Sunscreen Review: Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50

November 19, 2017 Genevieve Fields

Hello Field Bunnies! This week I tried the Algenist Sublime Defense Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 Sunscreen. I've been on a Sephora kick and have really liked certain skincare products by Algenist, so I thought I would give their higher protection sunscreen a shot (they also sell an SPF 30 moisturizer).

Claims: Oil free, sheer and has a soft matte finish

Ingredients (Good): Algae extract, Echinacea extract, Vitamin E, Camellia leaf extract, Bearberry extract and Licorice root extract.

Ingredients (Bad): Alcohol Denat

Ratings: Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Cost/Value: $28 (1fl. oz) / expensive sunscreen

It is a Combination Sunscreen. Its active ingredients are 7.5% Octinoxate, 2% Titanium Dioxide and 17.1% Zinc Oxide.

It did NOT smell.

It did NOT sting my eyes.

It did NOT gather in my wrinkles.

It DOES leave a white cast on my skin. It took me 3-4 days on how to figure out how to apply it in a way where I had an adequately thick sunscreen film, yet it was even enough to sheer out on my face without white traces and patches. It does blend out, it just takes quite a bit of practice. I can only get away with wearing this by itself because I already have very pale skin, and if you look twice, you can still see it on me.

It DOES dry down in 20 minutes or less. It dries down in around 15 minutes to a transfer proof finish.

It DOES look good under make up. However, it does slightly mattify whatever foundation you put over it.

It DOES stay throughout the day.

Due to Denat Alcohol being so high in the ingredients list, this is a slightly drying sunscreen. It didn't bother me when I applied it initially, and it didn't bother me throughout the day. It didn't affect my make-up visibly over the course of the day. However, at the end of the day when I removed my make-up, I noticed that my skin felt a bit tight and dry. I also had some flaking on my chin which is typically a dry area for me. For that reason, I would not recommend this for dry skin or even normal to dry skin. It is best suited for oily skin or normal to oily skin.

It has runny and milky texture. After the application in 20 minutes, it is matte and sheer.

I am a little bit torn whether or not I would recommend this sunscreen. On one hand, on its merits, I would recommend this. It is very elegant, easy to use and easy to wear under make up. On the other hand, $28 for 1fl oz, is expensive.