Two mineral sunscreens enter, only one will leave victorious – but will it beNiod’s Survival 30 or Paul’s Choice’s Glow Moisturiser?! In short: what’s best tinted moisturiser with SPF out there?
Niod Survival 30 (recap)
I wrote what nearly was an ode to Niod’s Survival 30 a few months ago AND a write up of Paula’s Choice’s Defense line, and it came down to the following points for Niod’s Survival 30:
- No white cast, because antioxidants tint it naturally
- Great texture: it sinks in completely after a while
- Solely mineral UV-filters
- Formulated gently without essential oils or alcohol
- Formulated with a lot of goodies: mainly antioxidants that boost sun protection.
Since then, I’ve also experienced some drawbacks: First, Deciem can’t keep it in stock, which is highly annoying. Second, the tint can be hit-or-miss: if you’ve got a deeper skin colour, it can veer towards a weird ashy purple, while if you’re light, it can be too dark, especially because it oxidises.
Paula’s Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF30
Now let’s see what the Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF30 by Paula’s Choice brings to the table.
“This illuminating moisturizer shields skin with all-mineral sun protection plus antioxidants to help protect against the effects of environmental damage.”
Paula’s Choice
Ingredients
While Survival 30 has a somewhat unique formula and feel due to volatile silicones, the Glow Moisturizer has a much more conservative formula: water and glycerine gives it a rather common ‘moisturiser’ feeling. It relies on a lot of humectants and emollients to moisturise and therefore, glow. The downside is exactly that: nobody ever will call this a lightweight formula. There’re some antioxidants, but rather conservative ones: Vitamin C derivatives, Vitamin E derivatives and resveratrol. Then there’re some nice brightening goodies: niacinamide and licorice root and some peptides.
Filters
Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide: PC uses nanoparticles (while Niod doesn’t). Still, both are great broad-spectrum filters that offer good sun protection and won’t irritate skin.
Application
While Survival 30 gets its colour from tomato and carrot extracts, I’m at a loss with the Glow Moisturizer. It’s slightly tinted, but its ingredients don’t include colour pigments, so I guess it must come from antioxidants as well. Also, PC’s description doesn’t mention a tint, but it definitely has one. It’s weird.
The Glow Moisturizer applies exactly like a moisturiser, and you’d do well not to layer to many skincare products underneath. If you do, help you God – the formula will become unmanageable quickly, pilling and leaving streaks all over your face. I’ve had the best results using a toner and a very lightweight serum underneath. Also, gauging the right amount to use is difficult as well: I tried to build up the required amount in thin layers, but again: at one point, everything starts to get streaky and ball up. All in all, it’s difficult.
And while your face will look ghostly for a few minutes, at least on me that effect quickly diminished, so, at least, no white cast.
Wear
Depending on your preferences, you’ll call the Glow Moisturizer either greasy or glowy in finish. I definitely call it tacky – and no, that doesn’t diminish in time. I can feel that there’s a layer of cream on my skin the whole day, and if you touch your face, it’ll come off. (NOT the right sunscreen for mask-wearing days.)
It’s also not a great foundation base.
The best tinted moisturiser with SPF?!
Well, for me that’s easily Survival 30. The thing is, if you’ve got dry skin, you might be better off with PC’s Glow Moisturizer, which might also be a better fit if you’re VERY light. I’m not totally against the Glow Moisturizer – it’s a nice option for days at home, where it also doesn’t matter that much if you can’t layer the required amount on your face.
Pricewise, Niod’s Survival 30 (30ml for $28) is nearly twice as expensive as Paula’s Choice’s Glow Moisturizer (60ml for $29). Still, I’d rather splurge in this case.
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.
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