Daylong Actinica – Spirig Pharma

10 Reviews

1. 

   empathicGatorade3

   Reply

   Hmm, I’ve got a love/hate relationship with this sunscreen.

   Let us start with the pros:

   -Excellent sunscreen protection
   -PPD rating above 20(asked their company directly to confirm)
   -Pump usage delivers exact amount + their pamphlet mentions how many pump per skin area is needed
   -Affordable(80g for around £20)

   Cons:

   -STICKY AF (the kind of tackiness that makes it hard to rub in)
   -Super dewy finish(great for my dry patches, but I’m not someone that likes a dewy finish)
   -White cast(slight white cast, I am an NC35 ish and this leaves me looking I’ve definitely got something on my face without that super white cast that physical sunscreens give)

   Overall, this is the sunscreen for you if you’re looking for a no-frills affordable sunscreen option. This is NOT the sunscreen for you if you want something lightweight and easy to absorb, or something cosmetically elegant. If you’re a user of Japanese sunscreens you’d HATE this one.

   So why do I still use this then? Because it’s very good at sun protection, simple as that. Ever since using Retin A and Azealic acid I need something that’ll guarantee me protection and this does exactly that.

   Also, you’re going to need it to absorb for at least 45 mins before you go out. After it absorbs into your skin it’ll leave you looking really glowy and nice.

   This isn’t your best option if you want something quick and easy to apply before you dash out the door. You really gotta leave it on and do its job before you go out.

   I use a total of 4 pumps= 2 pumps for my face + 1 pump for my neck + 1 pump for my décolleté(if wearing something low cut)

   Definitely tie your hair up before you apply this, if not your hair will stick to your face and it’ll just be a greasy mess.

   Overall, it’s not easy to use but it’s really good. Sunscreen is one of the proven factors to decrease skin wrinkling, hyper pigmentation, etc. So do invest in a good sunscreen even if this particular one does not appeal to you.

   **Update**: (24th Sept 2016) I only use 1 and a half-ish pump for the face now given that 2 pumps seems way too hard to be rubbed in to my skin especially when I’m in a rush.

   With that being said, I think 1 pump should be sufficient enough for facial use given that this sunscreen was made in mind for skin cancer patients, those particularly not susceptible to melanoma could possibly get away with using 1 pump. (Just my though, did not confirm with the company though)

2. 

   similarBuck9

   Reply

   I am very disappointed in this product. This was a sunscreen I wanted to try after doing a lot of research. The sun filter ingredients look terrific and all the reviews I read indicated that this product is excellent for sun protection. I am looking for a sunscreen that has both Tinosorb S and M. I am a user of tretinoin and acids so my skin is a bit dry and needs moisture. So products that are slightly heavier normally work fine.

   I started using this product only on the weekends and noticed that the product felt quite greasy and gave me small pimples after a couple of days. As another user mentioned, you must tie your hair up or else it’ll be completely oiled up. I didn’t want to give up so tried several times. On my last try, I went on vacation for a week and used Daylong Actinica on my face every day and used Avene spf40 spray on my arms. I made sure to reapply twice each day (3 times total each day). I wasn’t in the sun that much and wore a hat and sunglasses. After 7 days, I now have 7 pimples on my face and my face is much darker than my arms. My face was lighter than my arms previously.

   I will not be using this on my face anymore but will use it up on my arms and legs. (Can’t waste sunblock). It is too bad I bought 2 x 80g. My previous HG sunblock was Missha waterproof sun milk but the formula has changed and discontinued. My search continues. If you have a sunscreen suggestion, I’d be happy to try it out.

3. 

   peacefulDove4

   Reply

   Hands down the best sunscreen.
   Utterly devastated, as devastated as one can be about a product, that it seems its getting discontinued.
   Please bring it back

   ***EDIT
   Shoutout to oatmealcupake who, on this website, recommended Skinstitut SPF 50 Age Defense as a substitute for Actinica – highly recommend.

