Product Review: Vive Sana Sunscreen
Holy crap is there anything harder than finding a good clean face screen that won’t break you out or cast your face in an eerie white glow? (That’s a rhetorical question, but the answer is yes: finding a good clean deodorant is actually harder. But only by a smidge.)
Anyway, in my hunt for the perfect sunscreen, I’ve tried a zillion and found a few I really like. Readers who have been with us for a bit know I love Lavera’s, and last summer I used Jurlique’s Age-Defying SPF 15 and reviewed it in our book. I’d been hearing good thing about Vive Sana Solar to Polar Ultra sunscreen, so I was thrilled when I got my hands on a tube from Spirit Beauty Lounge.
Vive Sana, which has an SPF of 40, calls itself the strongest all-natural sunscreen on earth. Bold! But does it live up to the promise?
Yuh huh. Sure seems to. I’ve been using it for a week now in sticky gross 95-plus degree weather in New York and it stays put all day, offers great protection (no new freckles!), hasn’t given me any problems (by which I mean zits), wears well under makeup or as a primer, and is loaded with skin-friendly ingredients.
The actives here are zinc and titanium dioxide (really hoping we don’t get bad news about the latter, but Vive doesn’t seem to use nanoparticles), it contains free-radical-eating antioxidants like green tea, soothing chamomile, beeswax and some skin-compatible oils.
As for the look: It’s not shiny, it’s not masky-matte. It’s just right. And because you only need a little at a time, I feel okay about the $29 pricetag.
Have you found one you like?
…”(That’s a rhetorical question, but the answer is yes: finding a good clean deodorant is actually harder. But only by a smidge.)”
Are there deoderant reviews in the book? Is there a recommendable one?
As for Sunscreen, I stick with badger – the nano-particles don’t seem to be too small, and I love that smell, it’s only $10… but it does take some elbow grease to apply
Thanks for the rec. We definitely recommend a few in the book. It took some doing to find some decent ones. Mascara was a bit of a bear too….
Any thoughts on Couleur Caramel Mascara?
I like it a lot, but sadly gets a touch runny on when it’s really hot out. Fair compromise though and I know girls who swear by it.
I like Desert Essence/ Desert Organics sunscreen. Works really well.
Jeanette- a friend just sent me an article on just using baking soda. So I’ve tried it and it’s been the best deodorant I’ve used ever. I’ve been doing this for 2 months now and it’s been great. Plus you don’t ruin your clothes with deodorant.
(if you have odor, swab for a few days rubbing alcohol-
dampen your arm pit, wet your finger tip and dip in baking soda and then just rub on to your armpit)
So would you say you prefer this one to Lavera or Jurlique? I have a tube of spf 15 moisturizer from LaRoche Posay that I kind of want to finish, and it was on the “good-ish” shortlist by EWG. http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/
@Emily Well, I’m as fickle as the next girl so I tend to love my current obsession best of all. So right now, yeah, I prefer it but I imagine I could just as easily go back to the others and be thrilled. I think you’re smart to finish the one you have. Let us know when you’ve picked your next though.
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
The link in the post doesn’t work – just so you know.
it’s http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com/vive-sana-solar-to-polar-ultra-sun-care.html
thanks!
Oh rats, sorry! We fixed.
just curious, are there cons to using crystal deodorant ? has this been explored? I’ve been using it for nearly three years, and its anti bacterial, prevents body odour without fail (for me for sure), lasts all day and doesn’t leave any sweat stains on clothing. though bear in mind you will still perspire, however it isn’t bothersome when it doesn’t smell like anything..
Elta Block spf 32 for faces. Moisturizing and non comedogenic. Zinc oxide (transparent) and octinoxate.