EltaMD Tinted Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 is a product that solved one of the biggest pain points in my life.
When I turned 30, I thought I became allergic to sunscreen. I always used it on my face when I was outdoors, but I started developing a terrible rash on my cheeks that was a combination of redness, swelling, and bumpy hives. Since I only got it when I was wearing the sunscreen, I thought an allergy was the only explanation. I stopped wearing all sunscreen on my face, but I still got the rash after being outdoors for an extended period of time. Since vacations were usually when I spent the most time outdoors, I would dread knowing that after the first 1-3 days I would develop the painful (ugly) rash that would last for the rest of my trip. It took 3-4 years, a lot of research, and a visit to the dermatologist to finally solve the mystery… I had rosacea.
My dermatologist recommended EltaMD facial sunscreen for me to prevent the rosacea and also wrote me a prescription for MetroGel (Metronidazole) that could be used on the rash if it developed. I try avoiding the prescription as much as possible, but it is an option if a few bumps do develop.
Where to Purchase: Amazon, EltaMD (provides physical location search on where to buy)
Price: $30
Items I recommend using along with EltaMD Tinted Facial Sunscreen:
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil (read my review here)
Skinceuticals Renew Overnight Dry Skin-refining Moisturizer
The 3 reasons why I chose EltaMD Tinted Facial Sunscreen:
It prevents rosacea flare-ups.
If you suffer from rosacea, this is the only reason you need to purchase this product. I tried several other facial sunscreens during my years of research, some being pricier than $30, and none of them prevented the redness, swelling, and hives. Whenever I know I’ll be spending time outdoors, I apply a pea to dime-sized amount all over my face prior to putting any makeup on. I usually wait 10-15 minutes before applying any makeup to make sure the sunscreen has plenty of time to absorb, but I’m not sure if that is necessary.
It is lightweight and not greasy.
I hate the feeling of sunscreen on my skin, especially if it is sticky and leaves a shiny, whitewash finish. EltaMD’s facial sunscreen is oil-free and mineral based so it absorbs immediately into my skin and leaves no extra sheen. The light tint in the sunscreen is unnoticeable once applied.
The ingredients are chemical-free.
EltaMD’s tinted facial sunscreen is chemical-free natural mineral sunscreen that is fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, sensitivity-free, chemical-free and noncomedogenic. Sunscreen is one of the skincare products that is known to contain harmful chemicals, so I looked up the EltaMD brand in EWG’s cosmetic database and although it had limited data, it scored well in terms of ingredient concerns.
1A few years ago I was introduced to EWG (Environmental Working Group). EWG empowers consumers to make safer and more informed decisions about the products they buy and the companies they support. You can read more about why using their research matters here. I have a loooong way to go to be perfect in my purchases, but I do try to make conscious decisions when I’m trying new products.
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