MDSOLARSCIENCES Mineral Creme Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB Sunscreen

10 Reviews

1. 

   anxiousCrackers5

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   Review for MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB Sunscreen
   I specify because several different products are reviewed here

   I have been using this for many years. I’ve tried other sunscreens by this company, but liked them less.

   This is a slightly off-white lotion with a silicone base. It has no particular odor. It’s a mineral sunscreen, 2% Titanium Dioxide and 17% Zinc Oxide. The tube MUST be shaken well – as it says on the box and tube – before applying as it separates.

   It spreads smoothly and evenly and feels very light. It does look white but this mostly goes away (I’m pale so this isn’t a problem for me). I wear it every single day, usually with no foundation over it. When I wear foundation I have no problem putting it on.

   This works *very* well. The only time I have trouble is on long camping trips when I forget to reapply, but even then, I only tan slightly, even when I’ve sweated some off, rather than burning as I would with no sunscreen.

   I’ve tried other brand’s sunscreens from time to time, but some feel unpleasantly heavy, some don’t spread well, and some are even more expensive because a little of this goes a long way, while others go on more thickly and get used up faster.

   I buy the 4 oz. tube – I can usually find it for 15% off if I check several websites. One tube lasts about half a year. I confess I cut the tube open when no more will squeeze out because there’s always some left inside, then I fit the bottom back onto the tube to protect it for those last few days.

   This is absolutely definitely “holy Grail” for me.

2. 

   cautiousBoars3

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   EDIT:I could never really get this to look good under makeup. Kinda slid around on my face (like some others have mentioned) bc of all the silicone. Maybe I’m too oily for it? I’m interested in trying it on my body since it doesn’t leave a cast (on my fair skin) and is actually matte.

   Original review:

   This is a great physical SS! I wasn’t sure what to make of the reviews so I finally broke down and bought it. It actually is matte people! Not shiny like all the other physicals. You can sort of feel it on the skin since it has a lot of silicone but I am pleased. I really like Elta sunscreens but I wanted to find something without octinoxate (their UV pure was way too greasy on my face! But the physical 41 is good, light and matte if you match the tint) This is pretty pricy but it’s worth it to me to find something I like. I can’t do most chem SS as it irritates the crap out of me…and as far as I know this is reef safe.

3. 

   tautSnail1

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   I’m writing a review of the spf30 version. I have very sensitive, oily, breakout-prone skin and I like the MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme spf30 the best out of all the sunscreens I have ever tried, including EltaMD UV Clear spf46 which broke me out.

   It has the texture of a silicone primer that mattifies and blurs my pores and textures. I have never understood all those folks who say they don’t like silicone primers. I have enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation from past sun and acne, and my face usually gets greasy (not just oily) in about 3-4 hours. So I LOVE the blurring and mattifying effect of this sunscreen. It also helps my skin from getting shiny & oily all day, which is kinda shocking.

   I have no problems applying my BB/CC creams over this product. I have not had any breakouts from this either, which is also shocking. I’ve been using this for about a month, and it is the non-tinted version. This has 17% zinc oxide and 2% titanium dioxide, and thankfully is unscented.

4. 

   lyingWigeon6

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   I, too, am shocked by the bad reviews. This is a REALLY good sunblock. It has a high percentage of zinc oxide (17 percent) and also contains titanium dioxide (2 percent). This provides really good broad spectrum protection. I prefer physical/mineral sunblocks that literally block the sun’s aging and burning rays from hitting your skin to chemical sunscreens that absorb the rays to protect your skin. I use both, but I prefer high zinc oxide sunblocks, and my dermatologist told me that physical sunblocks (with high protection) are his preference and what he recommends to all his clients.

   I am about to be 49 and have very pale skin with cool undertones. I am incapable of tanning. I just get a darker shade of pink or red. I am, as a result, a sunblock/sunscreen devotee. Total junkie. I’ve tried all kinds from all over the world, including ones the FDA has yet to approve (but should) that you can get in Europe and other countries. My #1 go to facial sunscreen is Glycolix Elite in the pump container. It, too, has 17 percent zinc oxide and other good ingredients. It leaves a big white cast, but that is not a problem because I am so fair skinned, and my foundation blends in really well over it. I apply it, wait a few minutes and then apply my makeup, and wears really well under makeup. I have tried (and still try) so many other sunblocks and sunscreens, and I ALWAYS find myself still reaching for Glycolix Elite. It is my #1 everyday sun protection.

   But this MDSolarSciences protection is a close second. It doesn’t have the white cast that my Glycolix Elite has. It does not seem as drying as the GE sometimes can be (and I already have dry skin that has become drier and drier the closer I get to 50). The MDSolarSciences is not drying on me and actually seems lightly moisturizing. It’s also a good under-makeup base. But it’s one physical sunscreen I can wear on its own because it doesn’t have a white cast. I’d only been buying and using the 1.7 ounce tubes of the MDSolarSciences. But I’m moving on up to the 4 ounce next. It is that good.

