I've been on the daily sunscreen band wagon for quite a few years and I've tried many always looking for that perfect one. Like relationships, there are no perfect ones. But this one is pretty good in terms of ease of use, feel and protection the sunscreen, I mean, of course. :)
Non-chemical sunscreens appeal to me but who wants to spend the day looking like a Geisha girl from the white face effect of zinc oxide? I have tried sunscreens that feel creamy smooth and look great on my skin, but are lacking in decent protection, those with a great protection pedigree that are just sticky and/or so shiny and oily that they make you want to wash your face and just forget it! And then there are the so-called "dry" sunscreens like this one. A wonderful concept, but like every other sunscreen, they have some trade-offs.
UVA PROTECTION:
I can't find a photo-stabilizer for the UVA protection in this sunscreen listed in its ingredients.
The only three ingredients approved by the FDA that can protect skin from UVA damage (the one that ages you) are Avobenzone (chemical), titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide (both white physical barriers). Outside of the US, Tinosorb and Mexoryl SX are also UVA-protecting ingredients, Mexoryl being arguably better or at least more photostable than our Avobenzone (i.e. exposure to sunlight breaks it down and reduces its effectiveness.)
This sunscreen (and the Neutrogena) both use Avobenzone. My major issue with this sunscreen is that it appears to contain nothing to photo-stabilize the Avobenzone. Normally you see octocrylene with Avobenzone because it's the most popular stabilizer. I don't see anything in the list of ingredients that matches any of the listed Avobenzone photo stabilizers I can find and that concerns me.
DISCLAIMER: That doesn't mean there isn't a stabilizer in there that is just going by a different name. Organic Chemistry courses were a long time ago for me and they certainly didn't cover sunscreen compounds so I have only a very basic knowledge of this subject and you should do your own research. It also doesn't mean it's not a good sunscreen. It might mean you need to put it on several times a day, which is a bit inconvenient if this is your daily sunscreen and you wear make up over it.
FEEL AND APPEARANCE ON YOUR FACE:
Overall, I really like the feel of this sunscreen but the Neutrogena dry is very similar in feel and application. This one goes on smooth and easy on clean skin. Very nice. I'd rate this one just slightly higher than the Neutrogena in feel. I definitely like the dry feature and not having shiny or white face, but it pills up on your skin if you rub your face or apply make up over it. (Both this one and the Neutrogena do this.) Perhaps another reason it needs to be applied well and often.
I can't say I like this one TWICE as much as the Neutrogena, though I do prefer it's lack of any scent and I think it goes on just a bit smoother.
ACTIVE AND OTHER INGREDIENTS (AS COMPARED TO NEUTROGENA DRY):
I checked the ingredients to see what I was really getting. There's really isn't any difference in the active ingredients, except a slight variation in percentages. But then with Neutrogena, you can always step up to the 45 spf (or higher) in the same product if you want more protection. Here they are for comparison:
Active Ingredients:
Roth Uber Dry:
Avobenzone 2.00%, Homosalate 8.00%, Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.00%, Oxybenzone 3.50%.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch (30 spf):
Avobenzone 2.0%, Homosalate 7%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Oxybenzone 3.0%
Do you see much of a difference? Yeah, me neither. 1% more on Homosalate and 0.50% more of Oxybenzone, yet both achieved a 30 spf rating. The Avobenzone content is equal. So let's check the inactive ingredients that account for the look and feel and vitamins both promise:
Roth Uber Dry:
Water, Silica, Adipic Acid/Diethylene Glycol/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phospholipids, Edta, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Bisabolol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Crosspolymer, Tetrasodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch (30 spf):
Water, Silica, Adipic Acid/Diethylene Glycol/Glycerin Crosspolymer, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Oat Kernel Extract (Avena Sativa), Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C) (Vitamin C), Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), BHT, Cetyl Dimethicone, Bisabolol (L-Alpha), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice Root) (Licorice Root), Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Isobutylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
While I'm not up for a romp through chemical literature on the differences, note that the first line of ingredients is nearly identical. Roth has Glycerin listed earlier than Neutrogena which may explain its smoother feel. Both sunscreens have vitamins A, C and E and various moisturizers.
The big difference to me is that last ingredient in the Neutrogena product, FRAGRANCE. I prefer my sunscreen without. Or maybe I just don't care for Neutrogena's choice of frangance. But then, the Neutrogena product can be had in a variety of different levels of protection, higher than 30 and for half the price.
CONCLUSION:
If you're looking for the absolute best protection in a sunscreen for a day at the beach, keep looking. If you're looking for a good dry touch sunscreen for every day wear, this one is high on my list of favorites. But it is so much like the Neutrogena product, again, for half the price, that I'm not sure it's worth it. If the cost were identical, I would choose this one for it's lack of fragrance and slightly smoother feel going on. And I still might splurge on it once in a while anyway. :)
I've been getting professional facials for 15 years and this product was recommended and sold to me by my esthetician for years.Until a few years ago, PTR was an exclusive line available only to practioners but now it's available online (and on QVC).I've always loved this product bc I have fair skin and need coverage that doesn't clog my pores.I can use it around my eyes (not too close) and it doesn't sweat off and burn your eyes out like cheap products. It also gives your face a nice healthy look.My esthetician recommended a different product line when PTR went public and I said I really liked the one I've been using for years and asked if she no longer thought it was a good product.She said, "No, its a great product...I just don't like their business practices" meaning it's no longer exclusive to professionals.Well, that's no reason for me to switch so she's not happy but I am.And the skin cleansers are great too!!!!
Buy Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen SPF 30 Now
If you skin tends to get oily in the summer heat, this sunscreen is great because it won't add a heavy layer of shine like many other sunscreens. It's lightweight, matte finish and blends easily so you don't have white streaks on your face. It isn't overly drying, so you won't have cakey looking dry skin. I have very fair skin and it works very well to protect against sunburn and skin damage. It's also non-irritating and works with even sensitive skin types. I wear it under makeup and don't even need to add a moisturizer when I wear it. I'm very happy with the sunscreen and will be purchasing it again.
Read Best Reviews of Peter Thomas Roth Uber-Dry Sunscreen SPF 30 Here
The Uber-dry, fast absorbing, non-greasy, no film, no shine claims simply aren't true. This is like any other sunscreen there will be some grease and shine. However, I do really like this sunscreen. I use it as a substitute for lotion and a makeup base for mineral powder. It also doesn't seem to promote acne and actually improves the condition of my skin. Which is why I buy it, despite the hype.
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I used Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with Helioplex SPF 55 for years but once open it seemed to get thicker over time and clog my pores.Also, their use by date is stamped in the white area at bottom of tube and impossible to see without a magnifying glass (even with 20/30 vision) so more than once I came home with a tube less than six months to expiration.So its really not cheaper if I am always tossing half the product.I found that this SPF 30 provides better coverage then the SFP 55 (less brown spots).Also, though I do a lot of shopping at Amazon, I don't for cosmetics since there is no customer satisfaction policy after its opened yet the price is near or at list.Might as well go to my Nordstroms or a salon that allows returns any time if it does not agree with your skin.
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I began using this when working construction in the winter.It is the only product I have found that keeps my skin from cracking and is not greasy like another product designed for the same tasks.The females in my house used it for tough times on their hands and all year on feet, particularly heels.
