Trying Three Different Derma E Sunscreens (review)
Are you using SPF yet? I know it’s only April, but in many parts of the country the sun is already active and blasting with scorching rays. I guess it’s redundant to remind you that dermatologists recommend using sunscreen every day regardless of the season, but let’s be real here, it’s easier said than done. Some sunscreen formulas are honestly unpleasant which makes it difficult to use them daily without feeling like it’s some annoying chore. We also don’t have a sunscreen culture here in the West, unlike in Asia for example, where kids are taught to use it from a very young age. Naturally, it means there is a lot more demand for sunscreen innovation which helps drive competition among sunscreen manufacturers. Because of this, sunscreens produced and marketed in Asia are generally seen as superior, from the way they wear and feel on the skin, to the way they look.
Now that the sunscreen education is slowly catching up with the global trends in my neck of the woods, I noticed that there were a lot of formula improvements in the recent years and a consumer push to develop more cosmetically elegant formulations to encourage daily use. Personally, I still prefer Japanese and Korean sunscreens because they are just so far ahead technologically, but I have high hopes that Western brands will catch up eventually and always look forward to trying these new sunscreens and comparing them to my Asian favorites.
Today I wanted to share my thoughts on three different products from Derma E, a fairly affordable skincare brand that you can find at drugstores and mass beauty retailers like Ulta.
Derma E Sun Defense Clear Zinc Sunscreen SPF30 Body ($20.95) – This fully physical sunscreen provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection with Zinc Oxide 19.5% and Titanium Dioxide 2.64% as the main active ingredients. It has a thick, creamy texture that slightly melts into the skin on contact, making it easier to spread. Easier but not exactly easy, because I noticed that it clings to every dry spot on my body, making those areas look like I have white crumbs in them. The formula is enriched with skin-loving botanicals and moisturizing fatty acids, but their concentration wasn’t enough to make this heavy-ish cream more spreadable. It does stick to the skin quite well and makes me feel protected even after swimming and actively splashing in the pool. I also like that it doesn’t leave a very noticeable white cast, except those dry areas. The problems really start with reapplication. This particular sunscreen is not layer-friendly, the second I attempt to apply more on top of the original layer, it starts flaking off, removing both of the layers. If I were to keep in my routine, I would only ever use it on the days when I don’t expect to reapply. The formula is overall very gentle and fragrance-free, and can work even for someone with sensitive skin.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 19.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.64%, Aluminum Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Cellulose Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Coco-Caprylate, Coco-Glucoside, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Sclerotium Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum.
Derma E Sun Defense Clear Zinc Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF30 Face ($20.95) – A sister product to the body sunscreen mentioned above, it features some of the same active ingredients with formula adjustments to make it more suitable for face. Even though it doesn’t contain oils and butters, it still spreads nicely thanks to a cocktail of sebum-identical fatty acids. It has minimal pink cast, wears comfortably, and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy in the slightest. I also appreciate that the formula is fragrance-free, so you won’t be smelling that sunscreen all day under your nose. Unfortunately, I have all the same issues with the face formula that I had with the body product: it clings to dry spots and facial hair and tends to flake off upon reapplication.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 19.5%, Titanium Dioxide 2.64%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aluminum Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Cellulose Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Coco-Caprylate, Coco-Glucoside, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Microcrytalline Cellulose, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl/Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum.
Derma E Vitamin C Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Weightless Moisturizer ($24.95) is formulated not only to protect from the UV rays, but to provide skin-brightening benefits by reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. The formula boasts a whopping 20% non-nano Zinc Oxide, which is the only sunscreen ingredient here, and two brightening actives: Niacinamide and a stabilized form of Vitamin C.
If the first two sunscreens had the consistency of thick sour cream, this is more of a milky yogurt. This runny texture helps the product spread on the skin more easily, and it doesn’t seem to stick to any dry areas. However, due to a slightly higher concentration of Zinc Oxide, it does leave a faint pink cast, it’s not super noticeable but you can definitely see it if you look closely. I like that this sunscreen offers higher protection than the other two, and I would probably prefer to wear this one to the beach instead. It doesn’t cause issues with the reapplication, so there’s no pilling or flaking, but the white cast will build up after each consecutive application and that’s something to keep in mind. I think Derma E should make a tinted version that would remove the white cast issues. Unlike the two before, this formula does contain fragrance derived from natural oils – it smells slightly citrusy. It’s not strong or unpleasant, but if you avoid scented products all together, this is something to keep in mind.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 20%, Apium Gravelones (Celery) Seed Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocoglycerides, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glycerin, Isostearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Lauryl Glucoside, Lecithin, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract, Natural Fragrance Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Trioleate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum.
BOTTOM LINE:
Of these three Derma E sunscreens, I liked the last one the most. Vitamin C Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Weightless Moisturizer offers good UV protection and also provides long-term skin-brightening benefits, so you wouldn’t have to use a separate brightening serum or a moisturizer underneath to achieve the same results. Unfortunately, the intensifying white cast every time you reapply is going to be an issue for me. Both the face and the body sunscreens in orange tubes left me disappointed. They seem to work for me only until I reapply, and then they just flake off, which kind of defeats the purpose. Keep in mind that beauty is always YMMV, my experiences are my own and perhaps you will have better results than I did.
Have you tried Derma E suncare? Do you prefer chemical or physical sunscreens?
