Replenix Ultra Sheer Physical Sunscreen Spray SPF 50

10 Reviews

1. 

   puzzledFerret7

   Reply

   I know this is a very popular sunscreen, but it felt SO heavy and greasy on my face. I thought maybe it was because I layered with foundation, but I wore it for an entire week with no makeup and every day I could FEEL it on my skin all day. Returned it. I WISH it worked for me because the price is ok. I also was not a fan of the packaging, spraying into my hands got messy, wasn’t sure I was applying enough.

   I think it’s worth it to try…order from Dermstore though because they are great about returns.

2. 

   grumpyCod1

   Reply

   I’ve been using this sunscreen daily for 13 months. My skin is oily but gets dehydrated easily. I’m also very acne prone and sensitive.

   Pros: Doesn’t make me breakout, no white cast, doesn’t feel heavy, contains antioxidants

   Cons: Not great if you’re in a hurry; it takes a long time to dry down. Also because of the watery texture, it must be layered to get good coverage in my opinion. This is too time consuming for me sometimes. On my oily skin, it still looks shiny after it dries down, so I must set with powder. It is very drying. Many days my skin is quite flaky by the end of the day. I’m not sure how adequate the UVA protection is. Although I do not get sunburned, my melasma has darkened a bit over the past year.

   Overall, I like it because it doesn’t cause breakouts, feels lightweight, and has some good antioxidants, but I’m trying to find something with better UVA protection.

3. 

   wingedMackerel9

   Reply

   Great ingredient list aside from all the cones. It’s very greasy going on then incredibly drying as the day goes on. You definitely need a moisturiser under this – and one that is compatible with all the silicones going on top.

   I’ll be sticking with Elta MD UV Pure.

4. 

   blissfulMacaw7

   Reply

   This sunscreen gets a lot of love on the skin care board and I can see why. For being an all-physical it has VERY little white cast. No discernable smell, some nice antioxidants added, and water resistant up to 40 minutes (I THINK; don’t quote me on that). It’s also fairly easy to apply, though I’d prefer the Asian-type nozzle to the spray since no one sprays a sunscreen directly on their face anyway. You also have to apply a LOT more than you think you should to get the recommended 1/4 teaspoon. 8 sprays does the trick, but it takes 2 coats to get a full application, so that’s a bit of a hassle. The protection of this ss is good–no problems burning or tanning for me.

   BUT my biggest complaint is that it just does NOT dry down on me in the summer, and takes a long time (about 30 minutes) to dry down in the winter. Some folks solve the longer drydown time by blowing a hair dryer on their face, but I don’t have one. I live in a climate with quite humid summers, so not entirely the sunscreen’s fault. HOWEVER, for a product with mostly silicones–and for the higher price point–I’d expect a little more elegant skin feel. This stays “moist” all day on me in the summer. If I apply makeup over it, it settles into my fine lines and pores and I have to touch up every couple of hours. Now, some folks have said the opposite, that it dries down on them and stays matte, so perhaps it’s just my combination skin plus the humidity.

   Like all physical ss, it leaves the skin a little dry after you remove it, but that’s due to the zinc content, not the formula. It doesn’t irritate or sting at all.

5. 

   contentCod7

   Reply

   I am forever in love with this. Sure, my skin gets a little dry, but later in the day I am an oil slick. I live in Savannah, GA and it is humid and hot as all get out! I will use this as long as it is made. In the winter, I do have to put a tad of moisturizer on but that is it! It is also great because of the easy application, my fiance finally wears SS!

6. 

   aloofSeagull9

   Reply

   This is nice, very runny, silicone based all zinc sunscreen which I found very non irritating. The green tea or something lended a bit of a yellowish color to it, which is why this doesn’t leave a white cast. It’s not tinted, it’s just sort of tea-stain colored from the green tea extract. Similar to the color of the Which is nice, since that darn white cast is the plague of my olive toned issues with zinc based sunscreens. It leaves a nice finish (usually) and I found I didn’t need anything on top for most days I used this.

   The photo uploaded shows this next to Babyganics spray sunscreen, which has a similar percentage of zinc oxide. It’s not expired or old or bad product. (the color has not changed since I bought it months ago either). It’s a lighter version of the color of the Replenix CF serum, which also has green tea polyphenols.

   It’s a bit tedious to apply to face, having to pump into my hand and apply layers. It’s also somewhat difficult to apply enough to cover me adequately so my sunspots don’t worsen, this stuff is so runny and spreadable it’s hard to get enough on. it’s a bit drying. While it will dry down matte on its own, it can take a while to do so, especially if I had used a moisturizer underneath.

7. 

   anxiousMoth2

   Reply

   I have oily skin that sometimes is dry in spots. I previously had been using Neutrogena Dry touch sunblock on my face but felt that it was too heavy to wear daily and sometimes stung my skin in spots.

   This sunblock works well for my oily skin. I’ve been using it all summer and I have gotten little sun on my face. It leaves no white cast and is a good primer for makeup. The only downside it that it takes awhile to dry. I

   Application:
   I shake it then spray two sprays on my hand. I apply it and dry it with a hairdryer on the cool setting or just wait about 5 mins. During the summer, I add another layer and dry again (2×2 sprays). It has a slightly tacky feeling but is OK. I would put a facial powder over it if you are not using foundation it can leave a shiny film if you use as much as I do.

8. 

   excitedTruffle1

   Reply

   I am going to rewrite my entire review now that I’ve been using this off and on since 2013.

