Derma e Antioxidant Natural Sunscreens for Face & Body

While Badger is reformulating all their sunscreen lotions for re-release in early 2015, the company has left a door wide open for its competitors to step right in. Like derma e. The natural face care brand from USA has introduced their Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Oil-Free Face Lotion and Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Oil-Free Body Lotion recently and both products are available at iHerb. If you had loved the Badger Aloe Vera Sunscreen Lotion series, I guarantee you will love this. Perhaps even more. But before you find out why, let me tell you a bit more about brand behind these sunscreen lotions.

Skin-friendly and earth-friendly formulations
Many of you are probably quite familiar with derma e. Or have at least come across the brand. Like I’ve read about them for the longest time and had even contemplated about getting some of their products at one stage. But somehow, I never did. They seem to be quite a big and trusted brand in US, having begun their operations in 1984 offering skin-friendly, earth-friendly, and highly effective skincare at affordable prices. According to information gathered from their website, derma e now offers over 80 unique face care, body care and treatment items to address various skin types and concerns. Interestingly, each item is still hand-formulated by the founder and produced in their small-batch manufacturing facility in Southern California, USA.

What’s noteworthy is that the founder, Dr Linda, is a doctor of oriental medicine, and that explains why the derma e line are formulated with active levels of scientifically proven antioxidants such as astaxanthin, pycnogenol, C-ester and vitamin E. By combining natural, proven ingredients, advances in biotechnology, years of formulary experience and environmental conscientiousness, derma e products are powerful and effective. In addition, all products are paraben-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, cruelty-free, mineral oil and lanolin-free, plus they are 100 per cent suitable for vegans as they do not contain animal by-products. Oh, let’s not forget that their prices are affordable too.

Contains 16 percent clear, nanoparticle-free ZnO
I caught sight of these new sunscreens at iHerb and decided to order them both. When I looked up the derma e website, I realized that the brand has a few sun protection products but these new ones are made with the highest SPF. According to what I’ve read, these new sunscreens not only provide broad spectrum protection but they also include a host of antioxidants for added environmental defense.

Containing 16 per cent clear, nanoparticle-free zinc oxide, these sunscreens are formulated to be very wearable like how a lotion should feel on the skin. You will definitely not have to deal with the typical thick, white, greasy and pasty sunscreen texture when you put these on. Instead, the two sunscreens are supposed to glide on evenly, absorb quickly and leave a sheer, lightweight, non-greasy finish.

Both formulas are created for all skin types, even sensitive ones. They are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, 100 per cent vegan, and they do not cause irritation or pore clogging. In addition, they are fortified with antioxidants vitamin C and green tea — nutrients that have been shown to offer an additional layer of UV protection, help skin recover after sun exposure and fight and reduce the signs of aging for vibrant, younger-looking skin.

Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Lotion | 56g, US$13.83
I’m quite amazed with how well this applies on the face. In fact, I’ll tell you now that I love this product, just wishing it has a higher zinc oxide content. But 16 per cent of zinc oxide is good enough for indoor usage as well as casual sun protection. I was quite skeptical about the clear zinc oxide claim as I have my own theory about the protective capabilities of clear zinc oxide. Let’s just say I don’t like the idea of using clear zinc oxide on my skin for sun protection. However, after applying, I realized that it doesn’t really apply clear. Although this doesn’t leave a whitecast on my fair skin, I imagine those with darker skin tone might have to spend some time to blend it well.

Here’s the fully ingredient list: Active Ingredient–Zinc Oxide 16% Inactive Ingredients Purified water (aqua), capric/caprylic triglyceride, propanediol, glycerin, methylcellulose, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, organic camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract* (.1%), sodium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C, Stay-C 50), decyl glucoside, xanthan gum, potassium cetyl phosphate, glyceryl stearate citrate, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.
*Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International or USDA.

The wonderful thing about this sunscreen is that I can apply big dollops of the cream and my face doesn’t look greasy. It is quite fluid, is indeed lightweight as claimed and applies evenly on the skin with or without any prior application of facial oil. It works extremely well with all my foundations too. Plus it does not have any distinct scent. Like I said, I really love this and highly recommend it!

Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Body Lotion | 113g, US$13.83
I am less particular about body sunscreens but this one beats all those I’ve tried hands down! It feels and smells so close to the Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 Oil-Free Face Lotion (with almost identical ingredient list too) that I almost want to use it on my face (but haven’t). True to its claim, it applies easily and glides on evenly without much resistance. This means I don’t have to prime my skin with another body lotion or body oil. Best part? It doesn’t leave my hands looking dry and powdery like how some zinc oxide based sunscreens do for me.

Here’s the fully ingredient list: Active Ingredient–Zinc Oxide 16% Inactive Ingredients–Purified water (aqua), capric/caprylic triglyceride, propanediol, glycerin, methylcellulose, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, organic camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract* (.1%), sodium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C, Stay-C 50), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, xanthan gum, potassium cetyl phosphate, glyceryl stearate citrate, decyl glucoside, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.
*Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International or USDA

Again, though it is said to contain clear, nanoparticle-free zinc oxide, it doesn’t apply clear. My arms are darker than my face and so I can see how white this sunscreen made my arms look on initial application. I had to blend in the sunscreen for my arms to look like its normal color again. Hence, I think those with darker skin tone might need to work more on the blending.

Overall summary
If you’d loved one or more of the sunscreens from the Badger Aloe Vera Sunscreen Lotion series, I’m quite sure you’ll love these two too. Or if you’re in the market for good zinc oxide-based sunscreens for your face and body, I highly recommend you to give these two a try. They’re great and cost just US$13.83 at iHerb.com. More importantly, you will find them truly skin-friendly. The only consideration is that even though both are SPF30, I wouldn’t use them under prolonged outdoor exposure because the zinc oxide content is just 16 percent.

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