I’ve shared about the brand True Botanicals on the blog before, I became a huge fan of their Chebula serum which was a big hit for my skin. And later, acquainted myself with more products that solidified my adoration for the brand. True Botanicals is a luxuriously clean and sustainable skincare brand that uses ingredients naturally biocompatible with the skin that are clinically proven to work.
Recently, they introduced two new products, a skin tint in 24 shades, and new non-nano mineral sunscreen, True Botanicals Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30. Sunscreens are always something I look forward to testing as I go through so much of them on the regular.
Mineral Vs. Chemical
Often the biggest concern, when a mineral sunscreen is introduced, is if it will have that awful white cast they are known for. Formulas were thick, pasty, and hard to apply. It was pretty hard to commit when the products didn’t have a nice finish and feel to them.
One of the benefits of using a mineral-based sunscreen is skin sensitivity. Those with sensitive skin tend to do better with minerals versus chemicals. And it has less chance of irritating the eyes as well. I do have some chemical sunscreens I can tolerate, but mostly, I stick to mineral-based for my face.
True Botanicals Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30 is said to be a lightweight sunscreen and skincare product in one for all skin types (even blemish-prone). It offers UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection while its antioxidant-rich skincare ingredients do some magic for the skin in other ways. It is also reef safe!
Ingredient Spotlight
Skin Barrier Sun Shield uses non-nano zinc for UV protection while still allowing the formula to be sheer on the skin. Sea Buckthorn Oil and Chebula offer their powerful antioxidant protection that not only boosts the power of UV protection, but also fights five signs of aging (the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evening skin tone, increasing smoothness, and a more firm and bright complexion.
Pea Peptides and Squalane are also included in this luxurious feeling sunscreen formula and do their part by improving hydration and strengthening the skin barrier.
My Experience
For the past two weeks I’ve been giving this new sunscreen from True Botanicals a try. Right off the bat, the texture is distinctive from many others I’ve tried. Very lightweight. Not mousse-y, but feels slightly airy as it blends into the skin pretty quickly. It is a VERY emollient sunscreen that leaves your skin feeling like it got a hefty serving of moisture in a lightweight cream. It offers a slightly dewy finish which I enjoy both with or without makeup.
I tried this on some particularly hot days and it wasn’t the best in the Arizona high heat of 107. I think for very high temps this felt a bit heavy but almost anything does in that weather. For the most part, it was very comfortable.
A lot of the videos or clips I read say it will feel like nothing on. I disagree. It’s lightweight but very emollient so you will feel something if you touch your face. But it does not feel heavy on the face if that makes sense.
I found this to be a very nice base for some of my foundations, but more often than not I simply enjoyed wearing this on bare face days. I find it sheered out nicely and there wasn’t a real “waiting period” for it to disappear on the skin. The scent is delicate and botanical in my opinion, although I am not able to pinpoint what it is — it’s something in the ingredients that make it smell very fresh and faint.
Overall, I do enjoy this sunscreen but I do think that some may not enjoy the emollient feel of it. By the end of the day my skin feels so supple from wearing it, but everyone is different. If you enjoy dewiness and hydration this may be for you.
Final Thoughts
Being that the price tag is a bit higher than most sunscreens I use ($65) it is considered an investment product for me. As is the rest of their products, but sometimes that luxurious quality and feel come at a higher price. The Chebula serum is gold in my opinion and should somehow be turned into a body serum of sorts. I hope they read this and consider something along those lines.
Would you give this sunscreen a try? Or what do you look for in a sunscreen?
Purchase the sunscreen at:True Botanicals | Beauty Heroes |
Mineral sunscreen it’s where is at! Thanks for sharing this one!
Hi, Claudia – I love that this sunscreen is mineral based and its qualities all sound great. And it sounds like it’s worth the money. The only thing is, my face gets shiny and I powder my nose often. Isn’t it usually the case that we want the opposite of what we have? Lol! So I have been admired for my dewy skin by those who don’t have it. The emollient feel would make me feel uncomfortable. But I’m so happy that you are reminding me to wear sunscreen more often! I always have it on my face but I need to put it on my neck, décolletage, arms and hands. Thanks for describing this face cream so well – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
I like the look of this. I haven’t been using foundation so the tint in this sunscreen would make me happy.
The ingredients in this mineral sunscreen are appealing. I love that you included a video of you applying the product so we could see what it looks like on your face. Once you applied some powder, it took down the shine. I may need to consider trying that, though I don’t use powder too often on my mature skin.
I know people really need to see it on the face and not just on the back of a hand. I need it too! I agree you can cut the shine down with powder. Whatever you put on top of it will cut it down a bit. It really is hydrating and moisturizing throughout the day!