2017 was the year that I decided to stop messing around and get on board with everyday sunscreen. Prior to finding the Body Shop (*) Skin Defence SPF50 I have only ever liked one face sunscreen that I’ve tried. It was the Kiehls Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50 but at £36 it is a little out of my price range for an everyday SPF. Body Shop to the rescue with their Skin Defence SPF50 (RRP £16).
Price: £16 for 40ml, £20 for 60ml
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Octocrylene, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Carbomer, Linalool, Tocopherol, Limonene, Citronellol.
Benefits:
- Broad spectrum UVA/ UVB protection
- SPF50
- Red algae and vitamin C
Brand comments:
Introducing NEW Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++, our strongest multi-protection to help protect your skin day after day. A feather light, milk-to-water essence with broad spectrum UV filters, brightening red algae and antioxidant Vitamin C, to help protect skin against multiple skin aggressors, while providing utmost comfort.
How to use
Apply to freshly washed and moisturised skin on face and neck, before applying makeup. If you’re not wearing makeup, then as with all sunscreens, you should top-up after a few hours. Obviously if you’re wearing makeup over the top, then it’s a bit trickier, and the best thing to do is top up using an SPF mist over makeup.
Formula/ texture
It’s a milky fluid that is easily absorbed into the skin, and provides up to factor 50 sunscreen. It screens out both UVA and UVB rays, so you get broad spectrum protection. It’s not too runny nor is it too thick and gloopy. The issue that I’ve had with other face sunscreens, sch as Garnier Ambre Solaire for face is that the cream has bee too thick and left a greasy residue. I don’t get that at all with the Body Shop Skin Defence. I can apply over my regular moisturiser and then put makeup on after just a few minutes, and it doesn’t alter the texture of the skin, thereby affecting the overall finish and reducing the wear-time of my makeup.
Skincare benefits
Well there’s the obvious sunscreen skin protection, but there are a few more benefits too. It contains anti-oxidants, which help the skin regenerate after being exposed to pollution and daily grime. As with the rest of the Drops of Light range it contains red algae and vitamin c to improve the skins natural radiance over time. I love the Drops of Light range and have raved about the skin serum before on EyeSpyBeauty. The red algae and vitamin c benefits do take effect over time and so don’t expect to see instant results.
Packaging/ size
The Skin Defence comes in two sizes, 40ml and 60ml, with only £4 between them. I would always go for the 60ml, as you do get so much more for your money. The packaging is handbag friendly, or holiday friendly, as it comes in a flat tube with a squeezy dropper. The dropper is a decent size to enable you to use the right aunt of product. Some of the other facial sunscreens I have used have had larger holes in the droppers and large globs of sunscreen have come out when I just wanted a small amount for me face.
Effectiveness
I haven’t been able to test the efficacy of the SPF, as I haven’t been anywhere hotter than the UK during this period. Also I don’t burn normally, I just go darker, and so ‘reduced burning’ is not a suitable measure for me to use. Some of my customers have used it abroad however and have noticed less incidents of sunburn.
I am noticing a boost in my overall ‘glow’ and often skip my Drops of Light serum if I’m wearing this. Generally now I use this daily except on days I’m just monging around the hose, in which case I use my Drops of Light serum. Overall I’m loving it and have been using daily for about 3 months now.
(*) I am a Body Shop At Home consultant and do earn commission on any personal sales I make. All my reviews are 100% honest, and you will see a mixture of positive and less than favourable reviews of Body Shop products.