I’ve hated every single physical sunscreen I’ve ever tried until… Until I got a sample of this one. And I was floored, because this is so, SO good! Here’s my Niod Survival 30 review.
What it is
NIOD’s Survival is a range of four networked protection systems with technologies that help support healthy skin defences against environmental and lifestyle-related assaults. (…) Survival formulations avoid use of all chemical sun blocking agents that can lead to further oxidative stress. The formulations also avoid the use of any nanoparticles. Instead, a refined dispersion of micronized ZnO and TiO2 in flexible, high-volatility, non-comedogenic silicones allows the formulations to remain extremely lightweight by optimizing the amount of the blocking agents.
Niod
You nowadays need a dictionary and a rather broad knowledge of both chemistry and skincare to read the descriptions on Niod’s website. In a nutshell, though, Survival 30 pairs the benefits of their antioxidant serum Survival 0 with a SPF30. The filters are silicone-dispersed Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). (On top of that, there’s also a Survival 10 with SPF10 and Survival 20 with SPF20.) The formula is designed to fight free radicals and offers sun protection at the same time.
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Aqua (Water), Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Inulin, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Xanthophyll, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Melanin, Sucrose, Tapioca Starch, Stearic Acid, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Alumina, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
Niod
Niod Survival 30 review: Formula
Survival 30 has, not surprisingly, a silicone-based serum consistency. Cyclopentasiloxane is one of those types of silicones that’re very volatile, leaving a non-tacky, silky feeling behind. It’s also chock-full of antioxidants, and not just ole’ Tocopherol. It’s an impressive mix. Niod themselves points out the tomato extract that also colours the formula. Other antioxidants include Superoxide Dismutase, the body’s main weapon against free radicals, and Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, another extra potent antioxidant, this time synthetic.
There’re also hyped Gluco-Oligosaccharides, said to stimulate the beneficial microbial skin flora (Incidecoder). You might’ve heard the term prebiotic complex before (it’s very hip right now) that in skincare is supposed to keep a healthy microbiome on the skin’s surface. (Meaning only having ‘good’ bacteria, and fighting the ‘bad’ bacteria.)
On top of that, Niod threw some hydrating and soothing ingredients into the mix (Squalane and Jojoba Seed Oil) and some fermented extracts. There’s also some microplastic, but neither alcohol nor essential oils.
Filters
Both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are great filters. Both are non-irritant, stable, physical filters instead of chemical ones. (Zinc Oxide isn’t considered ocean-safe, FYI.) Zinc Oxide has the “broadest spectrum (UVB and UVA II, less good at UVA I) protection available today” (Incidecoder), while Titanium Dioxide has similar great protection, and good stability. Usually both filters are prone to leaving a white cast. This is why so many companies add pigment to their physical sunscreen that solely relies on Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide – Niod doesn’t. (You’ve to thank the tomatoes and carotenoids for that beige tint that turns into a light bronze on my skin.)
Application
Ok, are you sitting down? Yes? Brace yourself for a shock: you’ll need FOUR pumps of this to reap the whole sun protection. And – yeah, it’s a lot. BUT! Good news: thanks to the volatile silicone, Survival 30 sinks in very fast. Nevertheless, it takes time to apply and sink in. At first, after having applied the full amount, you’ll be afraid. Right then it looks like it will definitely leave a white cast, but fear not! It doesn’t. Do refrain from the temptation to rub this into your skin. It’ll absorb at one point, but rubbing will make it ball up after a while. You want an even layer of sun protection on your face. Rubbing can leave patches of unprotected skin. So don’t.
It does leave a tint on pale complexions: when I’m at my lightest, I look a bit bronzed (if you’re lighter than MAC NC15, this could be a problem). It also oxidises a bit on me.
Happily, this also means that darker complexions don’t have a problem with the dreaded white cast: Astrid is usually around NC42 and can wear this, no problem.
What I absolutely love is that Survival 30 doesn’t irritate eyes. You can apply it all over your lids and undereye area, and won’t have a problem with watering eyes (avobenzone is usually the culprit for this).
When it’s completely dried down (this takes around 30mins for me) it does indeed feel very silky and dry to the touch.
Wear
So, so lovely… but a few negatives. This is absolutely and utterly perfect: a cosmetically very elegant formula. I’ve used different kinds of skincare with Survival 30 and could detect no differences in application. I’d advise to let your moisturiser sink in as much as possible before applying Survival 30.
The one drawback of the physical SPF in this, for me, is that it dries out my middle-aged, dehydrated combo skin. I can’t wear it days in a row but have to go back to chemical sunscreen (a few faves) after wearing it a few times, no matter how many hydrating serums I’ve used underneath.
Under foundation
The other drawback could be how Survival 30 reacts with liquid foundations. It’s… not good, Bob. For me, liquid foundation sits a bit funny over Survival 30, while loose mineral foundation can’t grip onto it because it leaves my skin so dry. Imagine a very matte, silicone-based serum foundation that you layer another foundation on top: it looks a bit much, and leaves my skin looking oddly textured.
This, though, has one advantage: The formula is so, so good when you just need a bit of evening out, throw on some mascara and call it a day. I’d love to use it on a vacation because of that. (Also? GREAT under a cloth facemask. Just saying.)
I can imagine this being the best thing ever in a hot, humid tropical climate, although I’d be more comfortable with a higher SPF then, I guess.
Worth it?
Oh lord, yes. But: you’ll run into problems if you’ve got dry skin, OR are very pale, or want to wear a full face of makeup over Survival 30.
I don’t know what’s Deciem doing right now, because this is sold out everywhere. (Yes, I’m sorry.) I guess they have some corona-related supplier problems, but man, let’s keep our collective fingers crossed they’ll restock soon, because I need a new bottle or two (and maybe you need one, too).
30ml/1 fl oz retails for $28/€28.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
I love this sunscreen for extra humid hot weather like Jakarta, it is the one I can apply a lot without making me look like an oil field. BUT it will soon become less usable for when I became tanner (medium-dark skintone, think MAC NC44 or Fenty 330). I can see a tinge of purple on my skin unless I wear foundation on top.