First sunscreen review of 2023! We’re back guys with the Acnemy Zitcontrol SPF50 review: Including ingredients lowdown, wearability test, filters explained, comparisons and our beloved checklist. Enjoy!
The Brand
Niche Beauty Lab was founded 2016 in Barcelona (Spain). Its self-proclaimed aim is to ‘democratise the beauty industry’ by offering high-end, science-backed formulas for approachable prices. Today, they have five brands for various concerns. Acnemy offers products geared towards acne-prone skin, claiming to use acids with high tolerability.
Acnemy Zitcontrol SPF50 review: Description
An everyday essential that protects you from the sun and helps you fight acne. Zitcontrol SPF50®, a light cream with SPF 50, is formulated as a mineral-chemical hybrid that offers protection against UVA and UVB rays to prevent sun damage and skin ageing. Making it the perfect SPF for your daily skincare routine.
Niche Beauty Labs
Its extraordinary formula is non-comedogenic, light-textured, oil-free and leaves no white cast. Thanks to its unique combination of acne-fighting ingredients: Zinc PCA, Niacinamide, Quora Noni and Salicylic Acid, it acts as a 2-in-1, protecting you from the sun and helping you fight acne.
What it is
I don’t classify my skin as acne-prone, but I do like lightweight sunscreens. Also, Niche Beauty Lab has been in my radar for a while. So, in comes Zitcontrol SPF50 from Brand Acnemy in its friendly yellow packaging and its promises of being a sunscreen-skincare hybrid.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Undecane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene BIS-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Tridecane, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Cell Culture Lysate, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Stearamine, Mannitol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylcholine, Dimyristoyl Phosphatidylcholine, Trihydroxystearin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, BHT, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)
Acnemy
We’ll see in this review that the marketing/online descriptions of this SPF are often slightly off. First of these ‘slightly off’ claims is the sunscreen being ‘oil-free’. Which, you guessed it, it’s not. It includes Macadamia nut oil, which is a great emollient and also, as Incidecoder claims, ‘less ideal for acne-prone skin’.
It also includes 2% niacinamide, 5% salicylic acid and Zinc PCA, all great for oily and acne-prone skin. Acnemy claims to use a special encapsulation system that while less irritating, also improves effectiveness of active ingredients. An interesting ingredient is Quora Noni™, an extract from the noni plant that’s supposed to promote a healthy microbiome on skin’s surface, fighting bacteria that might lead to acne outbreaks.
No alcohol, no fragrance, no essential oils.
Filters
| Sunscreen Filter | Type | Spectrum | Remarks |
| Octinoxate / Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate / Octyl Methoxycinnamate | chemical / organic | UVB (at wavelengths: 280-320 nm) with a peak protection at 310nm | clear, oil-soluble, “cosmetically-elegant” liquid, not photostable (loses 10% of its SPF protection ability within 35 mins), needs other filters to stabilize (like Tinosorb) |
| Uvinul A Plus / Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate | chemical / organic | high UVA protection (320-400 nm) with peak protection at 354nm | high photostability, can be used up to 10%, available everywhere but the US & Canada |
| Octisalate / Ethylhexyl Salicylate / Octyl Salicylate | chemical / organic | UVB (280-320 nm) with peak at 306 nm | not a strong filter, used with other filters to solubilize. |
| Ethylhexyl Triazone / Uvinul T 150 (0.8%) | chemical / organic | photostable UVB filter | oil soluble, odorless & colorless powder, available everywhere except the US & Canada |
| Tinosorb M / Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol / Bisoctrizole | chemical / organic | broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB, 280-400 nm, peak at 305 nm & 360 nm) | highly photostable, not available in the US, can help stabilize other filters (eg Octinoxate) |
UVA protection is likely to be around 16-17.
Sustainability
The brand claims to reduce plastic packaging and source 90% of all raw materials from Spain, its home country. It also cooperates with Plastic Bank, an organization removing plastic from the ocean. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
Application
Another website claim that threw me: ‘apply a small amount’. SIGH. DEEP SIGH. NO WE DO NOT APPLY SMALL AMOUNTS, we apply the correct amount and that’s not effing small. For me, it’s about two and a half finger lengths coaxed from the abysmally working nozzle. I guess they choose the tube packaging with the extra-slim nozzle to minimize air contact, but it’s extremely hard to just get the product out. Because – this is a rather thick cream, maybe comparable to Altruist’s. The good thing is that it absorbs extremely quick.
(My AM routine right now, this Spring, consists of a toner, an essence and a serum. Over that I layer every sunscreen.)
Finish
Claims: ‘light’, ‘dry-touch’, ‘no white cast’
Let’s get to the good stuff! This sunscreen has the exact finish I like right now in Spring (it’s still rather cold over here, but not freezing). It doesn’t feel completely dry-touch, but isn’t sticky. It also imparts the right sort of glow (for me): not shiny, more healthy-looking, and not matte by any means. I think it’s a good middle-ground for loads of people. While it’s lightweight, you absolutely can feel it on your skin.
What I also like is that you can apply loads (trust me, I’ve tried) without it leaving a white cast on my (rather light) skin. It also doesn’t pill or make my extremely sensitive and allergy-prone eyes tear up.
Makeup Application
Another thing I like: this works like a dream as a base. I wore all kinds of foundation over it and it looked great every time.
Comparison
A European sunscreen with a so-so UVA protection and okay filters, some skincare goodies and an okay texture? The likes of Hello Sunday and Ultra Violette only wish. I think it compares well with Scinic’s Super Mild Essence and Etude House Soon Jung & Director’s sunscreens and is even favorable to those: at least for me in ease of buying (no shipping from Asia) and finish.
Acnemy Zitcontrol SPF50 review: Checklist
Acnemy Zitcontrol SPF50 review: Rating
Filters? Fine. Finish? Nice.
What I don’t like is the packaging and the price per ml: the packaging with 40ml is smaller than regular SPFs that usually come in 50ml packaging.
I don’t know if I’d love this one in summer, though: it’s a bit too occlusive for me during humidity and high temperatures, I guess. But who knows – I’m open to buying a new tube. Maybe.
Availability & Price
Internationally, use either Beauty Bay or Niche Beauty Labs own website. In Germany, it’s also available at Flaconi or Purish, for example.
Please note that this review 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.
2 Comments