The price in the USA (click this LINK) is US$ 27 (or US$ 2060) and on Nykaa (click this LINK) its INR 2,600. That’s about 30 percent more expensive in India.
Despite the cheaper price, should you stockpile this product? Find out here.
What damages do we want sunscreen to protect us against?
We want sunscreens to contain photostable and safe filters that protect against the deleterious effects of both UVA and UVB radiation. In a nutshell, we are seeking protection against the following:
Sunscreen test
The product contains Oxybenzone and that in itself is sufficient for me to reject this product. Oxybenzone is a hormonal disruptor and a known skin allergen. If you’d like more details on the deleterious effects of Oxybenzone, please read my blog, Chemicals to Avoid – Oxybenzone).
I completely respect the fact that it is your body and health and also, that you may be happy using products with Oxybenzone. Therefore, I’ve continued to review the product below.
This is an SPF 50 product and it does contain UVA and UVB filters
As this is an American sunscreen, the active filter quantities are publicly available. The active ingredients from Clinique’s website are:
- Oxybenzone 5.00%
- Octisalate 5.00%
- Homosalate 5.00%
- Avobenzone 3.00%
- Octocrylene 2.70%
The SPF 50 is being provided by Octisalate, Homosalate and Oxybenzone.
The primary UVA filter is Avobenzone that is included at the maximum amount permitted by US law. It is however, notoriously photounstable, and therefore, this formula contains both Octocrylene and Oxybenzone to stabilise the formula.
If I model the actual photostability of just these quantities, this is what the protection looks like:
Clearly, the formula is not 100% photostable and its stability varies depending on the length of the UV radiation in question. This is a natural consequence of the product containing the UVA filter, Avobenzone.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that EVEN in its photo-unstable format, Avobenzone provides significant UVA protection. Is it PA++++ meaning it offers “extremely effective protection against UVA?”
No.
In all likelihood, this is at maximum a PA++ and it does provide effective protection against UVA radiation (see also What is PA++++?)
Closing remarks
If I had to buy one sunscreen from Nykaa, hen this would not be it. There are better options at this price point.
I will leave you with sunscreen best practices! Drop me a line if you have any questions at email@happyskindays.com
See also
- Myths About Sunscreen
- Make-up products are not a replacement for good old sunscreen
- Top 5 sunscreen recommendations
- Why do I need to buy SPF 30?
*******
COPYRIGHT
I wish to remind some of you that I am a non-affiliated skincare blogger. I invest my time, money, blood, sweat, and tears in creating content for my blog. My blog is read in multiple countries and according to my lawyers, each of those countries protects my content and rights under copyright law. If you would like to use my content, do the right thing, and write to me at email@happyskindays.com. Don’t be that person who steals content, because it’s arrogant, disrespectful, and ultimately, a crime.