There can never be an end to a woman’s skincare regimen or perhaps I should say it is a lifelong process. When I was in my teens and 20s, my primary skin concern was about eliminating (or preventing) pimples and acne on my face. When I hit my 30s, I was quite bothered by the pigmentation on my cheeks as well as the increasing wrinkles on my face. These days, I try to use as little makeup as possible but I will never leave the house without applying sunscreen.
Today, I will be reviewing the following two suncare products from Neutrogena, one of my most trusted skincare brands for sensitive skin.
Left: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion SPF 50+ PA+++, 30 ml (for face and neck), Right: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ PA+++, 88ml (for face and body)
What is so special about these two products?
For an effective broad-spectrum protection against skin-aging UVA and burning UVB rays, Neutrogena has introduced the revolutionary Helioplex™ technology that invisibly shields the skin from the harmful effects of the sun to prevent (or slow down) darkening and signs of premature aging.
Though many other sunscreens offer similar protection from UVA rays, this level of protection starts to decline when skin is exposed to the sun. Helioplex™ prevents this from happening by stabilising UVA protection so that even if we are under highly intensive sunlight, we can be assured that our sun protection remains effective over a longer period of time (up to 5-6 hours).
Suncare is the most important part of a skincare regimen!
In this viciously hot and humid weather in Singapore, we are constantly bombarded by harmful rays from above. It is crucial that we choose the right sunscreen for our skin so that it offers a long-lasting, stable protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and the PA rating measure the protection against UVB rays and UVA rays respectively.
(i) Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
SPF measures how long we can stay in the sun without sunscreen before getting sunburned. For example, if we apply a sunscreen with SPF 30, it just means it will take 30 minutes longer before our skin gets sunburn. Do note SPF protection alone is not sufficient as it only measures the protection against sunburn caused by UVB rays and not UVA.
(ii) PA rating
A sunscreen with a PA rating means it blocks out UVA rays. The more ‘+’ signs there are, the higher the UVA protection. Protection against UVA rays is essential because UVA rays have longer wavelength and can penetrate deeper into the skin, contributing to premature aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer.
Did you know?
– Protecting your skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of certain types of skin cancer by up to 78%.
– Severe sunburn that occurs during the first 15 years of life can double the risk of skin cancer.
– You can also get sunburn on a cloudy day! Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and/or fog.
Review of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Waterlight Lotion
Before usage, just give it a good shake and apply liberally to face and neck. The texture of the lotion resembled that of correction fluid when I first squeezed it out from the bottle. I liked how lightweight it was and it only took seconds to spread over the skin without leaving behind any whitish streaks, white overcast or shiny finish. The lotion had a subtly sweet fragrance and didn’t feel greasy or sticky on the skin. Suitable to be used as a makeup base too.
Review of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
Apply liberally on face and/or body before sun exposure. This sunblock had the texture of a thick cream or paste. I liked its light fragrance unlike some other sunblocks I tried that had an unpleasant and overpowering smell. This cream was effectively waterproof because after I applied it over the back of my hands and on my forearms, I tried washing off with water (without rubbing vigorously) and I could still feel the cream on my skin. Anyway just like with other sunblocks, we would still need to re-apply regularly to maintain effective protection when we go swimming or do any outdoor sports and activities.
Though this sunblock cream felt lightweight and non-oily, it took me around half a minute to rub and properly even out the cream on my skin so there would be no unwanted whitish streaks. But the skin did feel soft and smooth after application.
Conclusion
While there is no fixed benchmark to measure the effectiveness of a sunblock, I would still recommend these two Neutrogena Suncare products because of their oil-free formula and non-comedogenic properties (won’t clog pores) so that make them safe for sensitive skin like mine. Plus, both products smell quite pleasant, are easy to apply and do not leave whitish streaks on skin. Worth giving them a try!