This is a product review of Bioderma’s Photoderm SPF 50+ sunscreen for pregnancy mask. Its apparently a clarifying gel-cream and the label says “anti-recurrence.”
The blurb from Bioderma’s website indicates that it is for “dark spots” and “melasma”
And the melasma protection takes the form of 66% blue light protection, which comes from the high concentration of Iron Oxide.
That is a strategy that I can agree with – the only protection against blue light is a physical barrier that is offered by Iron Oxide. I am cool with that.
However, I don’t have melasma so, the purpose of this blog is to tell you whether this Bioderma sunscreen is any good or not. Period.
But before that, what damages are we trying to protect against when using sunscreen?
The purpose of this is to tell you the importance of UVA in causing photoaging.
Happy Skin Days’ sunscreen test
Look and feel of this sunscreen
- Fine to use around the eyes
- Iron Oxide gives sunscreen a very orange appearance
- Blends in to leave a noticeable foundation-like appearance, although the foundation feels as if its from the last century
- Is a heavy textured sunscreen because of the Iron Oxide
Would I buy this Bioderma sunscreen again?
No.
I don’t have melasma and this is targetted specifically for that condition. As a result the % of Iron Oxide is so high that it leaves quite a thick coverage orange tinted layer.
If you are looking for a sunscreen that provides protection against Melasma then this is what you would be looking for. The only protection against Blue Light is a physical barrier…
Where can I buy this Bioderma sunscreen?
USA: Unavailable.
UK and Europe: click here
India: If you are looking for any Bioderma sunscreen your best bet is always Nykaa. There is also usually a sale on for no rhyme or reason. Click here
***Geek details***
The harmful chemicals I look for are BHT, Oxybenzone, Formaldehyde releasing preservatives and these are absent.
The Filters present and their position in the Ingredient list are discussed below.
This Bioderma sunscreen uses 5 filters and uses superior filters.
UVB protection is being provided by primarily Titanium Dioxide and supported by DBT and to a lesser extent BEMT and DHHB. (Titanium Dioxide (nano) is a broadspectrum filter that provides superior UVB and UVA protection, but honestly better UVB protection. DBT provides superior UVB protection upto about 315nm and then horrific UVA protection (haha)).
UVA protection is primarily being provided by DHHB+MBBT+BEMT.
MBBT also called Biscotrizole. This is a UVA filter that is not used by Bioderma at all in its other filtes. It’s a superior UVA filter, which like DHHB and BEMT is photostable, large in molecular size and provides excellent protection even at low concentrations
BEMT and DHHB have following features:
- Broadspectrum (so cover UVB and UVA regions)
- BEMT provides superior UVB protection and its UVAI protection starts to taper off at about 360nm
- DHHB provides excellent UVAII and UVAI protection upto 360nm
- Are large molecules, so no skin absorption
- Photostable, so don’t break down as soon as they come out of a tube.
- Are effective even at low %
Abbreviations
BEMT: Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
DBT: Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
DHHB: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
MBBT: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol