Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30

1 Review

1. 

   excludedDoves4

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   PROS:
   + Sheer (no white cast)
   + Soaks in
   + Doesn’t seem to break me out
   + Mild/low scent
   + Precise dispenser
   + Reasonably priced ($10-14)
   + Doesn’t create fumes that hurt my sensitive eyes (though it did migrate and burn a bit)
   + Actually does mattify on me! (but it takes 30-60 min)

   CONS:
   — Only SPF 30
   — Migrated into my eyes and burned
   — Doesn’t travel well (4 oz bottle has no cap/exceeds TSA carry-on standards)

   REVIEW: I’d been looking for a chemical sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF to replace Neutrogena Clear Face sunscreen lotion for years. Both the SPF 30 and 50 versions of that product break me out in closed comedones. I mostly use mineral sunscreens, but am often in need of a chemical SPF because they are more sheer, thus faster/ easier to use (no white cast to cover up).

   This is marketed as a moisturizer with broad spectrum protection. According to Beutypedia, the former version of this product (named Differin Oil Control Moisturizer Broad Spectrum) is similar in formula to Cetaphil Derma Control Oil Control Moisturizer (confusedly, also now renamed Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30/possibly reformulated). Of Differin’s product, Beautypedia wrote “Differin Oil Control Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 has a fluid lotion texture that feels lightly hydrating. It blends imperceptibly into skin and dries down to a natural finish, all the while treating skin to reliable broad-spectrum sun protection. Formula-wise, Differin included a couple proven soothing ingredients to target redness—although it’s impossible to know how potent they are considering the ingredients are listed alphabetically” (To be clear, that was a review of the former version before it was renamed- it’s unclear if it has also been reformulated).

   I was trying to decide between both “new” products from Cetaphil and Differin. Since this was priced lower on Prime ($10), I thought I’d give it a shot.

   So far it’s promising. It leaves no white caste on my skin at all (compared to Neutrogena Clear Face, which leaves a slight white cast that is easily blended in, but leaves white marks on my collar). Differin claims this has “Micropearl technology” that “absorbs surface oil for a matte finish.” It did soak in, and wasn’t super greasy, but it was shiny on application and I thought this didn’t work the first time I used it. Like most moisturizers/chemical spfs, I thought I still needed a dusting of translucent powder…but not a ton of color correcting powder like I do with mineral sunscreens. The second time I tried it I only used powder on my t-zone and noticed that the shiny look was gone even from the areas I didn’t powder after an hour. The third time I I didn’t use any powder at all. In 30 to 60 minutes the shine was gone and I was left with a dewy matte finish. Only my nose was a tiny bit shiny, so
   I’m pleased that I only need a dusting of powder there.

   I really like the dispenser– it’s a precise pump that keeps the lotion from gushing out. I also like that it’s barely scented.

   The first time I wore it, I accidentally fell asleep with it on that night (w/ powder/blush). I didnt wash my face until after noon the next day, so it was left on over 24 hours . I was expecting it to wreak havoc, but nothing bad happened.

   I have sensitive eyes usually use a separate mineral sunscreen on my eyelids and undereyes for years now. Every chemical SPF product has stung my eyes in the past, some even WITH keeping the lotion far, far away from my eyes. The first time I wore this I kept mineral sunscreen around my eyes. I didn’t have any issues with fumes from this sunscreen in proximity to them. The second time I wore it, I put it on my eyelids and my under eyes as well as my face. This did not produce fumes or burning when applied. However I noticed an hour later, it did migrate a little into my eye and it burned (my eye was weepy for hours). So, unlike a lot of chemical based SPFs, I would feel ‘ok’ using this all over, if I were in a rush. Otherwise, I’ll stick to mineral sunscreen on my eyelids/under eyes, to avoid the possibility of migration.

   One thing I didn’t like was how the sunscreen actives percentages weren’t listed on their marketing materials/ online product info, so consumers can make an informed decision before purchasing online. I asked, and the company replied that the actives are listed on the bottles/packaging (in tiny lettering) as such: Avobenzone 3%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%.

   (The FDA website claims “All products that claim to provide Broad Spectrum SPF protection are regulated as sunscreen drug products. Therefore, the regulations FDA has developed for OTC sunscreen drug products apply to cosmetics and moisturizers labeled with SPF values”)

   Ingredients-Differin website:
   Water, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, allantoin, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, caprylyl glycol, carbomer, diisopropyl sebacate, dimethicone, dimethiconol, disodium EDTA, glycerin, glycyrrhetinic acid, hydoxypalmitoyl sphinganine, isopropyl lauroyl sarcosinate, panthenol, pentylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, polymethyl methacrylate, polysorbate 61, potassium sorbate, silica, sodium stearoyl glutamate, sucrose tristearate, tocopheryl acetate, triethanolamine, xanthan gum, zinc gluconate.

   Neutrogena.cim Clear Face SPF 30 ingredients:
   Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.5%, Homosalate 5%, Octisalate 4%, Octocrylene 3%, Oxybenzone 4%
   Inactive Ingredients: Water, Silica, Cetyl Dimethicone, Styrene/acrylates Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Steareth-100, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Polyester-7, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Bisabolol, Disodium Edta, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/dimethicone Copolymer, Diethylhexyl 2,6-naphthalate, Mannan, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Capryloyl Glycine, Trideceth-6, Sarcosine, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea