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Best & Worst ~ Testing Mineral Sunscreen for Face 2017

May is Skin Cancer Awareness month so it’s the perfect time for my annual Sunscreen Testing video!

Skin cancer and 90% of premature skin Aging are caused by sun exposure but both can be prevented by using sunscreen every day, all year round!

This year I’ve tested 8 all-mineral sunscreens for the face to see if they can be worn on their own as well as under makeup!

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38 Responses to "Best & Worst ~ Testing Mineral Sunscreen for Face 2017"

Meg Evans says:

April 20, 2018 at 9:15 pm

Hi Angie – as another person mentioned, the Australian Gold sunscreen is unavailable in Australia…ironically!
Do you have another product that you would recommend in its place? I was so disappointed to hear that I couldn’t get it here.
Cheers
Meg

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1. Angie says:
  
  April 21, 2018 at 6:39 pm
  
  Unfortunately, I don’t know which brands are sold in Australia…
  
  Reply
Sheila says:

February 3, 2018 at 3:16 pm

This is great info. I have to stick with mineral only. Have you reviewed Coola Mineral BB Tint?

I will definitely try the Australian Gold. Coola is my go-to and I don’t need a primer. It also cuts the redness for me so I can just use that while doing yardwork or other stuff outside. I’m not embarrassed if I chat with the neighbors.

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Angie says:

January 2, 2018 at 9:05 am

Hi Angie,
I am really interested in how you get your vitamin D if you wear sunscreen all year round? Do you use a supplement?
Best Wishes,
Angie

Reply
1. Angie says:
  
  February 6, 2018 at 10:23 pm
  
  I take a multivitamin that contains vitamin D, I drink milk and vitamin D fortified OJ, and eat lots of dark leafy veggies and salmon… all good sources of vitamin D!
  
  Reply
Tayyaba says:

September 4, 2017 at 11:01 pm

Hi angie,good to see your sunscreen video its very helpful. Its just like you are doing a community service.
Please tell me from your all sunscreen experiences, which sunscreen cause extreme dryness and control oil on skin.

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Amanda says:

July 8, 2017 at 2:26 pm

What are your preferred mineral sunscreens for body?

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1. Angie says:
  
  July 18, 2017 at 10:01 pm
  
  I haven’t found a mineral sunscreen for body that I love so I use chemical sunscreen. My fave is Banana Boat Sun Comfort spf 50!
  
  Reply
Kim says:

June 19, 2017 at 6:24 pm

Thanks for the fresh reviews! It helped me pick a suitable, natural sunscreen last year. Living in The Netherlands, I had to order something from the UK. I was surprised to see that your 1st choice (AG tinted) is available in my own country!
Really amazing, exactly as described. The tint was so mild it works on my ultra pale skin. BUT.. it will start to itch and feel uncomfortable. No idea why, and it’s a shame because it’s truly amazing.

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Trish Welch says:

June 2, 2017 at 11:20 pm

Hi Angie,
I was excited to try the Australian Gold sunscreen after hearing how well it worked with your foundation. I looked it up on the Environmental Working Group sunscreen ratings and they gave it only a 4 out of 10 rating for effectiveness and ingredient safety. I would love it if you would review some of the sunscreens that receive higher EWG ratings.

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Becky Jumps says:

May 23, 2017 at 10:33 pm

Hi, I had to laugh at Heather’s comment because my husband laughs at me too as I’m always watching you though I just discovered you recently. Using all your skin care items though I’m unsure if it will help as I am almost 70. There are very few gals on U-tube that old and I enjoy your comments better…I have very oily skin even at my age, still getting black heads and pimples, it’s so frustrating. Keep up the good work…I friend gave me a tube of Retin A from Mexico, hope it works! I guess one must never give up no matter the age.

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Allison says:

May 12, 2017 at 9:04 am

Thank you so much for your mineral sunscreen review! After watching, I clicked your Australian Gold link and purchased 2 of them. Ulta had a buy one / get one half off sale going on! Major score 🙂
Your review is spot on, I’m loving this sunscreen!

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Laura Kiper says:

May 11, 2017 at 12:08 am

I left a YouTube comment but must must leave one here too. The Australian gold sunscreen is awesome!!!! So glad you found it and told your viewers, it’s a fabulous product!!! I saw another comment about a hat video and love that idea. I’m 36 and so pale, I’ve always slathered on sunscreen because I burn so easily. Thanks again!!!

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Anna says:

May 10, 2017 at 11:24 am

Thanks for the review! Excellent timing for me given Amazon have stopped shipping my current favourite Elta MD UV Physical to Australia. I also really like the Paula’s Choice Resist mineral sunscreen (NOT the Hydralight), but it’s only SPF 30 and somewhat expensive.

Annoyingly, the Australian Gold sunscreen isn’t actually available here in Australia. Will have to see if Amazon feel like shipping it over the Pacific. For a country with such high rates of skin cancer, Australia doesn’t actually make a good zinc sunscreen.

Reply
1. yvonne says:
  
  May 10, 2017 at 11:57 am
  
  i thought yay a australian sun product but like you i found not available in australia. amazon say one to two months for the delivery i have asked them if this is correct!! we shall see. good luck with your search.
  
  Reply
2. Angie says:
  
  May 12, 2017 at 8:41 am
  
  I was so surprised to see that Australian Gold is an american company and you can’t get it in Australia…
  
  Reply
Gina says:

May 9, 2017 at 5:53 pm

Good comments and research. Lets hear what Angie has to say.

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Bonnie Kelly says:

May 8, 2017 at 3:05 pm

Hi Angie, thank you for all your videos, I have found them very interesting and useful. I’m wondering if you have ever tried SPF30 from MD Solar Sciences. The sunscreen has been a big winner in my laser practice. It is a broad-spectrum, mineral tinted cream. Hope you get to do a review on this.

