Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock, SPF 70

image from drugstore.com

Price: $13 for 1.4 fl oz.

What they say:

"New Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Liquid Sunblock delivers powerful protection in a breakthrough lightweight liquid for daily protection from the sun. This water-light texture spreads easily over skin, absorbing instantly for an invisible, weightless feel. It also provides an even, non-shiny finish that works beautifully alone or under makeup and moisturizers.

This product features Helioplex®, a breadth of stabilized sunscreen technologies that delivers superior protection from the sun.

    * Helioplex®
    * Waterproof, sweatproof
    * Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)
    * Oil-free, PABA free
    * 1.4 fl. oz. bottle"

What I say:

I really like this, and am so glad that I purchased it.  If you recall in my April Lemming's post, I mentioned that other countries have a more runny sunscreen than we do, and it was nice to see a company bring a liquid/lotion sunscreen to this country that was easy to obtain, and didn't cost an arm and a leg.

This sunscreen lives up to my expectations, which I am very happy about.  It is indeed a liquid/lotion, not that thick cream sunscreen that many companies try to pass off as being easy to spread, and fast absorbing.  The tip of the bottle looks a lot like an eyedropper, which allows the sunscreen to come out at just the right rate.  Believe me, you don't want a large opening on a liquid like this.  I actually like to take the bottle and run it across the area that I want to add sunscreen to, leaving a trail behind that I then rub into my skin.

This stuff spreads really easily, and doesn't leave behind a film once rubbed in.  I have to say, that besides BullFrog, this is the fastest absorbing sunscreen that I have ever seen.  Once you rub it in, it is gone, and you can barely feel it on your skin.  I can't say you can't feel it at all, but to me it feels about the same as a layer of lotion, so it is easy to ignore.  Honestly, after a few minutes, I don't even notice it at all.

The best part of a lotion type sunscreen like this is truly its ability to be layered on top of makeup, in my opinion.  Since the liquid is easy to spread, and has extremely fast absorption, you can spread a little on your hands, and then pat it onto skin.  Depending on your makeup and application, it may or may not disturb your makeup, but to even have the option is better than the majority of brands out there.  I have heard some people say that oilier skin can get away with this instead of moisturizer and sunscreen.  While I cannot say if I personally could, since I have oily dehydrated, I didn't notice any drying of my skin, so it might be possible.

I have noticed no slipping or greasiness because of this sunscreen, even when I exercised with this under makeup (for science!).  There is also no whitish cast to my face and body (I like to use the same sunscreen for both, since I travel a lot), but I do have fair skin.  I would guess that this sunscreen would leave no cast on other skintones, mainly because it disappears into skin so quickly and readily.  It claims to be waterproof and sweatproof.  From what I saw when exercising with this product on, it seems to be true.  I haven't swam with it on, since it's too cold here right now, but I would guess that it would hold up.  Just remember that all waterproof sunscreens still need to be touched up.

If there is anything I would say I didn't like about this product it would be the price per unit.  While still cheaper than most sunscreens on the market in the USA with this consistancy, it is still far more expensive than other drugstore sunscreens that are a different formula.  While this doesn't put me off too much, since I am willing to pay more for a superior product, and it often goes on sale, it would be nice if they lowered the price from, say, $13 not on sale to $10.  Maybe, depending on the market, they might, like Revlon did with PhotoReady.

Overall, I highly recommend this product.  It absorbs like a dream, layers well, spreads easily, is small enough for travel, doesn't cause breakouts, and can be used on both face and body.  Really, what more can one ask for from a product, let alone one that you can get at a drugstore?

5/5, highly recommended, possible HG.

Korres Sunscreen Stick Face Watermelon

image from sephora.com

Price: $24.50 for 20ml (.68 fl oz)

What they say:
"What it is:
An innovative sun protection solution that doubles as a highlighter.

What it is formulated to do:
Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 shields sensitive areas of the face like the lips, cheeks, and nose. Designed for easy application, this double-duty essential adds a natural, iridescent touch to accentuate features and smoothes to silky perfection.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This nutrient-infused formula bolsters the skin's immune system and prevents photoaging. It is dermatologically and opthamologically tested, noncomedogenic, a full spectrum UV protectant, and water and sweat resistant. It is free of PPGs, MEA, DEA, TEAs, and formaldehyde donors. "

What I say:
First off, I think this product is being discontinued, since the Korres website doesn't list it anymore.  Still, I thought it would be worth reviewing for those people who can still find it online or in person.

This is an interesting product.  The smell is like watermelon candy, which I love, but many people might not like.  The smell does go away pretty quickly, but it is pretty strong in the tube.  The stick itself has a kinda whitish-pink color to it, which is what gives the slight highlighting effect when it is used on your skin.

The highlighting effect is there, but it isn't very noticeable, especially when the product finally dries.  Speaking of drying, though, this product takes forever to dry down.  When I first put it on, I looked a little greasy, which did not make me happy.  It does go away in about 20-30 minutes, and since 30 minutes is how long they say to wait before going out into the sun, at least you don't look shiny in direct sunlight.

Texture-wise, this product feel like a chapstick, but a little thicker, maybe a little creamier.  I would want to say how butter feels when it's cold, without the melting into liquid part.  You can definitely feel this on your skin, which I don't like at all.  I did one swipe on part of my face, like my nose, and then used my fingers to spread it out more, since I felt I was layering too much on when I just put it straight on my face.  Even when spread out like this, I felt like I had a mask on, and when I touched my face I could feel it on my skin, like a thin greasy layer.  The feeling goes down when it is dried, but it's still there.

This product does have some good points, though.  Portability is really high, which is good for people who travel a lot.  Since it's not a liquid, you can take this on airplanes with no problem, or at least in my area.  It has SPF 30 (it claims it is UVA and B), which isn't the highest, but it is much higher than a lot of products on the market.  The smell doesn't smell chemically to me, which is a plus, since I often dislike the smell of sunscreen.

Overall, I think this product is kinda bad for everyday usage, but would work well for certain people,in certain conditions, including:
Children - easy to use, easy to carry around, and they don't care about being greasy for a little bit while it dries.
Hiker - safe for body, face, eye area, and lips, it is an all in one product to carry, and it's lightweight
Travelers - I don't know about you, but I can care less what I look like when traveling, as long as I'm comfortable.  Being able to carry this onto an airplane with no problem is a plus.

A side note, I actually returned this product after a few uses (and lost the pictures I took, of course... bah).  I just can't get past the feeling of this, and for the price, it just isn't worth it for me.

2/5 - it has its uses, but it really could be a much better product.