Sparkled Beauty

Sun and warm weather definitely are mood boosting factors now that we actually have a summer. I better tell you about these sunscreen before it is gone :)

Vichy has revamped its awesome Capital Soleil sun care line into Ideal Soleil this year, and I was lucky to receive a few. Can't have enough of that gorgeous golden orange packaging.

What all products in the line share:
- 100% sensitive skin suitable, paraben free
- light texture, quick drying, no white residue once shaken
- hydrating, smoothing and
- broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB (both can cause skin cancer and hyper pigmentation).

I have covered the formula (Mexoryl XL-SX, Avobenzone and Octocrylene) in my initial review (linked below) so I will not repeat it here.

Worth repeating though, Vichy suggests sunscreen application 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplication every 2 hours (or after 40 minutes of swimming/ sweating, or immediately after towel drying).

Brand new this year is Ideal Soleil Invisible Mist SPF50 (dry touch, water resistant).

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Capital Soleil Invisible Mist SPF30 from last year, no doubt this year.

Please note though: A SPF50 product blocks 98% of UVB rays, only 1% more than what a SPF30 product does, so pick one that calls your name :)

The 3-4-7 rule: spray 3 seconds on each arm, 4 seconds on front/ back and 7 seconds on each leg.

The 2 sprays look the same, so I'll show you the swatch from last year.

Ingredients do differ though.
Active ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Oxybenzone 6%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) 2%.

Other ingredients: Butane, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cyclohexasiloxane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Dicaprylyl Ether, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, etc.

The can has 155g of product, retails for $31.95.

The line also has 2 products for the face and very exposed areas. I cannot really tell them apart in terms of texture and application, so again, pick one that suits your phototype.

Ultra-fluid SPF30 (daily use) is meant for phototypes 1-4: pale, fair, light brown skin.

Active ingredients: Octocrylene 8%, Titanium Dioxide 4%, Avobenzone 3%, Drometrizole Trisiloxane (Mexoryl XL) 2%, Terephthalyidene Dicamphorsulfonic Acid (Mexoryl) 1%.

Other ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alcohol Denat., Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Silica, Propylene Glycol, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Nylon-12, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, etc.

Ultra-light lotion SPF50 (express dry touch) is best for phototypes 5-6: brown and dark brown/ black skin.

Active ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Oxybenzone: 6%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Terephthalyidene Dicamphorsulfonic Acid (Mexoryl) 2%.

Other ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol Denat., Cyclohexasiloxane, Styrene/ Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Dicaprylyl Ether, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone, etc.

Both products dry quite fast, do not leave a white cast (with shaking action before application, of course) and work well under makeup. They are quite runny, however, so no texture shot :)

Standard amount: 2mg (half a table spoon) per squared cm of skin or the 1-2 rule: 1 tablespoon for face/ neck/ decollete and 2 for each body part (front, back, each arm and each leg).

The face sunscreens are fragrance/ preservative free, water resistant. The bottles are 40ml, $25 each.