The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel With Spf 50 Pa++++ For Broad Spectrum
Review
The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Sunscreen Aqua Gel SPF 50 PA++++ is a good sunscreen.
Let me now explain what it does and what it can’t do…
This is a chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays, convert them into heat and release them into the atmosphere.
Sunscreen’s primary job is to protect us from two different types of sun rays: UVA and UVB. Both rays can cause skin cancer and age the skin, but UVA can age our skin more than UVB.
This sunscreen provides strong protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
It has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50, which means it blocks 98% of UVB radiation. This is considered a high level of protection. Additionally, this product offers the highest level of UVA protection with four pluses (++++), indicating extremely high UVA protection.
The product is hydrating. Its two good ingredients, hyaluronic acid and glycerin add moisture to the skin. When we are out in the sun, our skin loses moisture, so having good hydrating ingredients helps. However, we also need ingredients to form a seal and retain the hydration these ingredients add. This product doesn’t have any such ingredients. That’s okay, though, because the primary function of sunscreen is to protect us from the sun’s UV rays, which this product does. So, don’t expect much from the hydration department and ignore the marketing claims.
The product contains allantoin, a calming ingredient that reduces inflammation. This is helpful because exposure to the sun’s rays inflames skin, eventually leading to pigmentation.
The product also has vitamin E and a vitamin C derivative. Both these ingredients help reduce pigmentation. But they are used at very low concentrations; at these quantities, they might not be able to offer much of what they can.
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. Usually, physical sunscreens provide a good level of protection against blue light. Physical sunscreens have a much higher amount of zinc oxide. This product, a chemical sunscreen, has a small quantity of zinc oxide. I’m not sure if it can offer protection against blue light at the level it is in this product.
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 4 hours. This is incorrect! After two hours, the product becomes ineffective.
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 – Hyaluronic Acid
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 – 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 9 – Benzophenone-3
Function: Sunscreen
It offers protection against the Sun’s UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient is also called Oxybenzone.
Ingredient 10 – 1,3-Butylene Glycol
Function: Solvent
Dissolves ingredients that are not water-soluble. Dissolved ingredients can spread and penetrate better.
