when i knew that i was going to the US, i made up a list. a very long list of stuff that i wanted to buy in the US. and it kept growing every time i watched more review videos. at the end, i realize that i only have one face and i don't have anyone else around me that shares the same interest, hence narrowing down my list. i decided to get stuff that i can't get my hands on outside the US. for base makeup, at first i had rare beauty, summer friday and tower28 in my list, but at the end, i decided that i still can get the rare beauty in singapore and the summer friday looks very sheer, so tower28 it is. luckily, in SF (the first city that i went), the sephora there was pretty complete so i got almost everything that i wanted in one go. now, at first i brought my nars with me, but somehow it doesn't give the result that i wanted. it ended up cracking a lot. so i thought, why not give this tower28 a try? even until i went back home, i was curious about how this one will hold up under different climate, so i continue wearing this even at home.
this is the description from their website: a 2-in-1 mineral sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30 protection and light-medium coverage. sunnydays evens redness and soothes uv-stressed skin while maintaining a natural finish so your freckles, moles, and real skin can have their moment in the sun! designed for problem/sensitive skin. extra exciting! sunnydays has the national eczema association's seal of acceptance. sunnydays is safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin. alcohol-free, fragrance-free, safe for sensitive/problem skin. dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic, gluten-free, vegan+ cruelty free. 14 flexible shades with light-medium buildable coverage and natural finish. no white cast or oxidation.
ingredient highlights:
- non-nano zinc oxide: 100% mineral sunscreen filter to help protect from UVA/UVB damage and suitable for sensitive skin.
+ protective and supportive ingredients sourced from california deserts where they thrive in extreme climates.
prickly pears: reparative + skin softening
aloe vera: soothes and calms UV stressed skin
15 melrose - light with warm undertones
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the tube |
the packaging: it comes in their trademark color combination box, light purple and yellow. you can see the shade name on top of the box. the tinted sunscreen comes in the same light purple color like the box with transparent plastic spout and transparent plastic screw cap to secure the spout. there's description at the back of the tube as well as the box. you can read the shade name at the back of the tube. it's not easy to read the shade name, so it's a bit troublesome if you have several shades. it comes in 30 ml which is the usual amount of foundation in the market.
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how it looks like on my hand |
the shades: there are 14 shades to choose from, mine is 15 melrose. judging from the description it's a bit weird since there's no cool option. there's yellow and neutral, but not cool. instead, it's warm. looking at the swatches' pictures, i guess my match would be either 10 or 15. when in store, 10 is too yellow for me and 15 is a match to my face. however, my face is a tad too dark from the rest of my body, which is a bit tricky. on daily, it will be okay. but if i wear sleeveless clothes or else, the difference will be visible.
a little update: my skin condition is getting better than when i first tested this product, so now, the difference in color and tone is clearly seen. it's clearly darker than my neck and a tad too pink.
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how it looks like on my hand. you can see that it blends well with my skin |
the product: the tinted sunscreen is just like other tinted products. it's quite runny compared to the usual foundation, but probably similar to nars light reflecting foundation. since it uses spout to dispense the product, it's a bit hard to control the amount since the tinted sunscreen can still come out even though i don't squeeze the tube. thus, it messes up the tip of the spout and the cap when i put the cap back in.
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top left: before bottom left: look how it seems to disappear on my cheek right: half-half on my face |
the result: since this is a tinted product, obviously it doesn't give much coverage. it's light to medium at best. it can be layered, but i don't think it will make it full coverage. it gives glowy finish, but not as glowy as the nars light reflecting foundation. maybe a bit more than satin finish? anyway, i like how it make my skin still looks like my skin but a bit better. it covers up the redness and make it more even but it doesn't cover my acne scar. but that's what concealer is for, right? anyway, during my trip in the US, i used brush to blend it but perhaps it's the brush.. it left streak marks so i have to pat it down with puff sponge. back home, i use my real techniques sponge and it blends it in a blink of an eye. unfortunately, the sponge absorbed lots of product. you can use your finger to blend it, of course, but i don't like quite like using my finger to blend it.
shortly, i love this product! it's perfect for daily. lately, this caters my preference. something lightweight, not dead matte and gives enough coverage but still let my skin shows through. the shade is okay for me as well (update: i will definitely find other shades that suits me better than this one). unfortunately, tower28 is not available here. not even in singapore, i think. you can get them through preorder sellers, but the price will be much more expensive. price wise, it's pricey for a tinted sunscreen, but luckily it works well, so i guess it worths the money. however, if you prefer something with more coverage or you have an oily skin, then you should try other stuff since this one is quite lightweight and might look a bit oily on oily skin. especially when it's hot and humid. as for me, i will try to finish this one before considering anything. i might not repurchase because i might be attracted to something else when i finish this.