I have to admit that most sunscreens do, in fact, manage to screen UV rays. That is, if I remember to put them on, I'm much less likely to get a sunburn. Something I wished I had thought of when I was a kid. But not all of them are created equal. The trick is not just to block UV rays, it's to block them long enough to be able to do all the fun stuff (and yard chores) you want to do when the sun is out. Some sunscreens have bonuses, too. COPPERTONE CLEARLYSheer has bonuses.
Here are some of the claims:
- Absorbs in seconds for a clean and light feel
- Moisturizing formulas help leave your skin soft and smooth
- Won’t clog pores or cause breakouts (clinically tested on acne-prone skin)
- Matte finish is perfect for use under makeup
So, do the CLEARLYSheer sunscreens live up to these promises?
Well, I did some testing to find out. In order to test it, I used both versions of the sunscreen for a few activities:
1) Worked in the yard. There was lots of sweating and dirt involved. I used the lotion on face and spray on the rest of the body. Except the part in my hair...wish I had.
2) Went to a baseball game. Lots of sitting involved. In direct sunlight. All afternoon. I used the spray on my part (applied by spraying in my hand and applying with my fingers), and the lotion on the rest of me.
3) Long bike ride. There was some sweating involved. No dirt. Late afternoon/evening sunshine. I used the spray on my part (sprayed due to inadequate application at the ball game. Ouch.), and the lotion on the rest of me.
Does it do what it claims?
Does it absorb in seconds? Yes. This stuff is the lightest lotion type sunscreen I've ever tried. It goes on like a lotion and feels dry, not greasy, on the skin.
Does it moisturize and leave your skin soft and smooth? Well, that's a little harder to test. The thing is, I have super dry skin in the winter. But summer time fixes my dry skin. I couldn't tell you whether it moisturizes or not, really.
Does it clog pores or cause breakouts? Surprisingly, no. This is truly wonderful. I rarely wear makeup because I can almost be guaranteed that I'll have zits in a day or so afterward. This stuff hasn't caused any breakouts whatsoever.
Does it have a matte finish? Initially, yes. But over time, as you sweat, you're going to get a sheen. So, this stuff isn't going to keep you from getting sweaty.
Other stuff.
While the lotion is, by far, my favorite for application on my face, it tends to separate from your skin as you sweat. That is, after sitting in the sun for a while, if you rub your fingers over your leg where you applied it, it will roll off into lotiony little balls. It still seems to work as a sunscreen, but it does suggest that you might want to apply it again after sweating.
The spray is like other sunscreen sprays--don't spray it directly on your face (no, I didn't test that). It absorbs too quickly to make it easy to apply to your face by spraying into your hands and rubbing it on. This, I think, was the problem at the baseball game. I sprayed it onto my hands and applied it to the part in my hair with my fingers. I missed a spot because it simply didn't apply to my scalp with my fingers. The next time I simply sprayed it on my part. That works. But, for all the positives, the spray will still leave your hair icky--plan to shower if you are going anywhere after spraying this stuff in your hair. Also, it smells like a spray sunscreen. Not necessarily unpleasant, but definitely not exciting.
A huge bonus.
The Sunny Days body lotion...it smells like a pina colada. You really just kind of want to drink it. But don't. It still tastes like sunscreen.
Overall
I give these sunscreens a thumbs up. If applied strategically, the CLEARLYSheer sunscreens are definitely one of the best for the extras they provide.
