This summer, what I wanted was a great facial sunscreen. (And yes, I know that I forgot about this post and now, summer is over…damn!) I picked up samples of the two most popular at Sephora (well, I would have liked to try the Anthelios as well, but they didn’t have it – note to self, must try it!) They are Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA+++ and Clinique’s Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40.
Price: Shiseido wins!
I’ve got a terrible memory, so I’ll have to use American pricing for this. Clinique costs $16.50/1.4oz, and Shiseido costs $37/3.3oz. I know – the Shiseido looks so expensive! However, this works out to about $11.79/oz for the Clinique, and $11.21/oz for the Shiseido, as you only get a tiny tube of the Clinique, as opposed to a bottle of the Shiseido.
Colour and texture: Again, Shiseido wins!
The Clinique, pictured above, is thick and beige. Though this blends into the skin, it still feels a little thick, like sunscreen.
The Shiseido, though, is amazing (note: make sure you buy the LOTION and not the CREAM, which is a lot more thick and gooey.) It has the consistency of thick milk, with tiny little lumps (maybe the salesperson forgot to shake it? Either way, it doesn’t matter, because they sink right in.) It takes a little getting used to putting something so thin on your face, but it is so worth it! This sinks right into my skin, leaving a smooth, satiny finish. No stickiness, no oiliness!
Smell: no one wins :(
The Shiseido, which as you can tell is nothing short of amazing, has your typical sunblock smell. Not too terrible, but definitely there. The Clinique, on the other hand, smells of sunscreen and chemicals – it’s incredibly repulsive, but fades more quickly than the Shiseido’s sunblock smell.
The winner: Shiseido! With higher SPF, and holy grail absorbency, this sunscreen is a dream in a bottle! It has a fabulous finish, and is even more comfortable to wear than my regular moisturiser (Olay Complete) – shocking, I know!
The price is the only deterrent, because even though it works out to slightly less per ounce, the price tag is still pretty hefty! If you don’t want to spend almost $40 on a sunscreen, try splitting a bottle with a friend. You each pay about $20, and one of you takes half (1.65oz) in a different container. This will leave you both with enough for your face all summer, with some to spare!
