Robynrose review for Daily UV Defense Sun Milk SPF50+/PA++++

🌱 I was gifted this product by Reyena16 in exchange for my honest review 🌱 🌱 Brand Story: Reyena16 is a new sub-brand of Benton aimed at a teen to young adult audience. Their products are joyful and sparkly, a far cry from the muted and mature products that parent brand Benton offers. 🌱 Claims: Alcohol-free, Paraben-free, Sulfate-free, Allergen-free Reyena16’s website considers this a tone-up sunscreen with brightening effects, so with the inclusion of titanium dioxide, there will be somewhat of a white cast. 🌱 Key Ingredients: This is a mineral sunscreen with both mineral filters: 🌿Titanium Dioxide (% Unknown) - UVA/UVB 🌿Zinc Oxide (% Unknown) - UVA/UVB 🌱Panthenol (Pro vitamin b5) - Hydration and moisture retention 🌱Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd) Fruit Extract - Skin conditioning 🌱Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root - Anti-aging 🌱Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract - Anti-aging 🌱Corallina Officinalis (Red Seaweed) Extract - Antioxidant, Hydration 🌱Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract - Antioxidant 🌱Nymphaea Alba (White Water Lily) Flower Extract - Antioxidant 🌱Melia Azadirachta (Chinaberry) Leaf/Flower Extract - Anti-aging 🌱Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil - Emollient 🌱Fructan - Humectant Prebiotic 🌱 Concerning ingredients: 🌿Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) - While not directly an irritant, and having antioxidant properties, this is a very astringent ingredient that helps with oil control, but may cause tightness in already dry skin 🌿Calamine - A mixture of Zinc Carbonate and Ferric Oxide (rust) with absorbent properties, but can cause irritation like Witch Hazel, from over-absorption 🌿Amber Powder - A non-irritating, non-beneficial fragrance ingredient, that also has absorbent properties All told, these are not necessarily bad ingredients, but they place this sunscreen firmly in the normal-to-oily skin category. 🌱 pH: Unknown 🌱 Texture: A thin, milky fluid. Requires a firm shake to evenly distribute the mineral filters within. 🌱 Scent: Definitely some pros and cons 🌿Con - It’s scented. Very scented. If you don’t like scents sitting right under your nose, you might have an issue here 🌿Pro - Do you remember Clinique’s Happy perfume? This smells exactly like that! 🌱 Price / Amount: $23CA for 50mL, or $0.46/mL 🌱 Application: Like the scent, there are a few pros and cons here. There is a white cast, but it is not nearly as strong as some other products, like the Some by Mi sunscreen, or the VT Compact I reviewed last year. I liken this to a high ratio of zinc oxide to titanium dioxide, since zinc oxide is slightly translucent. (I admit, I am not the best judge since I have very light skin already) My main concern is that this is a sunscreen for young users, and as a mineral-only sunscreen, youth will either not apply enough to get the SPF benefit, or will blend it out endlessly until they can’t see any white cast, but then their skin will be left unprotected from over-blending. Being a liquid, it’s very hard to measure out the 1/4 teaspoon on your two fingers, so the user is left guessing and may under-apply. (I wonder if the cap could be redesigned as a measuring device, sort of like laundry soap?) If you are going to layer this sunscreen, apply any chemical sunscreens first, then apply mineral on top so as not to disturb the even film of UV protection. Fortunately, this sunscreen is pleasant to layer and plays well with other skincare and makeup. I found this formula had good lasting power. It didn’t slide around or melt away, even in 33*C weather. It’s not waterproof, but you can sweat in it and the absorbent ingredients will keep it dry and in place. 🌿💚Being a mineral sunscreen, this is REEF SAFE!💚🌿 🌱 Notes: I sometimes experienced skin tightness when I used this because of my typically dry skin, those with oily skin will probably find it a lot more comfortable and absorbent. Contains fragrance that, while a nice scent, is fairly strong. 🌱 Every day: You should be wearing a sunscreen you find comfortable and can re-apply every day. 🌱 Packaging: Comes in a cute pink bottle with a self-locking twist off cap and a shaker bead to help mix the product. Opaque plastic protects the formula from UV damage, and the tiny spout prevents spills while limiting oxidative stress. 🌱 Accessibility: Due to the nature of this runny product, it requires shaking and can easily drip, so those with motor issues may have trouble applying it. This is not Reyena16’s fault, just the way liquid sunscreens work. 🌱 Sustainability: The cap is recyclable, but unless you remove the shaker bead, the bottle is not. 🌱 Overall: If you are sensitive to the UV filters in chemical sunscreens and have oily skin, this might be an interesting product to try. It does leave a slight white cast, but it is not strikingly obvious. It has a pleasant scent that is somewhat strong