Aqualogica Glow+ Dewy Sunscreen with Papaya & Vitamin C – SPF 50 PA+++
Review
Aqualogica Glow+ Dewy Sunscreen with Papaya & Vitamin C – SPF 50 PA+++ is an okay sunscreen.
I say okay. I am not saying good. This is because of some questionable marketing claims and ingredients used.
More on this below…
This is a chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays, convert them into heat and release them into the atmosphere.
There are two types of rays from the Sun that can affect our skin: UVA and UVB. UVA rays are responsible for skin ageing, and UVA and UVB can cause skin cancer. So, we need a good level of protection from both types.
It has a SPF of 50. SPF 50 sunscreens block 98% of UVB radiation that hits our skin. This is a good level of protection. This product offers +++ protection against UVA (3 pluses), which is a high level of protection. However, ++++(4 pluses) is the protection you should be after. So, this product needs to be improved in terms of UVA protection.
The product’s marketing claims it makes our skin glow. I don’t know what they mean by this. Sunscreen ingredients, in general, give our skin a shine. This shine stays on only until the sunscreen is on the skin. All sunscreens do this. It’s the nature of the ingredients. Truth be said, this shine from sunscreens is not known for its cosmetic appearance. The manufacturer may mention ‘glow and brightening’ because the product has a small vitamin C derivative. It is a minimal amount of vitamin C derivative to make a reasonable difference to the skin. This ‘glow’ claim has to be disregarded. It doesn’t mean anything.
The same is true of the claim ‘prevents tanning’. Well, that’s what sunscreens are supposed to do. So why highlight it as if it’s special to just this sunscreen?
The product does add some hydration, but that is not its primary function. The product has glycerin as the seventh ingredient. This adds a small amount of hydration.
It has the word ‘papaya’ in the name. Yes, it has papaya in it, but it is a very small amount. Papaya in a sunscreen, at the quantity it is added, doesn’t have much of a role in the product. Also, some people are allergic to papaya. So, if you are considering this product, please ensure you are not allergic.
Like all sunscreens, it must be reapplied at least every two hours. Waiting too long between applications is like not wearing sunscreen.
If you are wearing makeup, please ensure sunscreen is applied first and makeup on top of it.
You should be aware of a couple of key points about this product. I have mentioned them below…
A word of caution
The product’s marketing claims it offers protection against blue light, which is light from devices. This light can also age the skin. Ingredients like iron oxide and zinc oxide offer good protection against blue light. This product has a very small quantity of zinc oxide. I’m unsure if it can do what it needs to do at this quantity.
The ingredients this product uses for protection against the Sun’s UV rays are not good for coral health. It is banned in some places because of the environmental damage it can cause.
The manufacturer says it has to be reapplied every 6 hours. This is incorrect! After two hours, the product becomes ineffective.
How to use the product?
How to use the product?
Cleanse your face. Apply on your face—a good quantity. Don’t forget the eyelids.
Top the product with your makeup.
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before you step out in the sun. It needs this time to form a layer on the skin, and it will be effective only then.
Reapply every two hours.
If you like, apply moisturizer or a Vitamin C serum, follow it up with sunscreen, and then top it off with makeup if you plan on applying makeup.
Ingredient 1 – Aqua
Function: Solvent
It helps in dissolving other ingredients in the product.
Dissolved ingredients can spread better on the skin.
Ingredient 2 – C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Function: Emollient, Texture enhancer
Forms a thin layer on top of the skin and reduces water loss from skin through evaporation. Hydrated skin is soft and plump.
It also enhances the texture of the product.
Ingredient 3 – Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Function: Sunscreen
It protects against the Sun’s UVB rays, which are responsible for skin cancer and sunburn. However, it does not offer protection against the Sun’s UVA rays.
This ingredient is not very stable. It starts losing its protection ability in about 30 minutes. It should be combined with other sunscreen agents to give the sunscreen a more stable protection.
This ingredient is also called Octinoxate.
Ingredient 4 – Dimethicone
Function: Emollient, Texture enhancer
It adds a thin layer on top of the skin and thus reduces the evaporation of water from skin’s surface. This keeps the skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is soft and plump.
It also enhances the texture of the product. It gives the product a silky feel.
Ingredient 5 -Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Function: Texture enhancer, Film forming, Thickener
Enhances the texture of the product. Binds the ingredients together and thickens the product. Forms a film, a continuous covering over the skin.
Ingredient 6 – Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Function: Sunscreen
It offers protection against the Sun’s UVA rays. UVA rays are responsible for skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin. This ingredient is not very stable. It starts losing its protection ability in about 30 minutes. It should be combined with other sunscreen agents to enable the sunscreen offer a more stable protection.
This ingredient is also called avobenzone.
Ingredient 7 – Glycerin
Function: Humectant
It is a water magnet. It pulls water molecules from the atmosphere to the top layer of the skin. This way, it hydrates the skin.
Ingredient 8 – Benzophenone-3
Function: Sunscreen
It offers protection against the Sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient is also called Oxybenzone.
Ingredient 9 – 1,3- Butylene Glycol
Function: Solvent
Dissolves ingredients that are not water-soluble. Dissolved ingredients can spread and penetrate better.
Ingredient 10 – Phenoxyethanol
Function: Preservative
Preserves the product.
