I have only been using mineral sunscreen on my face for a while now, just because my skin is incredibly sensitive to American chemical filters. But I'm with you, only tinted versions for me, untinted just don't work for my skin tone (and I have a very light skin tone). Lately, I've been using Beauty of Joseon, and I love it! My skin has not experienced any irritation whatsoever! I think for me, korean susncreens and tinted mineral susncreens are the way to go... and I already have found a few that work great for me❤
I think I’m done with mineral sunscreens, in general. I don’t know why I keep trying to make them work. I haven’t found one that doesn’t dry my skin out. Chemical sunscreens have always worked best for me. I especially love my Japanese and Korean sunscreens for daily wear!
Noooo give the Innbeauty mineral tinted sunscreen a try! I couldn’t care less for mineral but that one is so gorgeous! I also heard amazing things about the Naked Sundays Tinted mineral waterproof spf
I’m just being dramatic - I’m sure one day I’ll reach for another mineral sunscreen. My only gripe with the tinted ones is that they get on my clothing (and the matte screen by supergroup was too drying for me). But I love trying new sunscreens and maybe I’ll give those a try. Thanks for the suggestion
I have discovered Korean sunscreen and i am not looking back, the difference is non comparable. I tried so many chemical and mineral traditional sunscreens and a « good enough » which isn’t that great is not an option anymore.
I definitely agree about retinoids - I don't think stronger is always better. I think people need to understand that science is about averages, but we are individuals. The average won't always work in individual situations. That's why all medicine is trial and error. An individual normal/truth can't be captured in a study, but it is still equally true. Nerida Joy is an amazing aesthetician who's worked for DECADES and prefers gentler retinoids as she finds if the skin tolerates a product better, it's healthier, and can be more receptive to the positive changed vitamin a can bring. She's working with people's skin, touching, massaging, seeing them throughout the years, and she's a very intuitive person. Gentle can be extremely valuable and more efficacious! Ultimately, irritation IS skin damage. Plus I've seen enough anecdotes where tret caused ppl to develop perioral dermatitis or rosacea and it never went away (happened to me). I started reacting to my fav chemical sunscreen so I'm on the tinted mineral sunscreen journey. I'm brown with olive undertones so it's hard to find a good color, but I really do love that they provide some coverage. And since my main concern is pigmentation/tanning (family history of melasma for ppl w/ my coloring), love having the iron oxides to try and make up for mineral sunscreens lacking broad UVA coverage.
I enjoyed your open and honest thoughts. It has definitely made me rethink a few things you mentioned. I definitely agree with you about the tinted sunscreens. They get all over the place.
I have come to the same oconclusion about tretinoin and my skin. My skin really loves retinol so I'm sticking with that. I go back and forth on skin tints.
I am with you on the tretinoin perspective! It worked great to clear up my acne but since then, my skin has just been flaky from it. As for mineral sunscreens - I go back and forth on this so often- I hate them but I also get fed up with the eye sting from chemical sunscreens
I’ve been using tretinoin for about 7 years now and I love it! I will say I notice a difference when I only use one active and keep it simple. My skin doesn’t like a bunch of products. I totally want to jump on the chemical sunscreen wagon I am just so afraid of everything coming about the chemicals in those sunscreens . I agree though chemical sunscreen especially Korean ones are by far the best.
I have had a few similar revelations recently. My skin is dehydrated, not dry - it needs water, and just a bit of oil. Completely game-changing. I am also very conscious of my sunscreen transferring - why is it so hard to find one that doesn’t?? I’m curious about which retinol you like! I’ve found my skin really likes bakuchiol and retinol - it just does better with some help turning over (less acne and texture).
I used curology for a few years and once I went from .04 to .06 tret, my skin just couldn’t handle it. Constant peeling. I dealt with it for months and finally I stopped. Using retinal currently and having zero trouble tolerating it.
I use musely .25 and tried another company .3 and I flaked. I am back to the lower level. I have used retinol in the past too that were fine. But I wanted a plan to treat dark spots/melasma and the tret is part of the current plan. I agree, we need to listen to our own bodies more.
Results and best dosages can definitely vary a great deal from one person to the next, and across a person's lifetime. We who have ever had skin struggles need to keep watch, adjust to conditions, and work to keep the routine minimal. Too many moving parts isn't just unaffordable, it introduces risk of bad interactions that are hard to isolate with a multi-step system. I still like mineral SPF on the face to avoid eyes stinging and to avoid ruining collars and cuffs with avobenzone stains. Everywhere else, chemical sunscreens are terrific. If you can use chemical filters without problems, why fuss with minerals? Second example. I struggled with acne into my 30s. Tried facials, acids, everything. One day I bought a drugstore set (now discontinued) that had an supermild cleanser, the lightest simple moisturizer I'd ever tried, and a treatment cream with a fraction of salicylic acid and half the benzoyl peroxide I'd tried before. My skin cleared up almost overnight, forever. Night and day. Lower percentages worked better. Gobsmacked.
I can’t afford a Derm let alone a tret prescription. If it ever goes OTC I’d like to try it but adapalene has at least been working well for me. I don’t wear makeup and don’t like tinted mineral sunscreens. The only mineral I like is Trader Joe’s in the spray form. Other than that it’s Black Girl and Asian brands!
Didn’t realize your channel was based in NC. I’m here visiting my mom . I have normal skin , but drier as I’ve gotten older. I’ll forever be on the tinted mineral sunscreen hunt. Want to do as much chemical free stuff as I can due to auto immune issues. However, still want a wash of color & radiant finish. Would love to find the holy grail that also works as “ make up “. I really like retinaldehyde - doesn’t dry out my skin. At my age - just wanting to look bright, happy , and myself !
I totally agree that geography has a lot to do not just with skin, but so with what we crave and ultimately who we are. I was born in Poland. I had health problems but overall a very happy childhood. Then we immigrated to Canada following the world's propaganda. I don't think my parents regret anything more than coming here for various reasons, my life and health being the biggest one. I won't get into it more, it's a very complex issue, but I can't wait to move. I'm saving up to permanently move away from here. The climate, the pollution and a few other things just never served me. I just bought Neurtrogena sunscreen. It was $13. I broke out in a rash after buying one that was $50. I'm done with Sephora for now and back to the drugstore. I've changed my mind about my skin being a guinea pig. P.S.- RETINOL and I don't get along. I'm not going to irritate my skin anymore. I'll accept the wrinkles (as hard as that is sometimes).
