The Ultimate Face Tinted Sunscreen Comparison: Which is Best?
Comparison review of Australian Gold and CeraVe by one who dislikes facial sunscreens
This is my honest comparison review of two tinted sunscreens Australian Gold Botanical 50, and CeraVe hydrating mineral sunscreen 30, from one who dislikes using facial sunscreen. I’ve been testing both.
I know, I should always use sunscreen. I did as a kid growing up most of the time. At 62 years old, and seeing friends battle skin cancer, I’ve needed to re-visit this topic.
So, this summer I’ve been testing two brands.
Why do I dislike sunscreens on my face?
Let me count the ways (at least for all the brands I’ve tried in the past).
I hate the feel on my skin
They run and burn my eyes badly
I don’t like all the chemicals and ingredients they contain
They feel heavy
They dry my already dry skin further
They usually have a very bad smell
Product one — CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen with Sheer Tint | Tinted Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide
Features:
Mineral sunscreen
SPF 30 broad spectrum
Tinted moisturizer can be worn alone or under makeup
Three ceramides
Paraben-free, fragrance-free & non-comedogenic
Odorless
Reasonable price
This tinted moisturizer sunscreen does not have the white color cast that many mineral sunscreens have.
This one is not considered a water-resistant sunscreen, so if you are swimming or sweating you might consider something else.
This gave good coverage on my skin and I didn’t have the sensation of it drying it out, so that was great.
I used the lightest color they have, and for my skin, it was still a little too dark, however, I could make it work by being vigilant in smoothing it out along my hairline to make sure there were no color demarcation lines.
It did feel a little heavy on my skin, but not in a deal-killer way. I do like the idea of a mineral sunscreen.
Product Two — Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Sunscreen, Non-Chemical BB Cream, Water-Resistant, Matte Finish, Sensitive Skin
Features:
SPF 50 zinc & titanium offers broad-spectrum protection
Lightweight and hypoallergenic
Water-resistant
Botanicals including eucalyptus & red algae
Non-Nano and no parabens, PABA, phthalate, petroleum, SLS (sulfate), and dyes.
Very faint scent, probably due to the botanicals, no chemical smell
Reasonable price
I bought the one for fair and light skin. This was a dead-on correct color match for my skin color, which was a surprising delight.
It felt very lightweight and moisturizing on my skin.
I like that it has a higher 50 SPF protection and that it is water-resistant for perspiration.
The very light scent was most likely due to the botanicals and I enjoyed it.
My favorite of these two tinted face sunscreens
To be transparent, I did not test either of these while sweating (sorry I wasn’t out gardening or working out), so I really can’t say if they would run into and burn my eyes.
While I would use either of these products any time going forward (and plan to), my favorite between these two was the Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Sunscreen. It just felt better on my skin and blended to my skin color better, and I liked the higher degree of protection and that water-resistant factor.
I will be using facial tinted sunscreens from now going forward, especially now that I’ve found one I like.
Thanks for reading. Have you tried any you love, or have you tried these brands?
This newsletter contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission after you click one of the links, at no extra charge to you.