Thank you for all your hard work!

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1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:06 pm
  
  Hi Bonnie~ I have tried MD Solar sunscreens and they are very nice if you like a very silicone feel which some do and some don’t. Thanks for the suggestion! ~angie
  
  Reply
Heather Marsalis says:

May 8, 2017 at 12:47 pm

Angie, I am a recent follower and my husband laughs every time he hears your intro music. I have already adopted mosted of your skincare regimen and as things run out I am replacing them with suggestions from you. I love, love, love Chanel foundation. You are right the holy grail! I was just ready to order Tarte Creaseless Eye Shadow Primer and I think it is discontinued, have you found a replacement?? And is your Lancôme concealer in Porcelain?

P.S. You did great on your exercise videos. I am a home exerciser and love Fitness Blender.

Reply
1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:08 pm
  
  LOL! Thanks Heather. Too Faced Shadow Insurance is very similar to the Tarte 360 Creaseless primer so give that a try. My Lancome concealer is in 350 Light Bisque… and I think it’s being discontinued too so get it before it goes away!!
  
  Reply
lynne says:

May 8, 2017 at 4:31 am

Hi Angie,
Just wondering what happen to Bare Minerals Prep Step that you were using before? I like it, because I can only use fragrance free mineral ones too.

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1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:09 pm
  
  It’s still one of the best so keep using it!!
  
  Reply
Terri says:

May 7, 2017 at 7:30 am

Have you reviewed Clarins SPF? If not, I would love to see a review on Clarins products, especially the SPF & Double Serum.

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1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:12 pm
  
  I don’t think Clarins makes an all mineral sunscreen…
  
  Reply
Elizabeth says:

May 6, 2017 at 11:43 pm

Did you still use the Laura Mercier primer over the sunscreen?

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1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:12 pm
  
  No, I didn’t use any primer with any of the sunscreens.
  
  Reply
Becky Jumps says:

May 5, 2017 at 6:20 pm

Hi Angie,
have you ever tried Visual Changes spf 30 sunscreen? I use several of their items and really
like.
Thanks,
Becky

Reply
1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:15 pm
  
  I haven’t tried them, they don’t offer an all mineral sunscreen.
  
  Reply
  1. Becky Jumps says:
    
    July 16, 2017 at 5:28 pm
    
    Angie,
    Just found your reply and thanks so much…just looked at ingredients and oh my, I’m glad you are understanding and doing the research because until recently I never knew the difference nor do I understand the chemical components. Just read Paula’s explanation on the dangers of chemical sunscreens…I have purchased both Australian Gold and a Neutrogena SPF 70, like them both. Now trying to get my husband to use anything but Coppertone will be a challenge.
    
    Reply
ana says:

May 5, 2017 at 6:14 pm

Just checked the Australian one you rave about. The zinc oxide is only 4%; the Titanium dioxide is higher content but does not have as high a broad-light-spectrum protection. I was surprised that alumina was the first ingredient….though aluminum and alzhiemer’s have been associated, not sure how accurate that is any more…still makes me think…
always love watching your videos and learning more!

Reply
ana says:

May 5, 2017 at 6:08 pm

Have you tried Citrix spf 40? TONS of antioxidants, water resistant, 3.5 oz for about $30 and glides on fairly well. The web derm, Dr. Bailey raves about it and has her own label on it. Great for retin-a users.

Reply
1. Paula says:
  
  May 23, 2017 at 11:14 am
  
  Unfortunately Citrix is not an all mineral sunscreen. It contains octinoxate:
  
  https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704203/OCTINOXATE/
  
  “Overall hazard: MODERATE.
  
  Other HIGH concerns: Biochemical or cellular level changes, Endocrine disruption; Other MODERATE concerns: Persistence and bioaccumulation; Other LOW concerns: Enhanced skin absorption, Ecotoxicology, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)”
  
  Reply
Becky says:

May 5, 2017 at 12:57 pm

Thank you so much Angie for testing sunscreens. It is so important but so hard to find the right one that works well with makeup.
Question: In what order do you apply the sunscreen. Before you apply other products? Or other products then the sunscreen last.
You are beautiful inside and out. Thank you for all your time each week. I look so forward to your videos in my Inbox.
XOXO
Becky

Reply
1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:16 pm
  
  Hi Becky~ Proper order is skincare first (serums, lotions, creams), then sunscreen (wait 15-20 minutes for it to set), then primer & makeup. xo ~angie
  
  Reply
Laura says:

May 5, 2017 at 12:23 pm

Perfect timing! I have just discovered your videos so have been using Neutrogena Sport Face but it kills my eyes! It burns so bad and I was in the market for a new ss. I’m trying the Australian Gold. Thank you for all the time you put into these videos!

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Lesley says:

May 5, 2017 at 12:12 pm

Hi Angie! I had a skin cancer scare in the spring and am now going to be a diligent sunscreen wearer! I also have to start wearing a hat when I go out in the sun for optimal protection but have never considered myself a “hat person” and don’t feel like ball caps look good on me at all lol. Could you possibly do a segment on some chic hat ideas for women over 50 in keeping with skin cancer awareness month? I’m setting out to buy myself a ball cap and would love some tips!

Reply
1. Angie says:
  
  May 9, 2017 at 1:19 pm
  
  Hi Lesley~ Great idea for a video!! I’ll try to get it done in May. While baseball hats are cute, they’re not my first choice for sun protection since most of your face is left exposed. I prefer something with a round brim that’s fairly wide to shade the whole face while looking chic! xo ~angie
  
  Reply

May is Skin Cancer Awareness month so it’s the perfect time for my annual Sunscreen Testing video!

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