Update on Marie Veronique sunscreens
Friday, 5 February 2010
I received an email from Marie Nadeau, Founder of Marie-Veroniques regarding my gripe about their change in sunscreen formulation. I’m really glad she took the time to read my entry and responded by addressing my concerns, as well as explained the changes to the products. Since a number of you also use their sunscreens, I thought I’ll publish her explanations here regarding the Marie Veronique Organis sun protection products, specifically the Creme de Jour and Creme de Soleil to put some of your minds at ease.
We have not changed: The amount of zinc oxide in the sunscreen products. The Creme de Jour and the Creme de Soleil have been renamed to Moisturizing Face Screen and Moisturizing Face Screen + respectively, but the content of the sunscreens has always been 20% by weight and 24% by volume. Somewhere along the line I decided to report contents in volumetric measurements because it’s something customers have an easier time visualizing, and this is in fact how most sunscreens describe percentage contents (when they bother to report percentages at all).
Moisturizing Face Screens (Creme de Jour & Crème de Soleil): We have added a darker tint for our customers with darker complexions. The light tint is the same tint that you are used to buying.
I certainly understand your concern – it is difficult to have the perfect amount of zinc in a sunscreen and in our case, more would have been too much. I’m with you, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, so we haven’t touched Creme de Jour except to rename it, AND add a medium tint, in response to so many people who asked for it. With respect to Creme de Soleil we have made these minor alterations: we have replaced acai oil with yangu oil because yangu has extra UV protective qualities, and we have removed pearl powder and mica.
So if the zinc oxide contents are the same, I’m certainly willing to give the Moisturizing Face Screen Plus – Light Tint a try. I’m not particular about the other changes as they seem minor to me. In fact, Marie Veronique has made the effort to extend international shipping to Singapore with the launch of their new website and also offered to send me samples to try out. I’ll be sure to report back again once I’ve tried the new formulation.
Explanation on the powdery texture of the tinted versions
In addition, some of you had the same question about the tinted version being more powdery and I took the opportunity to ask Marie. She explained that that’s because they use powdered iron oxides to make their tinted versions, so that accounts for the extra powderiness of it. In addition, they found that the powdery finish is flattering to the skin, especially with the darker tint. Personally, I was a tad surprised with the powdery texture when I first tried it, but when applied, it poses no problems for me and the finishing is smooth. In fact, I now only use the tinted version of Creme de Soleil and it acts as a light makeup base for me too.
So for Yings who was thinking of ordering, it looks like the version is not much different. In terms of the US$12 shipping cost, it works out to be quite similar when I make the arrangements for someone to ship me from US if others are interested to know.
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Posted in Sun Protection | 29 Comments »
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February 5th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Spree for this sesame??? =D
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Er…sorry I can’t do sprees. Not that organized and no experience. Plus no time.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Wow.. Thanks for this update! I wanted to try this as I’m working outdoors a lot and naturally, only my face got darker.. Eeeks! And I’m glad they’re able to ship to Sg
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Okay, not sure if you’ve been reading my reviews but being a mineral sunscreen, this is best used for casual sun exposure. Although some on MakeupAlley have said this was good for them when they went for walks, but personally, I’ve not used this for outdoor activities.
On top of my own reviews, I suggest you read those at Makeupalley here to get some ideas too.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
This is good news as I’ve been wanting to try the Creme de Jour, especially the darker tint.
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Creme de Jour was drying for my combi skin. If you have normal skin, it might work for you. But then again, dryness on my skin is more of an internal issue.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I would love to try this since now it ship to Singapore. However, this is too big a bottle for me to finish by expiry (its >12mths if I remember right?). I wonder if there are any smaller sizes for sale.
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
No…their sample size is too small.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for the update! ((:
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
You’re welcome! If you do order it, I hope you’ll like it.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Oh sorry…I mean <12mths.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I’m glad she explained to you; after all, customers are her business. I’ve had the most horrible customer service experience here, but that’s another story.
I compared which oils were used in the Badger vs. the Marie, and Badger def. uses very moisturizing ingredients such as olive oil, cocoa & shea butters, seabuckthorn berry, etc. It’s a shame really, since the Badger would be a fraction of the cost.
