You might remember from my post about the basics of sunscreen that I absolutely adore sunscreen and despise the sun. I’m a little crazy, I know. But what good is it to advocate for sunscreens without sharing my experiences with different sunscreens? It’s no good, that’s what it is! I’ve tried many sunscreens, and I have a few favorites, a few duds, and a few that I can’t stand. Today, I’ll start on a positive note though, and review one of my favorites.
REVIEW: MISSHA ALL AROUND SAFE BLOCK ESSENCE SUN SPF45 PA+++
Right off the bat, I was drawn in by the super cute and girly packaging. And it’s pink, my absolute favorite color…anything that’s pink constitutes a buy-to-try for me. The tube is a regular plastic that allows for easy squeezing through a perfect sized hole—it’s not too large and not too small, so there’s not an explosion of product, nor do you have to put in a bunch of effort to get product out. The cap is a scalloped silver screw-on. Even I, who has trouble screwing on/off even the most basic caps (only sometimes, I swear!) can operate this without a problem. Whether or not that’s a pitiful thing, the cap is sturdy and isn’t prone to unscrewing on it’s own so I feel comfortable leaving it with my other toiletries; it’s travel-friendly.
The ingredients:
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Polyisobutene, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Stearate, Limonia Acidissima Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, BHT, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Morus Alba Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Panthenol, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Artemisia princeps Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Alcohol, Potassium sorbate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate
Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, and PEG-100 Stearate rank a 1 for acne triggers; Cetearyl Alcohol rates a 2 for acne triggers and a 2 for irritation; Sorbitan Stearate rates a 1 for irritation.
Fragrance may also be an irritant for some.
I appreciate that there are soothing ingredients such as cucumber, licorice root, and lotus flower extract.
The Product
The sunscreen comes out as a thick, white, lotion-y consistency. Initially, it seems to leave a white cast, but once it’s been rubbed in, the white cast completely disappears. This is great for me, as a darker-skinned girl, because I’ve tried so many sunscreens, even American ones, that leave a horrible white cast, don’t rub in at all, or leave my skin looking gray as if I’d just come from the Thriller music video. I might feel dead tired, but I don’t want to look like it!
There is a pretty strong perfume-y scent that sticks around for a few minutes, but goes away soon after. If you don’t like artificial smelling products, you might not be very into this.
The Results
Maybe it’s just me, but I hadn’t tried a sunscreen that actually left my skin feeling moisturized and hydrated. This is my go-to sunscreen for when I want to apply BB cream or liquid foundation because it gives a perfect base for that glow-y dewy look. Even without BB cream, it leaves my skin looking like I’ve dunked my head in a fountain of glow, and at least in my mind, I can pretend that the only light I need is the glow of my skin.
Kidding. But this sunscreen does leave a serious glow.
Because of the lower SPF rating, and because the PA rating is +++, I save this for cloudier days or days when I want to wear BB cream. It’s not that the protection factors aren’t high enough—the PA+++ rating is the highest rating allowed in Korean sunscreens—but I prefer a higher SPF and PA rating when I’m going to be outside for a longer period of time.
If you like that glowing look, this is the sunscreen for you! Those who are sensitive to fragrance may find this a bit irritating, but it feels calming going onto your skin.
Rating: 5/5
Rating scale:
5- Spread the word far and wide about this Holy Grail…will always repurchase!
4- I like it! I’ll repurchase unless I find something I like better.
3- Meh. Not impressed, a little disappointed. Won’t repurchase.
2- Really disappointed, I wanted so much more out of this…won’t repurchase.
1- Never again.
Alpacas Love Skincare, Too. 