   I’ve used (and still on occasion use) every one of the Skinceuticals sunscreen, about half a dozen different Korean ones (such as Sofina) that are very popular (the white thin liquidy ones that have a a lot of silicone in them), all the EU ones with Mexoryl SX and XL and ones with the Tinsorbs (M and S). For chemical sunscreens, I DEFINITELY prefer the ones with both Tinsorbs in them to all others. Zinc oxide is my preferred physical sunblock (and overall preferred protection), while the Tinsorbs are my preferred chemical protection. I often use those types for full body coverage as opposed to my regular daily routine of face, neck, chest and hands. I’ve used all the Bioderma (a fave for body), Avene, Shiseido (also love), MAC, Becca, La Mer and La Roche-Posay ones, and the list goes on. And ON AND ON AND ON. As noted, I am a sun protection junkie. 🙂

   All that said, this is in my list of top facial sunscreens. I really love it. To be honest, it’s either #2 or #3 at present. Glycolix Elite has served me so well for so long and is the one I’d automatically choose, so it remains #1. But #2 is a toss up between this MDSolarSciences sunblock and Tatcha’s Silken Pore Perfecting Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. I love it as well. Tatcha’s is very elegant. It has high physical protection, leaves almost no white cast, wears beautifully under makeup, etc. It seems to have more silicones it it than the GE or the MDSolarScience, which makes it a nice makeup primer, too. It reminds me of other primers I’ve used. But it seems I sometimes feel like my foundation looks better with the GE or MDSolarSciences under it rather than the lighter Tatcha. But I always keep a tube of Tatcha on hand along with the GE because it is a beautiful sunscreen with good broad spectrum protection.

   And now after using up two 1.7 ounce tubes of the MDSolarScience, I can safely say it is in my top three and part of my permanent rotation. When it’s time to buy it again, I will definitely be investing in the 4 ounce size. MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme is very good protection that works well with dry skin (lots of sunscreens do not), doesn’t leave me with a shiny face (like so many of the chemical sunblocks do), wears well under makeup, feels good, etc., etc. Based on my experience, I highly recommend you give it a try. I am so glad I did. Again, for reference, I am a 48 (49 in six weeks) year old PPP woman with dry skin. I also have cool undertones (I’m the pinky kind of pale rather than the yellow kind), and it works well with my undertones, but I see it working well for cool, warm and neutral toned women.

5. 

   joyfulZebra8

   Reply

   This is a fragrance-free, all mineral ss with a thin lotion, silicone-y texture. The tint is very light – it looks more off-white than skin tone to me, but it disappears upon application. It is sheer, w/ a very silicone primer feel, and satin-matte finish. Almost too silicone-y – my fndtn seems to slide around on it a lot and takes longer to dry. One day I wore this outside w/o a hat and after about 4 hours I had some color and some slight darkening of some IPL-aggravated dark patches. That would not have happened w/ any LRP or Biore ss that I’ve used. So the UV protection is not as good as those ss’s. Also, at the end of a day wearing this under my fndtn, I’ve often noticed 1 or 2 small oil clogs. So it seems to not let the oil run out of my pores as easily as it needs to. But I’m really oily; someone w/ drier skin would probably have no problem w/ oil clogs. Overall, this is a very nice ss, just maybe not for heavy, long term UV exposure, and is slightly clogging for very oily skin..

6. 

   lovesickMussel0

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   I am super surprised by all the bad reviews. This is hands down my favourite sunscreen for my acne-prone, rosacea skin. It is non-irritating and broad spectrum. I have never burned with this on. The only downfall is that this is incredibly expensive to get shipped to Canada, at a whopping $50 dollars per tube all in. Oh well, it’s worth it.

7. 

   importedMoth9

   Reply

   I’m really surprised by all the bad reviews! I love this sunblock so much and am hoping it never gets discontinued! I have oily, breakout-prone skin. This actually helps my skin stay matte during the day, and I honestly think the zinc and titanium help keep my skin clear as I tend to breakout a bit more if I haven’t been using it for a week or two. Yea it’s pricey, but it lasts a long time for me and I use it pretty much everyday. It’s been difficult to find a mineral-based, paraben-free sunblock that wouldn’t break me out and I’m soo happy to have found this. Oh and I haven’t had issues with a white cast but that might be because I’m on the paler side and don’t apply a lot of it- it still did a great job of protecting my face with a smallish amount on the days I’ve been to the beach.

8. 

   excludedShads5

   Reply

   After seeing fabulous reviews on the Sephora website, I decided to try this product as I was looking for a mineral sunscreen. The first problem is that it contains silicones, which cause my face to feel slimy. The ingredient may also have contributed to irritating my skin, which isn’t particularly sensitive, by making it peel on the parts where it didn’t feel slimy! Finally, I couldn’t get rid of the whitish cast no matter how much I rubbed it in. I should have returned it, but I kept using it thinking that I was somehow applying it incorrectly, given all the great Sephora reviews.

9. 

   somberOatmeal6

   Reply

   The tube is tiny (48 g) and very expensive (C$36+tax)
   It contains silicones and hence, it leaves a film on your skin if you apply too much. And remember that you have to re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours.
   Major white cast! Feels very dry.

10. 

    adoringGarlic8

    Reply

    I purchased the MDsolarsciences spf 50 cream and the MDsciences beauty balm with spf 50. These two products are very similar in consistency and ingredients. The beauty balm has additional antioxidants in it though. Both products are in a silicone base, which can leave a greasy film sensation on the skin. My combination skin did not break out from this but I was not really impressed with the overall product. First, I find it difficult to apply to the skin. Second, in both products, the sunscreen formula was running and did not appear to be mixed evenly, there was a clear product and a tinted cream both oozing out of the tube. I had to shake it up and it really did not seem to help blend it back together. So I am left to wonder how stable this product is and how much sunscreen protection I am actually getting. I would rather go back to Cerave spf 50 or Derma E spf 30 face lotions.