I am constantly being bombarded for requests for sunscreens that provide excellent protection against UVA but also, are cheap.
Before Altruist started to produce their £5 (or INR 500) sunscreens, I was sceptical that an affordable sunscreen at a cheap price point was possible. It is and L’Oreal’s sunscreens, squarely fall into the Altruist category of being cheap and effective.
What damage are we trying to protect against?
UV filters contained in sunscreens should protect against the damaging effects of both UVA and UVB radiation:
Happy Skin Days’ sunscreen test
I apply this very basic test to all sunscreens that I test on this blog.
Note: the harmful chemicals that I look for are specifically BHT, Oxybenzone, Formaldehyde releasing preservatives and parabens (and none of these are present in this product). The product is at least an SPF 30 and it does provide UVA protection.
3) What UVA and UVB filters are present in this sunscreen?
There are 8 sunscreen filters and together they have a synergistic effect and give high levels of protection against UVA and UVB radiation.
The UVA and UVB filters are:
UVB filters:
- Ethylhexyl Slicylate (weak UVB filter),
- Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid (strong UVB protection, that also supports Avobenzone’s stability),
- Octocrylne (UVB filter, also photostabilises Avobenzone), and
- Ethylhexyl triazone (strong UVB filter)
UVA filters
- Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (this is a L’Oreal specific filter, called Mexoryl SX) and
- Avobenzone (superior UVA filter)
UVB and UVA filters
- Titanium Dioxide (which provides better UVB protection, than UVA) and
- Drometrizole Trisiloxane (this is a L’Oreal developed filter called Mexoryl XL, that provides protection in both UVA and UVB region
In my mind, this sunscreen has photostable filters, that provide superior protection UVB and UVA radiation. If you’d like to know more, drop me a line at email@happyskindays.com
Aesthetics of the sunscreen
The sunscreen is completely fragrance free and as you can see blends in with no whitecast and the finish is matte. On my skin, the texture does feel a bit closed and there is no doubt in my mind, that this could get very uncomfortable in humid conditions.
Would I buy this sunscreen?
This is an oil free formulation, and should be great for those with acne prone skin. However, one of my readers did breakout after using this sunscreen – proper painful acne. She repurposed it so that she used it on her body – but the same thing happened.
Everyone has different skin and therefore, what happened to her may not happen to me or you. I patch tested this sunscreen on my arm and nothing happened.
Therefore, if you do buy this sunscreen, for sure patch test on your arm before using it.
At INR 515, I would definitely buy this sunscreen.