Ask the Expert: How Can I Get the Most Out of My Tinted SPF?
Sunscreen in your daily regimen should be non-negotiable at this point. There’s nothing else that’s guaranteed to protect your skin from UV rays, which can do damage both to the appearance of your skin and to your health. But not all sunscreen formulas are created equal in their efficacy, the way they make your skin look, or the way they feel on your face. Our brand founder and product visionary, Sarah Creal, explains what makes for a superior sunscreen and shares her best advice for maximizing your everyday SPF.
Is BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 sun care, skincare, or makeup?
It’s actually all three of those things—part of what makes it so brilliant. I set out to create a single, standalone product that could achieve three completely different goals: protect skin from broad-spectrum UVA/UVB exposure, guard against environmental stressors like free radicals, and add an overall glow to the complexion. And it was extremely important to me that the final formula do all three of those jobs well. It’s not as easy as it may sound, but I was adamant that babes 40+ deserved a true multitasker that shielded and enhanced their skin in just one step. I’m proud to say that after much testing and tweaking of the formula, we did it. The result is BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD 3-in-1 Illuminating SPF 50 Skin Tint.
Why do you use zinc oxide as the sunscreen filter? Doesn’t it create a white cast?
Zinc oxide is a mineral sunscreen. I prefer mineral filters over chemical ones because they sit on top of skin and physically deflect UV rays. (That’s the reason mineral sunscreens can also be called physical sunscreens.) That means they’re good to go from the moment you smooth them on your skin. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, need time to soak in since they work by converting the UV energy that enters your skin into heat, then releasing it. Because they don’t absorb into skin, mineral sunscreens are generally better tolerated by sensitive and acne-prone complexions. Of course BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD 3-in-1 Illuminating SPF 50 Skin Tint is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and safe for sensitive skin because we don’t half-ass anything at Sarah Creal Beauty.
You’re right that zinc oxide and other mineral filters like titanium dioxide often get a bad rap because they can leave a white or grey cast over skin, especially on deeper complexions. I’m not going to lie—this can be a tough problem to solve when formulating. However, we got around it by using a patented technology that produces extremely transparent zinc oxide that’s still non-nano. (Typically, non-nano zinc is not transparent because the zinc oxide particles are big and fairly visible sitting on top of skin.)
Despite the glowing, zero-white-cast finish, there’s no tradeoff on efficacy. We clinically tested BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50, as we do all our products, and it provides 98 percent UV protection and is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.
How do I decide between the two shades of BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 that you offer?
BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD 3-in-1 Illuminating SPF 50 Skin Tint comes in two shades, both safe for sensitive skin. Staycation gives a radiant neutral glow and works best on fair to light skin tones. Vacation, our original shade, delivers a golden bronze glow that looks great on medium to deep skin tones. If you’re unsure where you fall on that spectrum, I suggest going to our website. You’ll find photos of women with a variety of skin tones wearing either Staycation or Vacation. Seeing how it looks on their skin should help you figure out which one is right for you. That said, we offer free, no-hassle exchanges within 30 days of purchase from our site. So if you buy one shade, then realize you should have gotten the other, it’s super easy to swap it out. You can also find our products in many Sephora locations across the country. Drop by the store in your area and try both shades on your face to pick the winner that way.
Is BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 the same thing as foundation?
I’d classify BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 as more of a sheer skin tint than a foundation. Since it gives the complexion an overall radiance, some people find BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 is all they need, and they skip foundation entirely. But this fluid formula won’t even out dark spots or mask a blemish, no matter how much of it you layer on. If you want that kind of “now you see it, now you don’t” coverage, you’re better off reaching for our FACE FLEX Concealer & Complexion Enhancer. I always tell babes 40+ to apply FACE FLEX only in the areas where they need an assist, after they’ve smoothed on their BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 as a primer. That award-worthy combo will give you all the skin-boosting benefits of BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50, as well as FACE FLEX’s hydration and legendary (and clinically confirmed!) 12 hours of crease-proof, fade-proof wear.
Sunscreen always pills under my makeup, so I usually skip it. Is there any way for the two to coexist?
Yes! I actually heard the makeup-pilling-under-sunscreen complaint fairly often. It’s the reason I formulated BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 as a serum, instead of as a lotion or cream. Its light serum texture was specifically developed to resist pilling. Still, successfully layering skincare and makeup (including a tinted SPF) means practicing a bit of patience. While the mineral sunscreen filter doesn’t need time to absorb, the rest of the formula’s skincare ingredients do.
I’d suggest waiting two minutes after you apply BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50 before you move on to your makeup routine. That will allow plenty of time for ingredients like bakuchiol, vitamin E, and niacinamide that comprise the remainder of BRILLIANT REPAIR SHIELD SPF 50’s formula to sink into your skin and work their firming, brightening magic. After that, consider yourself good to go.
*1: Formula efficacy demonstrated in in-vitro studies.
**2: Clinical evaluation of 20 volunteers in a 12-hour study