4. 

   stressedBass9

   Reply

   Very well formulated sunscreen for those serious about anti-aging. As a previous reviewer has noted it contains very high amounts of two of the most effective SPF’s we have: Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M. Tinosorb M is more powerful than zinc oxide but does not leave the residual white cast and is more elegant for day-to-day wear. On first application it does feel slightly sticky/tacky but rubs in quite well. Leaves a dewy finish. Would suit those with normal to dry skin.

5. 

   grizzledThrush8

   Reply

   This is a great sunscreen for my super sensitive and dry skin. I cannot wear physical sunscreen because it is soo drying. I thought I couldn’t tolerate avobenzone but there is something about this formula that my skin just loves with no stinging or burning. It gives your skin a glowy and dewy finish and acts like a moisturizer and primer all in one. I use this everyday.

6. 

   pluckyBaboon4

   Reply

   This is a long story….i am using the Cetaphil Suntivity Liposomal Lotion SPF 50 version of this, which I am pretty sure is the exact same formulation as Actinica, just at a lower price point. It has the exact same sunscreen ingredients. It’s also very dewy and shiny, it’s very good for dry skin. This works really well with makeup, both dewy and matte foundations. Before this I was using another Cetaphil Suntivity sunscreen but it was discontinued so now I’m using this.

   Anyway this sunscreen works REALLY well. It uses new generation Tinosorb S&M which I believe is far superior than any other actives on the market. This helps with pigmentation a lot, I don’t have any new pigmentation from last summer and have never been sunburnt with this on. This is my HG face sunscreen. However I only use this on my face, it’s way too heavy on my body. I use Trishave SPF 30 on my neck and Cancer Council Active Dry Touch SPF 50 on my arms.

   Update December 2017: it seems that Actinica and the Cetaphil Suntivity Liposomal lotion has been discontinued in Australia. I have emailed Cetaphil and they said it’s been discontinued in Australia. I think it’s got to do with them closing down the factory in Switzerland where it’s made, which is why there seems to be some shortage. But it is still available to buy online overseas from UK and Europe. Try Ebay or Amazon, i still see heaps of listings for it. I don’t know if they going to bring it back to Australia, hopefully it’s just a supply shortage problem and will be resolved later on. Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, makes no sense to discontinue such a good sunscreen.

   If you’re in Australia and can’t get hold of Actinica, don’t panic just yet. After discovering that’s it been discontinued i have looking around for a replacement. I have since discovered Skinstitut Age Defence SPF 50+. This suncreen has been on the market for a couple of years now but i never paid much attention to it until now. Skinsitut is one of those active cosmeceuticals brands only available at clinics and salons. Now this Sunscreen is very similar in terms of texture to Actinica. Has that nice dewy glossy feel which will be great for dry skin and works really well with makeup. It also has REALLY high amounts of Tinosorb actives which is unheard of in Australian sunscreens. it contains:
   *Tinosorb M 6%
   *Tinosorb S 5%
   *Octyl Methoxycinnamate 5%
   *Unival A plus 5%
   * Ensulizole 1%
   * Octyl Triazone 2%

   I am a big fan of Tinosorb actives because they provide good UVA protection which helps with my pigmentation. I have tried a lot of brands like La Roche Posay and the other Cetaphil Sun products but i don’t like their textures- i need something that is high UVA but also will work well with makeup. This cost $49 AUD and comes in 75ml which is kind of same price as Actinica. There is little to none white cast, just like Actinica, it’s a thick white cream but spread very easily and literally blends into your own skin. If Actinica doesn’t come back to Australia, i’ll happily use Skinstitut as my face sunscreen, now just hope Skinstiitut doesn’t discontinue theirs!