   Before anything else I just want to let you all know IT TAKES 8 SPRAYS TO GET THE FULL 1/4 TSP. If you want the advertised SPF, you need that 1/4th tsp. Scientists bring this into consideration when rating the SPF level. It may seem like a LOT, but you can always apply it in several thin layers. The formula is light enough that it’s not a disgusting, cakey mess.

   One other big thing I’d like to note on is the ingredient list is in alphabetical order since Replenix did not have to follow certain guidelines. Typically ingredient lists are in order of highest content to lowest. That is not the case here.

   This was not one of those products that I instantly fell in love with. Most people tell me that this is one of the most matte, drying sunscreens they’ve ever used. But that wasn’t my experience at all. In fact I could not get it to set/fully dry down. It *may* be due to the fact I am super oily, and live in a humid state.

   I did give it 4 stars because I loved how it looked when my skincare and certain meds were giving me random dry skin days. But I sure as hell never thought I’d be able to use it otherwise…until I became determined to make it work for me.

   If you have having problems getting this to set, I have 3 pieces of advice. Give it a few minutes before applying anything else. Top it off with matte setting powder. And if you don’t have time to sit around waiting, get out a blow dryer with a cool setting (vs warm) to speed up the process.

   With 99% of sunscreens I try, if they’re not perfect – they get used up on my body or sent to the trash bin. You can tell by my reviews alone. But what made me determined to find a way to use Replenix Sheer Physical Spray is the formulation.

   This has hands down, the best ingredient list I’ve ever seen for a sunscreen. The list is very simple and each ingredient serves a purpose. It is anhydrous, meaning water-free. That means 2 things. 1. You’re not paying for a mostly water product unlike many on the market. 2. The antioxidants in this stand a much better chance at being stable. [Editing to add: Replenix was smart enough to package this in a UV resistant bottle rather than anything transparent.]

   Which brings me to my next point: this is packed with beneficial antioxidants. Antioxidants reverse free radical damage, heal wounds (such as my acne scars..), and build collagen. It also boosts the sun protection efficiency, which is why so many SS formulas try to incorporate them. My skin doesn’t love most plant based ingredients and vitamin c typically causes it to sting. I do wish they didn’t add vitamin e to this but it hasn’t caused any issues surprisingly. I love that I can finally use an antioxidant product!

   It’s a two for one deal because the sun protection factor is still wonderful. This is a physical sunscreen with only zinc as the uv filter. Despite being a high %, there is no white cast at all. The consistency of this is very weightless, too. Both are nearly unheard of with physical sunscreens. I use chemical exfoliators and have rosacea. So I have to avoid any UVA damage without upsetting my skin in the process. I can vouch this has been effective yet gentle. There have been 0 new sunspots. The 1 sunspot I’ve had FOREVER is actually fading. Another thing to note is it plays very nicely with my make up. [Editing to add: There’s no drying alcohols in this! That is a giant pro to me. Most weightless sunscreens often are full of isopropoyl alcohol to make it that thin. It always flares my rosacea so I’m glad this doesn’t have it.]

   My only gripes are I still wish it was more matte. But… plenty of others say this is drying (likely due to the vitamin c and green tea). So I suppose if they did mattify the formula it wouldn’t be as weightless AND it’d be unbearable for most. My other gripe is that this contains cyclopentasiloxane, a sunscreen most acne-prone ladies will break out from. I haven’t broken out from using this BUT my retinoid gel seems to be responsible for my skin tolerating this.

   The price really isn’t bad at all. ESPECIALLY when you break it down $ per oz. The quality of the formulation is worth so much more than what I buy this for.

   Editing to add: To the chick claiming her “isn’t tinted, just tea stained”………….I want to correct her review. They put a green tea extract from leaves in it…not actual food grade green tea drinks. If yours isn’t close to being white in color, you likely have an expired bottle. Check the botton for the bottle for the expiration date. That “tea stained” color is MOST LIKELY the vitamin c in this oxidizing from exiring. Just like vitamin c serums turn.

   Also…here is a full ingredient list: Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 12%; Inactive Ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Polyphenols, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Purified Water, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10).

9. 

   wingedRice2

   Reply

   This is my favorite sunscreen at the moment for my dry, sensitive skin, but its not without its faults. I use it because the protection is good and it’s the least drying I have found that doesn’t break me out, however I do have to moisturize before applying and sometimes I still get flakes. Very slight white cast on my NC15 skin. Also, the spray bottle is a major pain. Despite its faults I repurchase because it’s the best I have found.

10. 

    exactingFalcon1

    Reply

    This is a great sunblock, for those that want a sheer, matte product. But, on the down side, it has no white color to lighten & brighten skin.

    It is fragrance free, non irritating & ‘chemical free’ (zinc oxide is still a chemical contrary to what some may think). It is not overly thick & it is not greasy. Because it contains a high amount of zinc oxide, it is both soothing & anti-bacterial (which helps if you are acne prone). It does not pill up or flake off once applied. It is oil free, non-acnegenic, non-comdeogenic & has never caused me to breakout. It provides complete UVB/UVA protection, and has a high SPF.

    I won’t be buying it again though, because it is both 1) matte & 2) sheer & not white. I like a glow – not a dry, matte look. And, I prefer my porcelain skin to be it’s lightest, brightest & whitest possible – so I love the white tint that other all zinc oxide sunblocks provide, what this sunblock is definitely missing.