As I say every year, I want to make an effort at being more consistent with sunscreen use. So it only make sense that I venture from my usual chemical sunscreens in search of a good mineral sunscreen. Several weeks back, Derma E sent over their Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face and Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Body for me to test out. I've been pretty impressed with the brand's clean and affordable skincare products in the past so I was very excited to try these out. To read my thoughts, click......
 |
| Derma E | Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face |
Derma E | Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face ($26.99 for 56 g)
Housed in a bright and cheery orange squeeze tube, the Derma E Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face is described as an "oil-free, lightweight, non-greasy" facial sunscreen formulated with 20% non-nano zinc oxide that offers broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and anti-aging antioxidant defense. Also formulated with green tea extract and vitamin C, the formulation helps further protect the skin from oxidative damage.
With a lightweight, easy to spread formulation, the Derma E Sun Defense Sunscreen for the face feels very pleasant upon initial application. However, the sunscreen is essentially impossible to blend onto the skin. I've tried this over bare skin and moisturized skin and it without fail pilled like no other sunscreen I've ever tried (see image below), rendering the product completely unuseable. I'm sure Derma E and its loyal fans of the product will make a case that with a very careful application, the suncreen can be blended without pilling but who has that kind of time and effort to make a sunscreen work? Additionally, the sunscreen leaves a notable white cast, making it unsuitable for those with darker skin tones.
 |
| Derma E | Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face |
Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco-Caprylate (Coconut Derived), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lauryl Glucoside (Plant Derived), Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin (Vegetable Derived), Microcrystalline Cellulose (Plant Derived), Cellulose Gum (Plant Derived), Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phytic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol.
 |
| Derma E | Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Body |
Derma E | Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Face ($26.99 for 113 g)
With very similar ingredients as the Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen for the face, this body sunscreen is also formulated with 20% non-nano zinc oxide. Unfortunately, this product suffers from the same issues as the face sunscreen. With perhaps a bit less pilling, the Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen Body still blends very streakily and worst of all, the formulation kind of disintergrates upon contact with water, leaving the body with splotchy white casts allover. I'm all for natural and effective mineral sunscreens but at the end of the day, I still want a sunscreen that applies well and looks good. Unfortunately, both of these Derma E sunscreens are complete misses; perhaps they may work for kids who don't mind looking like a splotchy snowball but I cannot imagine any look-conscious adults leaving the house wearing either of these sunscreens.
Ingredients: Purified Water, Coco-Caprylate (Coconut Derived), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lauryl Glucoside (Plant Derived), Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycerin (Vegetable Derived), Microcrystalline Cellulose (Plant Derived), Cellulose Gum (Plant Derived), Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phytic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol.
Availability:
Derma E is available online at dermae.com and online and in stores in Canada at London Drugs.
Derma E is available online at dermae.com and online and in stores in Canada at London Drugs.