   So if you’re in Australia, you can either buy Actinica online from overseas stockists (although you’re taking a risk because you don’t know if it’s real or new stock) or buy Skinstitut Age Defence SPF50+. Oh by the way, i DO NOT work for Skinstitut, i just happen to be very annoyed that my HG Actinica/Cetaphil Suntivity liposomal is discontinued in Australia and cannot find anything similar until now.

   Update 2019 April: I’m still using the Skinstitut Age Defence SPF50, I still love it and don’t have any plans to use any other brands or try to look for Actinica online. This is by far and probably even better than Actinica and even popular La Roche Posay sunscreens and Asian sunscreens. I have dry skin and this sunscreen is one of the rare sunscreens that has a nice dewy finish that works really well with makeup.

7. 

   exactingLapwing5

   Reply

   I got this 50+ SPF free with a fillers package at Aust Skin Clinics and was dubious about why they’d be giving away a full sized pricey sunscreen. But all suspicions aside I LOVE this sunscreen. It’s this high tech new type of spf called liposomal, which I understand to mean it absorbs in the top layer of skin and no further, reducing chemical absorption in your body. It’s kind of a weird product to use and you only need 1 pump not 2 for the face. It will leave a shiny tacky finish to the skin but not oily or sticky like Invisible Zinc. I’ve been trialling with matte fdtn for that reason. It gives life to matte fdtn like ELDW. I’m excited to see what it does for NARS All Day Luminous! It worked nicely with KvD tattoo lock-it. The luminous look we are all going for these days makes this SPF more wearable for me. Back in my heavy flat powdered days I probably couldn’t have used this! The reason I like it (fdtn base aside) is that it has improved my pigmentation 100%. I read another review saying the same thing. I sometime apply SPF not knowing if it’s actually doing anything and just feeling like I have to, or that I’m investing in my future face. With Actinica I actually have seen results. Freckles are lighter and skin is more even overall. Which means I use less makeup! Win! I will be purchasing this, no doubt about it. Ps when you pump it out, spread it over your whole face lightning fast, it will look white, then press into your skin till it’s all absorbed. Leave for 3-5 mins at least before applying fdtn because when I haven’t done this my makeup won’t set. When I do, it sets perfectly fine and I look alive.

   EDIT my SPF story: I grew up allergic to sunscreens so never used them. They all gave me a weird sandy texture to my skin! All bumpy and awful. Fast forward to my mid 20s and I gingerly tested a few and found my HGs. These are invisible zinc tinted 30+, QV 30+ moisturiser, sun sense 50+ tinted matte. I like 50+ ideally but sun sense actually gave me that reaction again after 2 yes of use. So I’m taking a break and will go back to it soon. It’s the best overall as it doesn’t interfere with makeup application. Actinica is still the most effective!

8. 

   ferventDingo7

   Reply

   (Edited) I was prescribed it for melasma by a dermatologist, and having checked out the ingredients it really is the top for protection. I’ve used it now for almost three weeks daily, though this is post-holiday (wish I’d known about it BEFORE the summer, then my melasma probably wouldn’t have worsened…) No break-outs, maybe a couple of blocked pores – for my clog-prone skin that is fabulous. No irritation. No dryness, in fact unless you have flaky areas there is no need for moisturiser underneath this sunscreen.
   I have used Actinica every day because I’m also doing treatment with hydroquinine so effective protection is a must. (Skin lightening treatment without religious use of s/s is at best ineffective and at worst the blotches may darken even more.) This regime has resulted in significant fading of the blotches in less than three weeks (ok they weren’t really dark to begin with, but I am pale).
   The downside is that this is possibly the most cosmetically inelegant s/s ever. It does not leave any white cast (it turns transparent within seconds of application) but it is so shiny, I look like I literally slathered oil all over my face. It’s also extremely sticky, and the stickiness doesn’t go away. The application directions are clear: 2 pumps for the face, otherwise the protection is weakened, apparently. But I find I just cannot use 2 pumps on a daily basis, it’s an enormous amount of goop… so I do one pump and add a bit more over the most important areas. That still leaves my skin pretty tacky to touch.
   I can get rid of the shine by waiting 15 minutes and carefully applying transparent loose powder (I use MUFE), but foundation and concealer are difficult to apply on top of the tacky finish. It depends on the foundation, I guess – I managed well today with Paula’s Choice all bases covered (which I’m trialling), but haven’t tried it yet with my normal NARS sheer glow. Usually, if I wear Actinica all over, I go without makeup and just use powder. If I needed to look polished for work, however, I would use a different sunscreen product because with this the shine does come through in the course of the day. So: great product that appears effective and gentle on skin – but with a sinifiant downside considering daily use in a work environment. I give it 4* than! I’ll definitely use this on holiday next summer though!

