MD Solar Sciences: MD Creme Mineral Beauty Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 50

7 Reviews

1. 

   needfulChile6

   Reply

   This sunscreen/bb cream feels amazing. Matte/blurred finish, the light/medium blends perfectly with my very fair skin. Doesn’t cover things that need concealer, but good for a no-makeup finish. I haven’t spent much time in the sun since purchasing, but I do like that it’s SPF 50 (my other daily bb cream is a 25, and I do burn). I feel like I’ll be digging the end of the tube out with a brush, but one pump is enough to cover my entire face. I really like it. Hopeful that I’ll find a coupon when it’s time to repurchase.

2. 

   sadTeal9

   Reply

   For me, this is HG. Physical sunscreen (non-nano zinc) SPF 50, broad spectrum. Smoothing silicone but dries to a powdery, soft matte finish. It’s water resistant to 80 minutes, too, so I don’t have to worry on hot days that it’s melting off my face and not working. Sheer tint — I can wear it alone for casual days or add coverage over it. I like that it’s not full coverage like the popular It Cosmetics CC cream, which looks too makeup-y for me a lot of the time. It looks like my skin, slightly evened out, which is how I prefer to look most days. Fragrance free, thankfully — wish more companies would get this right. It is expensive and I’m sure I will be buying a tube a month at the rate I use it, but it ticks a lot of boxes for me. I think I will keep buying it.

3. 

   crushedSmelt9

   Reply

   This is life changing! Really wanted to find a mineral everyday sunscreen with a high percentage of zinc oxide for UVA protection that didn’t contain alcohol/fragrance and looked ok under makeup. I had tried so many other formulas and they all look terrible a few hours later (pores visible, oily appearance etc).
   This is very cosmetically elegant. Heavy in silicones but applies very smoothly and has a matte finish. Adds a blurring effect to skin and could definitely be worn on its own with a little bit of concealer. Love love love it! No white cast at all. The tint is very very sheer and neutral so suitable for most people with light skin (it’s not a tinted moisturiser with a bit of coverage).
   Overall, a fabulous product. Unfortunately it’s very expensive to ship it to Ireland and you only get a small amount of product but it’s worth it for me. Sun protection is so important!

4. 

   decimalSalt8

   Reply

   I can’t comment yet on how this product performs in the longer term, but these are my first impressions so tentatively I say “yes”, I would buy this again. The reason is that it’s the only mineral SPF50 I have found so far that is heavy on the zinc oxide (as opposed to titanium dioxide) and does not leave that dreaded white cast. I have melasma, and my skin does not tolerate chemical sunscreen agents well. I’ve used Paula’s Choice SPF30 tinted moisturizer for years, which is all-mineral, but I wanted a higher SPF still for the summer that I can wear and be seen in public, if you know what I mean…

   First impression: this is a really silicone-y product! It’s very slippery feeling because of that, and I don’t feel it really dries on the skin at all somehow. It feels like it’ll slide off if I touch my face. Because I bought this for use mainly in the city, I set it with powder. Not sure how it would play with actual liquid foundation but I don’t intend to wear it like that. I only use sunscreen/tm and loose powder, or possibly powder foundation if I need a bit more coverage – but then I do prefer a natural look in the summer .

   The tint – I ordered both shades – doesn’t do anything because it is so sheer. If PC sheer matte tint is quite sheer then this one is really transparent. It’s actually quite difficult to see if I’ve applied enough! But OK, the main thing is – no cast! I can use both shades. This product literally looks like I have nothing on my skin, so no obvious product but also no blurring effect on acne scars or discolorations. Just skin.

   I had to order it from the US and for that reason it cost an arm and a leg with the product already being quite expensive. However, because my options are so limited, I will re-order if it works well.

   I have to say the tube is teeny tiny, so I won’t use this all over my face every time, otherwise I’d use it up in a flash (because in order to get the stated SPF you need to apply at least half a teaspoon of product on the face – it may not sound much, but it is). I’ll keep using the PC SPF30 tm all over, and “top up” with this wherever I have those brown blotches. I’m hoping this way they will not darken over summer, or may even fade.

   So in a nutshell:
   + High in zinc oxide, all mineral, suitable for sensitive and reactive skin
   + No white cast! You look like you have nothing on
   – You look like you have nothing on (no beautifying effect)
   – Silicone-y feeling and doesn’t quite set on its own
   – Very expensive considering it needs to be applied generously.

5. 

   lovesickSyrup0

   Reply

   I’ve had this sunscreen for several months, and I have not suffered any breakouts from it. I have very sensitive skin and this isn’t irritating at all. It’s an all-physical sunscreen with a high SPF rating that wears well under liquid foundations and powder foundations. This has the same silicone feel as many of the Smashbox primers or Benefit’s Porefessional, however; in addition to having a blurring effect, this “beauty balm” also contains mineral sunscreens which are suitable for sensitive skin. It’s like a primer with sun protection.