Also, I read that you don’t use this when planning to go for outdoors activities. Which outdoor sunscreen do you recommend?
Lastly, I used to think that putting sunscreen meant that I would not get darker, as suggested by Nat, one of the commentators, but was told that it only prevents damage from UVA/UVB rays, and you would get the same dark from the sun. What are your thoughts on this?
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Yes, Badger’s ingredients are extremely moisturizing. Some readers who use this told me they can only use a bit, which means they may not be applying enough too.
For outdoors like swimming, I used UV Natural or La Roche Posay. Yes, the latter is a chemical sunscreen but the PPD is really high so it gives me peace of mind. Plus I also take Heliocare, an oral form of sun protection.
Applying sunscreen only gives you some protection, not totally even if they suggest so. Recently, someone left me a comment that even with the chemical ones, she still gets dark. The best way is to avoid the sun. Really. Cos even if you don’t get dark, you’ll find that you’ll get some sun spots years later…like me now.
Another way is to use some whitening/brightening products like masks immediately after sun exposure. That would help a little.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Yeah, I often wonder about that too. But I’m more concerned about the skin damage and ageing part, than getting a tan. I’ve used sunblocks before and still had an observable tan, so I wonder if the darkening means there’s some damage already.
sesame Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I believe so. The UVA damage is not immediate. Sometimes you don’t get dark, but the cells are affected by the free radicals already. However, if you take care of your skin properly like using some antioxidants, then it should help to curb the damage.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I have been using strongvitamin C serum with my moisturiser at night. I use a serum with vitamins under my sunscreen moisturiser in the morning. I stay away from the sun most of the time, however, I do get brown spots and that came with aging….:(
but I think my daily skincare regiment has really helped to control the spots from developing. I really believe in the antioxidants being an important part of keeping your skin stay younger. I guess as one gets older, these things become more and more important ….. I have not found whitening products that produced great results…… Sesame, you find this works for you?
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I don’t use whitening products anymore. I was using whitening products for a long time at one stage of my life and I think it caused my skin to have more pigmentation when I didn’t protect it enough. So enough of that. I’ll rather go along with what you’re doing too.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
wow! good on you! lol. when i’m finished with my John masters organics, I’ll give this a try! Do they provide registered shipped? boy i hope so.
Oh yes, John masters organics is as greasy as hell! 2 pumps from it is enough to cover my whole face as it spreads very easily. but the more you massage the product in, the less greasy it will get.
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Not sure if they do but you can check with them.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
man. for skin whitening, i still think that prevention is better than cure.
always start young!
I wonder if starting at the age of 18+ is good or bad. Hmmm……
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
It’s a good age!!! I wish I started that early! I was out in the sun 3 times a week swimming under the hot sun at that age (in fact younger) and no proper protection! I’m so regretting it. But then, who knew much about sunscreen at that time?
February 6th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
I say to start the earlier the better, probably in your twenties…. At 18 I had none of these issues!!! Boy do I wish my skin looks like that now!!!:)
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
The spots don’t come till later…that’s why a lot of the young ones don’t care. But you’re luckier cos there’s a lot of resources out there to help you in terms of how to take care of your skin.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Has the packaging been changed for their sunscreen products?
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Yes, and the name of the product too. It also looks like they’re using a pump now from the picture.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Using sunscreens with uncoated zinc oxide or titanium dioxide particles may not be as safe as you think. Because these minerals have potential to form free radicals when exposed to UV light. Coating with silicones can protect agains this tendency to form free radicals. So the wish for a silicone-free physical sunscreen may not be such a good thing after all.
sesame Reply:
February 7th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Yes, you’re right. I did read about titanium dioxide causing free radicals to form and that’s why I opt for a pure zinc oxide one. According to some sources, uncoated microfine zinc oxide is less photoreactive than uncoated microfine titanium dioxide.
But, in my skin care regime, I’m also using a defence cream with titanium dioxide! But cos it contains another ingredient call dermascreen and that is supposed to ward off the free radicals so I sort of don’t mind it so much.
I guess there is no perfect situation. I would like to use something containing Mexoryl for example but such products always come with a few other sunscreen actives, some I don’t like. But I’m a bit less anal about these now cos I also take Heliocare and I think it wards off some of the damage too.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:38 am
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March 10th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
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