This sunscreen has been in heavy rotation ever since I discovered it last summer.

I suspect that both of these bad gals will be good to the last drop! (Side note: what’s the last sunscreen you finished?) I’m well on my way to finishing both of the new liquid lotion mineral sunscreens from Avene because they’re THAT good.

Like many makeup huntresses, I’m always on the prowl… I’m always looking for that elusive “no-makeup makeup” skin — just the barest hint coverage, with just enough tint or pigment to even things out a touch, but to find something that delivers a no-makeup makeup look, offers brilliant sun protection, feels light as a feather and leaves absolutely no white cast behind? That’s the stuff of legend, or perhaps just an internet rumor, or a figment of a beauty lover’s imagination… Or is it? I’m starting to believe that the new Avene Solaire sunscreens are as close to “the one” as you can get, and, yes, in case you were wondering, both of them create the most natural-looking dewy finish, so secret admirers will assume your supernatural glow is a natural, rare gift from the heavens above.

Essentially, these are all that and a bag of cheese puffs. After I work in the lotion (it’s very thin and absorbs super quickly), no greasy goo is ever left behind, and my eyes don’t sting, not even after I sweat.

In the tinted version, rather than the typical too-pink beige that seems to be the go-to color of most tinted sunscreens, Avene opted for a darker medium tone. It looks more like a bronzer at first glance, but it should suit most skin tones based on the comments on the Avene website, as long as one blends it in thoroughly. I’m a tan gal, and the tint and sheer coverage are absolute perfection for me.

INGREDIENTS, TINTED:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ZINC OXIDE (12%) INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PROPANEDIOL, JOJOBA ESTERS, TRIDECYL SALUCYLATE, METHYLHEPTYL ISOSTEARATE, POLGYCLYCERYL-4 DIISOSTEARATE / POLYHYDROXYSTEATEARATE/SEBACATE, NIACINAMIDE, NYLTON-12, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, COCO-CAPRYLATE, IRON OXIDES, SILICA, AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BISABOLOL, ALLANTOIN, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, LECITHIN, PHENYLPROPANOL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALUS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

INGREDIENTS, UNTINTED:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: ZINC OXIDE (12%) INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, PROPANEDIOL, JOJOBA ESTERS, TRIDECYL SALICYLATE, METHLHEPTYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 DIISOSTEARATE / POLYHYDRIXYSTEARATE/ SEBACATE, NYLON-12, NIACINAMIDE, METHYLPROPANEDIOL, COCO-CAPRYLATE, SILICA, AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DOPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, BISABOLOL, ALLANTOIN, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN EXTRACT, LECITHIN, PHENYLPROPANOL, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) EXTRACT, TOCOPHEOL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

The dry patches and pimples I get sometimes (those jerks), which will avail themselves of any excuse to pop off, haven’t made an appearance when I’ve used either of these sunscreens, so I’ll be keeping them close for the rest of the summer, and perhaps the rest of my life?! That’s a grand statement, but dang, ’tis good stuff.

Oh, yeah, in case you were wondering how the tinted version compares to Bliss Block Star (another rock star tinted mineral sunscreen), Avene’s has a dewy finish, while Block Star is matte. Avene also has a higher SPF at 50+ compared to Block Star’s 30. Both are great, though!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!