Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ (2019 Formula)

2 Reviews

1. 

   mercifulGelding5

   Reply

   I normally avoid alcohol in sunscreens but when I do make an exception, I expect it be invisible and lightweight. Considering alcohol is one of the top ingredients in this sunscreen, I was expecting a very lightweight, comfortable sunscreen. Sad to say, it was not. When I apply it, it does sink in quickly to the skin but it leaves behind a tacky feeling. It can be remedied with powder of course, but it’s not a nice feeling to have.

   Since I’m not a huge fan of it for the face, I sometimes use it on my legs on the days I’m not wearing trousers. Sadly, the tacky feeling also applies, and it doesn’t go away for hours.

   It also wasn’t compatible with my Becca Mattifying Primer, which always ended up pilling on my skin when I applied it after the sunscreen. It hasn’t happened with any other sunscreens.

   I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for sensitive skin. My skin sometimes feels a little tingly after I apply it, and it will sting any open wounds, no matter how small.

   On the plus side, it didn’t break me out! The ‘tone up’ effect is a nice touch, I find it does even out my skin tone but it doesn’t last long. My skin is back to normal by lunch. The tone up effect may also not be suitable for darker skin tones. I am a NC35 for MAC, and even on me there’s a slight white cast.

   To summarize, I like it enough to use it up but I wouldn’t recommend it repurchase.

2. 

   anxiousCow3

   Reply

   To be honest, I didn’t expect to like this sunscreen as someone with dry and sensitive skin. With alcohol as its second ingredient, I was a bit wary, but after a few unsuccessful stints with other sunscreens that I found either too drying for me or not cosmetically elegant enough, this has become my go-to sunscreen for both my makeup and non-makeup days.

   However, caution before you blind buy this off of eBay or what have you: the lavender tint of this sunscreen (primarily marketed as a IG-esque filter to cancel out yellow, sallow undertones), coupled with the fact that this contains a mineral sunscreen blocker (namely titanium dioxide), I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone who is deeper than a light-medium. I’m about an NC20 year around with neutral olive undertones, and I can actually get away with applying this on my neck without any foundation over it, but I wouldn’t even recommend this to anyone who is even a hair above NC/W30.

   As far as the finish goes, it has a beautiful semi-matte finish upon drying completely with a sliiiiight tackiness that makes it an awesome primer for any base product you apply on top. Despite having dry skin prone to flaking, this doesn’t irritate my skin at all, although I always apply a rich moisturizer like the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense for my skin needs. It provides a very smooth canvas for my foundation to lay on top of, working wonderfully with foundations with all kinds of finishes. It also mixes beautifully with whatever you desire, and when mixed with a liquid luminizer like Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Hollywood Filter under foundation, I get this utterly stunning glow!

   On my skin, when my sunscreen sets, it doesn’t budge anything I lay on top of it. Trust me, I wear this sunscreen underneath my makeup running around hot and humid NYC and even go to the gym with it, and my foundation always looks sooo flawless. Even though I might be shiny at the end of the day, my foundation doesn’t break up AT ALL upon close inspection, so I just look like I’m wearing a beautiful dewy foundation instead of a hot makeup-y mess.