen products from Asia and Europe — and in the case of the Rohto Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk, from what appears to be other planets.
Thank goodness for the internet or I’d only have access to sunscreen technologies that date back to the 80s. Granted, the formulas themselves have come a long way — as with all of my sunscreen product recommendations here.
But that’s where the innovation ends. Sunscreen filter technology is another story. While innovation in the U.S. is moving too damn slow, the rest of the world is bringing a lot of coolness and newness.
The latest sun filters are driven by A-beauty — with Uvinul A Plus and other filters that protect skin from the most insidious aging UVA rays, measured by the PA product rating on the packaging.
What does PA mean in sunscreen?
There’s an excellent piece from the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, What Does the PA+ Sunscreen Symbol Mean? on the brand’s website here.
The SPF rating on a sunscreen bottle stands for Sun Protection Factor, a measurement of how long you can stay outside during the day and be protected from the sun’s burn-causing UVB rays (assuming you’re applying sunscreen the right way). UVA rays are present, too; this is where the PA+ rating system comes into play.
Some sunscreens include PA+ rating on their products. The letters “PA” followed by plus signs (PA+, PA++, PA+++, and PA++++) on a label are a rating system developed in Japan to represent how much UVA protection the product offers.
The sun’s UVA rays do not cause sunburn; rather, they cause skin to turn brown. UVA rays are known as the sun’s silent killers because you don’t feel them affecting skin. Despite the lack of pain associated with UVA rays, they penetrate deeply into skin, causing a somewhat different type of damage than UVB rays.
This is what each PA rating means:
PA+ = Some UVA protection.
PA++ = Moderate UVA protection.
PA+++ = High UVA protection.
PA++++ = Extremely High UVA protection.
One of the coolest trends in skincare is the removal of a single ingredient that often comprises up to 75% of a skincare product: water. Water is, in fact, useless to the skin and doesn’t offer much to a skincare product either. It’s simply a waste of money — and a waste of precious resources.
So I’m thrilled to share one of my favorite new sunscreen brands, Skinnies — a New Zealand-based brand that’s created waterless sunscreens! I’d been using the Skinnies Sungel SPF 30 throughout the summer and was eager to try out the Skinnies Conquer SPF 50+ PA++++ in the winter.
As with the brand’s Sungel SPF 30, it’s thick and rich and a little goes a long way. And, because it’s so thick, it’s perfect for colder weather — and ideal for winter!
The Skinnies Conquer SPF 50+ is formulated with a blend of both mineral and chemical sunscreens, including Uvinul A Plus, Bemotrizinol, Octocrylene and Zinc Oxide.
The water-free Skinnies Conquer SPF 50+ is a clean, vegan formula that feels great on skin and, because it’s water-free, stays on skin longer to deliver all-day sun protection and comfort. In fact, it has tremendous staying power. With most sunscreens, when I get home from a long day in the City, I know much of it is gone from my face. And gone with it? The anti-aging protection I had when I left the apartment in the morning. With the two waterless Skinnies formulas, there’s still a veil on my skin at day’s end. How cool is that?
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Skinnies Conquer SPF 50+ PA++++ for $49.95 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).
