BareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer
BareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer
BareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is available in two formulations: one for normal to dry skin, and one for combination skin. It’s supposed to be hydrating, lightweight, and leave skin protected and smooth. The brand also states that it is “[c]linically proven to reveal brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin, reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and remarkably smaller-looking pores.” Both formulations are also available in a sheer tint, but I don’t know how much of a tint it gives–the one I tried was for combination skin without a tint.
Like the rest of the BareMinerals skincare range, there’s a light, herbal-like scent that seems like it’s the ingredients’ coming through, rather than a specific scent added. It’s innocuous and very subtle, and I don’t notice it at all once I’ve applied it. This product uses physical blockers (5% Titanium Dioxide and 3% Zinc Oxide) to protect against the sun’s harmful rays. Physical blockers can be great for those who tend to be more sensitive to chemical sunscreens. I’ve definitely worn this under foundation in photos, and I didn’t see any major reflection back, but physical blockers can sometimes cause this to occur. If you have a major event, I’d opt for chemical blockers, but during regular life, the preference is yours based on what you find works for your skin!
I liked it! The consistency is thin, more like a lotion, so it spreads easily and evenly across the skin. It feels lightweight, not greasy, and it absorbs in three to five minutes. My face never felt dry at the end of the day, which was surprising, because this is one of the lighter moisturizers I’ve tried recently. Whether I wore it alone or under makeup, it performed well. I can’t speak to anti-aging benefits and the like, but it did keep my skin looking hydrated, healthy, and smooth. It’s packaged in a plastic cylinder with an airless pump. You can unscrew the cap, too, and all that is left is about a usage and a half at best (which is pretty good!). I was able to get the last bit out with a cotton swab.
It didn’t work for me as a sports sunscreen, because when I played tennis, this broke down under sweat more easily than a thicker, heavier sunscreen (I’ve been using Shiseido’s for tennis). I’ve been outdoors just walking about, and it’s held up better, but if you’re going to be really active, I didn’t think this did as well there. I liked it much more as a daily moisturizer. I’m a huge fan of bareMinerals’ skincare range–it’s actually a range I would consider returning to if I stopped testing skincare. It’s affordable, effective (for me), and doesn’t seem to over-promise. I also really appreciate that they include their ingredient lists online.
Ingredients (Normal to Dry)
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6.0%. Inactive Ingredients: Aluminum Hydroxide, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil [Anthemis Nobilis], Ascorbic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Citronellol, Coumarin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract [Epilobium Angustifolium], Ethylhexylglycerin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil [Glycine Soja], Isostearic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil [Lavandula Angustifolia], Lavandula Hybrida Oil [Lavandula Hybrida], Lecithin, Limonene [Limonene], Linalool [Linalool], Phenoxyethanol, Phytoecdysteroids, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sinorhizobium Meliloti Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Soil Minerals, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethylhexanoin, Trisodium Edta, Water [Aqua], Zizyphus Jujuba Seed Extract [Zizyphus Jujuba].
Ingredients (Combination)
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 5.0%, Zinc Oxide 3.0%. Inactive Ingredients: Acacia Dealbata Flower/Stem Extract, Alumina, Aluminum Stearate, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matracaria) Flower Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ectoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Jojoba Esters, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propanediol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Soil Minerals, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Water (Aqua), Xanthan Gum
This is good. I like that there is a version for combination skin. I have been trying to find an SPF lotion or a sunscreen that wont cause me to breakout.
@Caitlin Mary It’s excellent! Almost every SPF moisturizer I’ve tried makes me break out (my skin is super sensitive :P) and I’ve been using this one for over a month with no issues. It feels nice and light on the skin, too.
I started using this recently, and I love it! I had been using Neutrogena’s Oil-free moisturizer for a long time, but I kept breaking out. When I switched to this, the breakouts disappeared! By the way, you really got me hooked on BE products! I absolutely love the Ready 2.0 eyeshadows 🙂
It sounds like a great product. I might check it out when I hit Ulta today. I do wish it was easier to find higher SPF formulations in moisturizers, though. My skin burns very easily, so my recommended go-to is SPF 50-70, which isn’t common.
