Well-known or their Vitamin CE Ferulic Acid serum, Skinceuticals is an American cosmeceutical brand that can be found in many a dermatology or medispa clinic. I decided to pick up their Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50 at my dermatologist’s clinic. I’ve heard this being a great mineral sunscreen for all skin tones, so I had to try it for myself!
INFORMATION ON SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50
SKIN TYPE: All Skin Types, Very SensitiveSKIN CONDITION: Aging and Sun-Damaged Skin, DiscolorationWHAT IT ISPhysical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 is a tinted, broad spectrum sunscreen fluid with 100% mineral-based UV filters which promotes radiance and an even skin tone.WHAT IT’S GOOD FOR• Provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
• Boosts radiance for a more even, luminous complexion
• Helps boost skin’s natural defenses to environmental stressDID YOU KNOW?• Water- and sweat resistant for up to 40 minutes
• Sheer, tinted sunscreen adapts to most skin tones without a white cast
• Non-comedogenic, paraben-, alcohol-, dye-, fragrance- and gluten-free– Skinceuticals.ca
Price: $34 USD / $48 CAD
Amount: 50 ml
Packaging: Opaque grey plastic bottle, twist off cap with a small spout.
UV FILTERS:
Type: Mineral
Zinc Oxide: 5% Z-Cote®
Titanium Dioxide: 6%
Protection:
UVB: SPF50
UVA: ~16.67 – in Canada, the recommended minimum UVAPF has to be 1/3rd of the SPF. (See Table 4 on the Government of Canada’s website). I found on this website that the PPD is 21, but nowhere on Skinceuticals website is it confirmed.
Contains Iron Oxides
INGREDIENTS:
Active ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide. Cosmetic ingredients: water, dimethicone, isododecane, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, undecane, triethylhexanoin, isohexadecane, nylon-12, caprylyl methicone, butyloctyl salicylate, phenethyl benzoate, styrene/acrylates copolymer, silica, tridecane, dicaprylyl carbonate, dicaprylyl ether, talc, dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, aluminum stearate, pentylene glycol, peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, alumina, polyhydroxystearic acid, phenoxyethanol, magnesium sulfate, caprylyl glycol, iron oxides, peg-8 laurate, disteardimonium hectorite, triethoxycaprylylsilane, tocopherol, propylene carbonate, artemia extract, benzoic acid, peg-9, disodium stearoyl glutamate, aluminum hydroxide.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50
CONSISTENCY: Thin fluid.
FRAGRANCE: None.
APPLICATION: I applied the sunscreen in 2 thin layers. It slides on very easily with a light touch.
FINISH: Glowy, sometimes too shiny for my liking. Even when I give it time to set, it still has quite the glow.
FEEL: Sometimes it stings a bit after application. Slightly greasy for initial feel, but it sets to a slight tacky finish.
STINGS EYES? A little bit on application, but it goes away.
WHITECAST / TINTED? The tint is slightly grey, and if applied in thin layers it seems to mostly adapt to my skin colour. I have tried 2 thin layers, and 3 even thinner layers, both types of application had resulted in a similar tone – mostly my skin shade and undertone, a smidge grey. If too much is applied at once, the grey is very visible and doesn’t seem to adapt so well. I also tested this sunscreen on my cousin (she is NC40 in MAC shade) – I made her apply a VERY generous layer of this sunscreen on, and it looked great on her! She told me she actually uses the Klairs Mid Day Blue UV Shield as her current sunscreen as well with no makeup on top. We both have fairly neutral undertones on our face so that could be another reason why it blends into her skin tone as well as mine (NC16 or NC20).
WATER RESISTANT? The Canadian website says yes for 40 minutes, but on the packaging itself it recommends to use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. For sun safety, I’d go with what’s on the packaging.
SKIN BENEFITS? Evens out my skin tone, makes my skin feel slightly drier as I wear it throughout the day, and seems to always gather/pill around my hair line. In the colder months I notice it picks up my dry patches more easily, so I need to have a lighter hand with application to prevent it. I also find when I mix an occlusive with my moisturizer prior, it helps prevent worse dry patches.
UNDER MAKEUP: Does not add or subtract to longevity. I don’t need to apply as heavy of a coverage because the slight greyish tint cancels out redness. Doesn’t impact the finish or make it look cakey.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SKINCEUTICALS PHYSICAL FUSION UV DEFENSE SPF50
PROS:
- High protection – SPF50 (although I always prefer SPF50+)
- Fairly easy to apply the 2mg/cm2
- Feels light
- Evens skin
- Skin-like finish
- Doesn’t look cakey
- With specific application, I can wear this on its own (provided there are no patches visible)
- Reminds me of what a classic Korean BB cream does – the grey reduces the redness and allows for a thinner foundation application to make your makeup seem more natural looking.
CONS:
- Sometimes stings.
- Pills around hairline and emphasizes dry patches – didn’t notice this when I used it in the summertime though!
- I find my skin becomes drier throughout the day
IN-BETWEEN FEELS
- I don’t think anyone would be a fan of the price per ml, however I look past it because of how well it performs compared to other all-mineral sunscreens I’ve tried (during summer especially)
- Sometimes I feel like the undertone looks too neutral, almost grey. If you have easily reddened skin, you may like this though. In addition you need to apply this a certain way to minimize that grey tint as much as possible
I am pretty impressed with Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50! Next to the Klairs Mid Day Blue UV Shield, this one has a pretty forgiving tint on my skin tone with the right application, and it performs well under makeup. I personally still prefer using either hybrid-sunscreens or pure organic UV filter sunscreens because I can confidently apply 2mg/cm2 without worrying about a cast or grey tint. This is a feeling I can never shake off with 100% mineral sunscreens. However, for a high SPF all mineral sunscreen, the Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF50 did a pretty good job! I think this will work more for normal to oily skin types since it does pick up on dry patches, but for my dryer skin type I still found it to work well in the warmer months.
WHERE TO BUY:
Skinceuticals.ca
Skinstore *
Dermstore *
*This is an affiliate link. If you use this link to make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you if you decide to use it! If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to google a new link.
As, always I hope you found this post helpful and informative!
xo, M
Hi!!! I love your reviews!!! Very detailed and right to the point… I’m oily skin, I use tretinoin 0.05 every night and this is the best all mineral sunscreen I have found for me, European tinted mineral sunscreens don’t work for me (shiny and too orange for my Fitzpatrick III skin tone) I’d like to try SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50, but it’s not available in my country, but this Physical Fusion, in my case, the finish is semimate, natural and last around 5 hours before gets shiny. Also I think this sunscreen suits and looks better on you instead the Neostrata Defend Sheer Physical spf 50. Have you tried SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50???
Best wishes from Colombia
Sorry for the late reply, but no I haven’t tried the matte version since I found the Physical Fusion to feel drying at times! Thank you for reading 🙂
Hi!!! I had questions about PPD of some sunscreens. So, I decided to contact the brand, the SkinCeuticals agent in my country is L’Oreal (SkinCeuticals parent company) and the customer service answered that the Physical Mineral Fusion is PPD 21. Hope it helps
Thank you
Amazing, thanks for sharing!