I think I might be clairvoyant. At the end of my review of the Dermatica skincare range, I wrote this: “The only thing that’s missing from this range is a sunscreen… and I’m still crossing my fingers that Dermatica are going to get involved with that area in the future, because can you imagine how good it would be?!” … And now here I am with a Dermatica sunscreen review!
This review is part of a paid collaboration with Dermatica.
You probably all know by now that I am very preachy about sunscreen. I’m not going to apologise about it. Every person reading this should be wearing it year-round, as it’s so important to protect yourself from both UVA rays (these are the ones that age you) and UVB rays (the ones that burn you), but if you have rosacea it’s even more important as sun exposure is one of the most common rosacea triggers.
However, both from my own experiences and from talking to thousands of rosaceans over the years, I know all too well that finding a sunscreen that works for you can be tricky. We have to consider the ingredients, the texture, the fragrance, the finish, how well it goes under make up, how it looks on the skin, how easy it is to remove, how expensive it is, how accessible it is… the list goes on and on.
Which is why I’m excited to tell you about Dermatica’s newest launch: the SPF50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen. I was really excited to be involved in a consultation role with Dermatica: they wanted to talk to real people with skin conditions and find out exactly what they look for in a sunscreen and what might put them off. I actually think they may have regretted asking me by the end of the consultation as I had a LOT to say…!
Sunscreen is integral to skin health, but it’s really hard to get right. I’ve tried so many over the years but I have had such great experiences with all of the Dermatica products that I’ve tried, and I’m so excited for you to try this new one.
Let’s start with the absolute basics and then we can get into the nitty gritty.
- It’s a chemical sunscreen
- It’s SPF50, with broad spectrum protection – this means it covers you for both UVA and UVB rays
- It’s fragrance-free
- It’s 50ml
- It’s only £15.95 (and I have a great discount code for you at the bottom of this post so keep your eyes out for that!)
As the name would indicate, this product is not just focused on protecting your skin from burning in the sun but also from the damage caused by UVA. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin (they can even go through glass, so it’s important to think about if the sun is reaching you when you’re at work or in the car) and these rays are present year-round, even when it’s cloudy. Basically, if it’s daylight, UVA rays are there! I think most people in the UK only think about sun protection when they’re on holiday or if there’s a heatwave, because when they think of potential damage from the sun, they think of sunburn. But UVA rays cannot be seen or felt and the damage is accumulative. Did you know that getting sunburnt just once every two years can triple the risk of developing skin cancer? Even more scary is that 86% of melanoma cases are preventable.
I promise I don’t tell you this to be a killjoy, I tell you this because I want you to be safe and using a sunscreen regularly and properly can help you to do that. But we all know that the best sunscreen is one you will actually use, so it’s really important to find the perfect one for you. But when you have sensitive skin, it can become a bit of a Goldilocks situation…
So, back to the Dermatica Photodamage Defence Sunscreen. We know it’s fragrance-free (which is a relief, I still don’t understand why any skincare items these days are formulated with horrible sickly fragrances!) and we know it’s SPF50, but what else makes the new Dermatica sunscreen such an exciting launch?
It includes glycerin and panthenol, both of which are there to help with hydration. They are humectants which means they hold onto hydration and help to support the skin barrier. Panthenol is also an anti-inflammatory known to soothe the skin. It also includes Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps with damage caused by free radicals, generated by UV radiation from sunlight and pollution.
As mentioned earlier, this is a chemical sunscreen. I have spoken in the past about chemical sunscreens because I think they are unfairly maligned (partly due to the rise in ill-informed conversations about ‘clean’ ingredients, you can read more about that HERE) and I actually prefer them to physical sunscreens as I think the formulas are typically more elegant and lightweight. If you are interested in more of the specifics, the full ingredients list can be found here.
I filmed a short Reel for Instagram where I show the application of the Dermatica sunscreen so you can see the texture and how it looks on the skin. As you can see from the video above, it has no white cast and gives a glowy finish without feeling greasy or slimy. It also sits really well under make up once it’s dried down. Alternatively, if you want to go without makeup, you could either apply a translucent powder on top if you prefer a matte skin look, or just embrace the glow and leave your skin as is.
Dermatica’s new focus with this launch is to remind us to Protect And Treat: put simply, this means you should protect your skin with sunscreen in the morning and then treat your skin at night with the Dermatica personalised formula. The latter can address so many different skin concerns, from acne, to melasma, to rosacea (you can read my full review of the rosacea formula HERE) or signs of ageing (which I’m currently using, read all about my personalised formula HERE). It’s worth noting that if you are using an active like Vitamin A (also known as retinoids) then it’s even more important that you include a sunscreen, as they can make the skin even more sensitive to the sun.
One last important point: the sunscreen is currently only available in the UK. I know, I’m sorry. If that changes, I will let you know!
If you have any questions about the new sunscreen, or any of the Dermatica products, just let me know and I’ll do my best to answer!
DERMATICA DISCOUNT CODES
To get 20% off the sunscreen (usually £15.95), use THIS LINK and use the code LEX20. By the way, this code also applies to the amazing Dermatica skincare range (full review HERE), and also their azelaic acid!
I also have a great discount code if you wanted to try the Dermatica personalised treatment. Just follow THIS LINK (UK) or THIS LINK (US) and use the code LEX to get your first month for only £2.90 (usually £24.99) and to get 15% off your next two months. Bargain!
Lex