I’ve tried a sample of this. It seems good, but I don’t love the smell.
@jeneyg I get that! It can be one of those smells that you either love, tolerate, or hate. I’m more in the like category – I tend to prefer more “herbal” scents in my skincare. I’ve only had one or two products where the fragrance was unbearable (Amorepacific and a Lancome moisturizer) – but it was more of an overly fragranced scent, not so much “from the ingredients” kind of scent.
@jeneyg I picked it it up yesterday, and I agree that the smell took me a little by surprise when I put it on this morning. It’s not terrible by any means, but it’s definitely far removed from the more fragrant scents moisturizers tend to have. It faded almost as soon as it absorbed, though, which was a major plus. I’m really sensitive to overtly sweet synthetic scents (I seriously cannot tolerate most female perfumes or body products for more than a few minutes), so it was kind of a relief to have something different that didn’t linger for a long while afterward.
I’m probably on the opposite page to everyone, but I hate having SPF in my moisturizer. I would rather it be found in my tinted moisturizer or foundation. I’m not discounting the importance of SPF at all, but I don’t want it in all of my face care products. I end up feeling like I am wearing a mask.. I buy only moisturizers without added sunscreen. No doubt others find it more beneficial to have it in the opposite.
@wwendalynne I think the main benefit to using an SPF moisturizer vs. relying on the SPF in your foundation is that unless you’re really caking it on, you’e pretty much guaranteed to not be wearing enough foundation or TM to provide adequate sun protection. You might want to shop around a little bit – there are some really nice SPF moisturizers on the market these days that are very lightweight and don’t feel mask-like.
@MaggieGrove Hi Maggie! Thanks for your comment 🙂 I completely agree. Today’s moisturizers plus SPF are a considerable improvement over even a few short years ago. I have Lupus along with Rheumatoid Arthritis and big sun exposure is a huge no-no for me. I’m usually in the shade or wearing a wide brimmed hat as part of my game plan, but you are absolutely correct that foundation of TM’s wouldn’t typically be enough coverage. I am also vitamin D deficient so I do not wear the really high SPF’s. I try to get controlled amounts of sun in very limited doses. It’s quite ironic since I used to tan amazingly well. Beach vacations were never my thing anyway! ha!
@wwendalynne Gotcha 🙂 Well, that is quite a different story then! I’m the same way, big fan of the shade and hats and so forth. Though in my case it’s just that I’m insanely pale! I don’t even tan, I just turn lobster-colored and then go right back to snow white if I happen to get a sunburn!
@MaggieGrove No risk of looking like a suntan barbie then 🙂 I’ve always admired natural pale/porcelain complexions and think they look so much more sophisticated. In fact in the 80’s I actually tried to wear foundation about 5 or 6 shades too light for me.Good thing I have grown up. *laugh*
Nice! I haven’t been too interesting in most of the other bare minerals skin care line, but this moisturizer sounds lovely. I much prefer physical blockers for my sensitive skin. I like that it comes in different formulas.
If you have an event opt for chemical blockers IF YOU CAN. A lot of people don’t have much of choice as chemical sunscreens cause serious irritation on their skin.
I’ll definitely look into this.
Christine I’ve been looking at buying a Sheseido sunscreen for the beach this summer. Would you be able to recommend a certain one?
I use the SPF 55 Face Cream one I believe! It’s pretty thick and heavy, and it takes a good remover to break it down and remove it, but I like it for outdoors with activity. I wear it while I play tennis, and it doesn’t break down from sweat or heat.
@Christine (Temptalia) Thank you!
I wear this daily in the combination tint. On lazy days, I’ll just slap on moisturizer and mineral veil and go out the door. Lately though I’ve found that wearing the tint under the original or matte foundation can help warm up the complexion slightly. I can’t speak on behalf on how it would look with any other foundation else since I only use Bare Escentuals. I apply it with a brush for a more sheer application and since I am Fairly Light in the matte, it helps to give me a slight hint of warmth.