9. 

   gutturalBustard8

   Reply

   HI
   I was very interested to read the comprehensive review by Erica 74 on this product as I have just been prescribed it by my dermatologist here in South West France and was trying to read up some information on it in English as the booklet I was given is in French . I will update this review after I have been using it for a couple of months. I have a couple of keratoses actiniques on my face so it is a medical necessity but sounds like a super efficient sunscreen to prevent others developing keratoses. It isn’t funded here on the health system but well worth the price and no more than buying a La Roche Posay sunscreen or similar.

10. 

    brainyOcelot3

    Reply

    Daylong actinica will protect you from the harmful UV radiation that is part of sunlight and will prevent the development of non-melanoma skin cancer. This was proven by a 2-year study carried out on patients that were highly susceptible to the development of non-melanoma skin cancers (actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma & squamous cell carcinoma). Daily usage of Daylong actinica proved to be effective in the prevention of actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore Daylong actinica is essential prevention for people who are at risk from non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). It protects from both UVB and UVA rays. It is waterproof and contains photostable broadspectrum filters.

    You cannot beat the protection this sunscreen offers and apart from all research and bibliography, backing its potency there is my experience:

    I have melasma, many years now. With hydroquinone+tretinoin treatment (2004) and sunscreen everyday use, it subsided a lot. After giving birth (2006), it almost faded (a mystery yet to be solved!), but every summer it comes raging on my face, no matter how many buckets of suncreen do I slather on.
    Now I discovered this (a sample was given to me in Athens Dermatology Hospital) and decided to give a full bottle a try.
    Last Sunday, I was at the beach with Actinica on but with my hat missing. We spent the whole day at the beach, it was hot and the sun was intense and I was sure to come back to a face full of dark spreading blotches……NOT A SINGLE ONE!….NOT EVEN A GLIMPSE OF DARKENED PIGMENTING…Nothing!

    I live in Greece and I try to use the best european sunscreen I can find. I alternate a lot, so I can hit the best. I think this is it.
    Cosmetically-wise, it is a little sticky and heavy (no need for an extra moisturiser – after all you apply this on bare cleansed skin to get full protection), but with the protection it offers, this is my choice of suncreen this summer. Period.

    Ingredients

    Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylene bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Excipient

    UPDATE 15/7/2009: I’ve been using it for almost 2 months everyday, I am very very impressed! No darkening (which is a first), no breakouts, no irritation!!!!!! It is mid summer with intense sun and temperatures of 35 degrees Celcius and my dark spots have not yet made an appearance!!!! I will update again after my 2 week vacation in August.

    UPDATE 11/7/2012: I don’t know if it is scientifically provable but, this susncreen has made my melasma a minor skincare problem. During autumn, winter and early spring, my spots are vanished. During summertime they show but not in full force, thanks to Daylong actinica. I think this is because I’ve been using this all these years, my spots have faded and now they’re not a problem worth mentioning. Mind, that my skincare routine has not been concentrated in skin lightening at all. So the only thing I’ve been using regarding my melasma was this sunscreen. The packaging has also been improved with a pump that measures the right amount for application.
    Great stuff!