   PROS:

   1. This has an SPF rating of 50.
   2. Has the same feel and texture of many primers that are designed for oily skin.
   3. Tinted, so there is no white cast.
   4. Comes in two shades. I wear Light/Medium but there is also a darker shade.
   5. Does not clog pores.
   6. Although it feels slippery going on, due to the dimethicone, it does not feel greasy or heavy even after hours of wear.
   7. Acts as a primer under foundation.
   8. Contains caffeine to reduce redness as well as antioxidants.
   9. Contains niacinamide (also known as Vitamin B3).
   10. Fragrance free
   11. Tube packaging is easy for travel.
   12. Has the same smoothing or blurring effect as pore minimizers that rely on dimethicone.
   13. Safe for sensitive skin.
   14. Cruelty free brand.

   CONS:

   1. If you’re not used to wearing primer, this has a very slippery feel that you need to become accustomed to. However, it’s not greasy.
   2. Although this is tinted, it looks best under foundation rather than worn alone.
   3. Extremely fair skin might find the Light-Medium shade to be too dark.
   4. It is somewhat expensive at $39 for 1.2 ounces.

   INGREDIENTS:

   Active Ingredients: 2% Titanium Dioxide, 17% Zinc Oxide; Inactive ingredients: Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polysilicone-15, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron oxide, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract.

6. 

   needfulOrange4

   Reply

   The best thing about this product, besides the SPF 50, is the fact that it is safe for sensitive skin. I have had to return or throw away so many products that cause redness or irritation. And I can’t use avobenzone at all. This is an all-mineral sunscreen!

   It’s available in two different tints. I did not like MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Creme because it only came in one shade, which I’ll refer to as “too dark.” My skin is fair, so I bought light-to-medium in this Beauty Balm. It blends in seamlessly and does not leave a white cast, but it does leave a light beige neutral tint. This beauty balm is also available in medium-to-dark, which I am sure would be far too dark for me. The neutral beige tint may slightly affect the way the foundation shade appears. It makes my face look a little darker than it would normally be.

   It has a subtle blurring effect which I like, but on my combination skin, it does not seem to be mattifying. I am using it as a primer under foundation. I would not like to wear it alone because of the slippery silicone feel (they really went overboard on dimethicone), and I’m not sure how truly oily skin will react.

   I’ve tried it successfully with four foundations. They are: 1) my Chantecaille powder foundation in Shell. That’s a good combination for “in-a-hurry” days. 2) One pump of Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation in Porcelain. That formula is a liquid, not a powder, although the name is confusing, and it does not have an SPF rating of its own, so I feel obligated to wear another product with it anyway. (The Hourglass foundation gives you a great finish, really smoothing out skin.) 3) My Diorskin powder foundation. This feels the best because the powder isn’t heavy. 4) Kat Von D’s Lock-It Powder Foundation. This is a good fit. The Beauty Balm smooths my texture and the powder foundation sets everything in place and keeps shine away.

   MD Solar Sciences Creme Mineral Beauty Balm has a soft feel that is not sticky or greasy, however; it’s very slippery going on. It’s like a dimethicone water slide.

   It doesn’t give you the finish that a foundation does, or the coverage. It is sheer. At the very least I require a setting powder and concealer over it, despite the tint. Although it is completely non-irritating and safe, if you put concealer over it, it tends to make the concealer crease. I have tried it with several different concealers and ultimately decided to stop using it directly under my eyes.

   I recommend this for very sensitive skin (as in you hate most sunscreens because they tingle and burn). I think it is also well-suited for normal to dry skin. I am not sure oily skin will like it unless you use something mattifying on top like Estee Lauder Double Wear.

   I bought this with a coupon on Dermstore.com and it was around $33 for 1.23 ounces, which is less than retail. The price is usually $39 for the 1.23-ounce tube. That’s a bit expensive for daily use. Because the rating is SPF 50, I do highly recommend this if you’re going to be in the sun a lot. If not, a foundation with a built-in sunscreen of 20 might be cheaper for general running around, errands, commutes to work.

   It didn’t break me out. It didn’t irritate. I got great sun protection.

   INGREDIENTS:

   Active: Titanium Dioxide 2%, Zinc Oxide 17%. Inactive: Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polysilicone-15, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron Oxide, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract.

7. 

   wakefulSnipe0

   Reply

   Ah, so a while back this company made a tinted sunscreen gel that I loved, then changed formula and the new product was too pale, purple and chalky. The med-dark version of the new BB creme is back to the the same color though! I do not think this would suit anyone with truly dark skin, but it is good for those of us with medium skin & I find it pretty neutral, not too pink or grey (like the Asian bb creams I’ve used). Light coverage, good finish, a bit less drying than the old tinted gel sunscreen as well. Also maybe a bit of a silkier finish….more silicones? Perhaps. I get no rashes or breakouts from this, sunscreens used in it are mostly zinc oxide (17%) bit of titanium dioxide, no chemical sunscreens. It’s also got green tea& niacinamide, which are helpful with my sensitive rosacea and sd prone skin. I like the tube, it is flexible so I’ll be able to squeeze out the very last bit…..which I will since it is a bit over $40 for an ounce.

   Actives: 2% Titanium Dioxide | 17% Zinc Oxide

   Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polysilicone-15, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron oxide, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract