MISSIONS SKINCARE FAST DRYING SUNSCREEN!
Tantejoan here, filling in for our Drugstore Deals Diva, Gigi. Yes, I know you were expecting to be entertained and enchanted by Gigi’s amazing ability to divine the very best that her pathetic local CVS calls a cosmetics aisle – teeth marks on the lipstick wrapper indeed! I was, too. But Gigi is otherwise occupied, and I’ll tell you why. She is so funny, so witty, so darned appealing that Conan O’Brien, recently transplated to the Left Coast for The Tonight Show, begged her to help him write his monologue for Thursday night. So I’m left to pinch-hit for our own Star.
Now thinking about Conan (and hoping he has not shanghaied Gigi for good), I naturally thought of sunscreen, and not just any sunscreen, but sunscreen for the active, athletic consumer. Why? Well, Conan, being the whitest white man in America, is newly resident in Los Angeles, where sun, fitness and looking good are practically the cornerstones of civic pride. In fact, I believe in Beverly Hills there is a weigh-in station where the police deny entrance to anyone with a BMI above 24. Or is that a DUI? But surely Conan, as anyone who has watched those promos of him running the entire breadth of our country as he powered on toward his new home can attest, is in great shape. Yes, he’s still in his New York City skinny suit, but until his new tennis togs arrive, this man is L.A. based and in serious need of protection.
I am, too, even though I’m not planning to run across country anytime soon. Although I’m just going as far as the Jersey Shore to spend a week with my sister, my fish-belly white skin (under my fake tan, of course) will crave the best protection money can buy. The only trouble is, I am what my British pals would call skint. Broke. Light in the pocketbook. I’m not necessarily in the market for the Rolls Royce of sunscreen, but I want a good, serviceable, non-paraben, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, easy to apply product that will work on my body and my face. For less than $10. In short, I want it all. And really, my friends, I want it all for you, too.
My CVS not being as stripped-down as Gigi’s I repaired there to examine my options. I checked out all the usual suspects, los Banana Boat, el Coppertone, house brands and some weird names like Blue Lizard and Ocean Potion, but then my eye lighted on a range of bottles, tubes and sprays totally unfamiliar and yet somehow enticing. I was on a mission to find a good, economical sunscreen, and here was… Mission Skincare. I ran back home to do some research and this is what their web site said:
One thing that sets the great athletes apart from the rest is that they make fewer compromises. So MISSION's skincare scientists worked with some of the world's greatest athletes to create a sunscreen that offers sweatproof and waterproof, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ protection in a convenient, fast-drying spray. Its vitamin-enriched, preservative and paraben-free formula also makes it a perfect sunscreen for casual, everyday use.
Product Benefits
* Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+ UVA/UVB Protection
* Sweatproof/Waterproof
* Fast-Drying Formula
* Alcohol Free
* Non-Sticky, Hydrating Spray
* Fragrance Free
* Preservative/Paraben Free
* Net Wt. 3.4 fl. oz. (100 mL)
This is one of a full line of products – some might say too full, if my headache after reading the entire list is any judge – that was developed for people who need to be out in the sun while engaging in vigorous exercise. Volleyball players, joggers, marathoners, race car drivers, tennis players – whoa, Nellie! This product’s spokesperson is Serena Freakin’ Williams. And a bunch of other endorsers that I’m sure would be famous to me if I followed their sports. Surely I, whose most strenuous form of exercise is competitive shopping, could entrust my epidermis to dun-dun-dun-dun dun DUN – Mission Skincare? Especially since the Fast-Drying Sunscreen was $8.99.
Reader, I bought it. And since walking around Manhattan, with all its glass, high-rise office buildings produce plenty of refracted sunlight and glare I have been wearing it daily for the past week. I can report that this SPF30+ formula sprays on like a dry oil, and is quickly absorbed, leaving a nice sheen but no greasy residue. It has no discernable odor. It can be applied to the palms and then patted onto the face without disturbing my mineral makeup or blusher (I did not try rubbing it in because, well, I’m not a complete idiot.) The alcohol-free formula did not irritate my skin, or cause me to break out. Most important, of course, is that it protected me from the sun’s rays, as I could tell from a small test patch I left on one forearm. So while I was only looking for one product, I am fairly certain I will go back and buy their Anti-Sting SPF 30+ Face Stick for that beach trip, the better to protect my nose. That’s the one piece of my total acreage that never gets sheltered by hat, sunglasses, cover-up or beach chair canopy.
So when Gigi gets back from helping Conan be funny, I’m going to show her this column and suggest she send it to him. Because you just know that if he is reading Meg’s, he is not only in touch with his feminine side, he also knows a good Drugstore Deal. And so do we.
Who else loved that this "Mission" cost them under $10 and they could take a trip in any sunny locale with it?
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Reviews
Tantejoan, you are too funny!! "In fact, I believe in Beverly Hills there is a weigh-in station where the police deny entrance to anyone with a BMI above 24. Or is that a DUI?" That was an absolutely hilarious statement!!! I hope that Conan doesn't shanghai you for your comedic skills as well!Thanks for finding a great cheap sunscreen :) Seriously, there are so many options these days that it's kind of overwhelming. Honestly, I think spray sunscreen is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I absolutely love it because it is so easy to use, and right now, with my incredibly sensitive skin, I need to be extra extra diligent in using my sunscreen! Thanks for the rec, I'll be sure to check it out next time I'm at the drugstore!However, I'm still on the hunt for a good drugstore face sunscreen... I like The Body Shop's Seaweed Mattifying sunscreen (doesn't mattify but smells nice and is less greasy than my Aveeno oil free SPF 70 face sunscreen). But it's a little expensive. Neutrogena Age Shield FACE SPF 70 gave my mom tons of tiny pimples :( Her favorite face sunscreen at the moment is Shisheido, but that's way too expensive, in my opinion.Please let us know if you buy the face sunscreen stick and how it works! Any recs for a non-shiny, non comedogenic, silicone free sunscreen?
♥ Lipgloss and Spandex: a blog for gals who look good and run fast
Wish I had known about this several weeks ago when I was in Florida on vacation. I used a No-Ad sunscreen with SPF 50 and got sunburned so badly the first day that I didn't go back to the beach until the fourth day. I usually use Bullfrog sunscreen but forgot to take it with me and picked up No-Ad when I got there. Now I guess I know why they use "no ads."
Moema....always a Mom first
You are too funny!!! I honestly believed that this was another expensive brand but when I saw it under drugstore deals I was like "No way!". I'm beginning to like this brand, if it's good enough for athletes then I'm all for it!
You're hysterical :)Like Nina I was expecting this brand to be very high-end/pricy! I'm glad it is a drugstore deal! I LOVE spray sunscreens as it is just easier to use and gives better coverage! And the price is amazing! I will have to try this one out.
does it come in spf higher than 30? i went to the beach recently and got coppertone b/c they were the only ones with spf 70. the sun is so intense and i already had a tan. i was worried about my foundation REALLY not matching plus the medication im on (from the dermatologist) strongly discourages direct sun exposure. :(
http://www.youtube.com/ashleya1002
Nope, only SPF30, which provides 98% protection, according to Dr. Jeff Benabio's great, no-nonsense Dermatology Blog, http://thedermblog.com/. Here's the best advice I've had from his blog about whether or not layering products with varying SPF levels provides cumulative power: it doesn't. Here's his math quiz:
"If you apply a facial moisturizer with an SPF of 15 then add a facial sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and then apply a makeup with an SPF 15 what is the total SPF protection you are getting? 15? 30? 70?
A: the total SPF protection you are getting is 30. Unfortunately, layering sunscreens does not give added SPF protection. Applying two sunscreens with an SPF of 15 gives you a total SPF of 15, not 30. The SPF you end up with is only the SPF of the highest sunscreen that you applied.
Turns out you don’t need math at all."
Tantejoan - you had me howling with the BMI police. I share Conan's ridiculously white skin, and for the time being, I'm also what you would call 'skint'. Besides concealer, sunscreen is on my absolute must have list - I go through huge amounts, so I can't be buying luxe brands. That product sounds great - right now I'm using Nivea Visage SPF 50 which is a drugstore product I can highly recommend. I'm too afraid to step on a scale, let alone work out my BMI, so it's as well I'm too out of pocket for LA right now.....
Rie
Great review! You did a wonderful job and I'm sure Gigi will be proud. I'm in need of a fast and easy to apply sunscreen. I'm getting tired of the old squeeze it out and rub rub rub it in. So tired in fact that I've been a naughty girl and skipped using it quite a few times. I was going to check out the Coppertone spray but this is the same price and if it works for all those athletes then I'm in. God knows they are way more active then me. :)
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!Today, CVS is discounting all Mission Skincare products. The sunscreen reviewed above? $6.99. SPF15 Lip balmers in Mint, Organic Strawberry and Pomegranate? $2.99. Face Stick? $6.29.Run. Run like Conan!
Joan-it is not fair that the Cali and NYC crowd have such kick ass CVS stores. Gigi and I have to suffer the bare bones OH and PA CVS embarrassments!! This will never be on our shelves!! But I would consider ordering this. But I am not sure how great it would be for my very oily and acne prone skin. The sheen sounds dubious for me. Please clarify the oil and sheen situation for me....Wonderful review by the way. You always slay me. And any time Conan steals our brilliant Gigi I guarantee that you are the only acceptible substitute. Would you consider yourself Caron's Leno or Rivers?? Maybe one day you will have your own "show" like Letterman.
Great review!! I looked for this at my local CVS (Texas) and couldn't find it!!! I have trouble with certain sunscrrens breaking me out, so I really would like to get my hands on this !!
You are the Mother of all Aunts girl!!! How I love your insanity and clarity and this sounds like a product that might actually be worthy of you!Have FUN at the beach,you're like me in that you thrive more on the steaming pavement surrounded by tall buildings than in the "wild",LOL! We hot-house fleurs must stick together...:)Hugs to you,great review and I love how such amazing products are popping up everywhere faster than we can swipe on lipgloss! :)
Great great review! I'm going to check this out! Thank you so much!
Super review, TJ! You have such a flair for writing. You and Gigi would make a great team. Anyway - this sunscreen sounds great, especially for the low price. Unfortunately, no CVS's here in South Podunk. I love the sun - but I can burn easily if I don't pay attention. I've ordered Style Mama's favorite Dr T's goop. And I have some spray by Neutragena (SPF 70) - which is also good. But when I need to re-stock, I'll try to find Mission.
Carole
Muchos gracias! This will be very helpful when I go to my brother's wedding in Jamaica in March. I have been testing several kinds of sunscreens for the body and for the face and I have found none to the liking. They either smell like I've doused myself in pina colada (and I hate coconut), way too greasy or heavy, or don't absorb very well into the screen. I have very oily yet sensitive skin so I'm still on the lookout for something for my face. Also what does everyone do for their hair/scalp? Sometimes I get burned on my scalp and i don't like the idea of just putting sunscreen on it since it gets my hair really oily and greasy looking. suggestions please!
I have taken my running outside in the warm weather and even taken to wearing a friggin baseball cap because the local marching band was recruiting me for its brass section based on the color my hair was turning. I wear TWO layers of sunscreen on my face - the one in my moisturizer and then I use the Neutrogena 55 (SPF NOT MY AGE) helioplex, blah, blah over it. And it works, but I hate all the rubbing to get that white mask to absorb. So I will try this. I actually have TWO convenient CVS's where people mostly keep their teeth in their mouths so I am not afraid to shop there. K-Mart does scare me, though. Have fun at the beach TJ; we are headed to Hilton Head next week.
TJ, I am sold! My "whiteness" would definitely give Conan a run for his money. I am planning on spending every minute that I can possibly spare on the beach this summer. I go through sunscreen so fast that I am seriously thinking I need a separate Sunscreen lineitem in my budget. Mission sunscreen sounds like a great "bang for your buck"! I am going to check it out at my "non-ghetto" CVS soon. ;-)The anti-sting face stick sounds partcularly intriguing since I am trying to ward off the "raccoon eyes" effect. I like to wear my big sunglasses, but if I don't wear enough sunscreen I will have some pretty unflattering "raccoon-like" tan lines on my face. Not a pretty site. Hope you have a wonderful time at the Jersey shore.
What a fun review! When I lived in Columbus, OH there were awesome CVS's. However, in the Virginia Beach area, they have been pretty much non-existant... Until now! There is one, at this very moment, being constructed right down the street! Since it's brand new, they BETTER be awesome and carry all these great products! This sounds like something to try for those biking, running, or rowing days! My standard has been Coppertone Sport, but I would definitely give Mission Skincare a try! Thanks for the heads up!
Erika, I just put sunscreen on a q-tip and run it along the area of my scalp that is showing. If you try to stay in that little area you shouldn't have oily looking hair.
This looks nice-- I love the convenience of spray sunscreens. I'm not sure about using it for my face, though. If anyone is looking for a nice daily sunscreen, I use Alpha Hydrox's daily UVA/UVB sunscreen. It's only 15 SPF, so you might need something more heavy duty if you'll be outside a lot, but it doesn't break me out at all, and I have acne-prone skin.
I will definaty check this out when the CVS opens up in the next couple weeks!! ... A little fyi for all you readers out there.. in Franklin NH.. they are building a CVS right next to a Rite Aid.. ya i donno either! <3 hehe
Roxy, this appears to be the big marketing strategy these days, although Gigi is the expert. In my neck of the woods (if skyscrapers grow in the woods) banks open next door to banks, drug emporia next to each other and McDonalds, Dunkkin Donuts and Starbucks cheek by jowl with Cosi's. As a matter of fact, I live in an apartment building that is one block from a Starbucks and yet a new one has now opened in my same block. I live in fear that I will step out of my shower one day and find a barista, towel in one hand and skinny hazelnut latte in the other. As I have written on the guestbooks of several of you with, um, less well-endowed CVS stores, all of these products are available on sale at the CVS web sie. And at those prices, what's a little shipping charge?
Why in the world would you "fear stepping out of the shower and finding a barista towel in one hand and skinny hazelnut latte in the other"? I would love one of those! I know what you mean though. The amount of Starbucks' are ridiculous.
Oh, Tantejoan, what a great review. I always need sunscreen, I need the good sweatproof. I go thru it and am a freak about my daughter wearing it. This sounds perfect.CVS online has an offer right now of 10 off 60 and free shipping (over 49) plus you get the CVS bonus bucks.
tantejoan fabulous review and funny. I love it. You are the best replacement for Gigi. You ladies would make a great team. I'm stopping at CVS tonight on my way home :) This sounds like just what I need. We will be travelling acrross the country soon, to spend two week on the beach in LA and on the Oregon Coast so I will definitely need to protect my freckled irish skin. ;-) I love that it's a spray and non sticky. I hate oily sunscreen and not to mention applying it. And I'm loving that's it's Paraben free. This sounds awsome. Thank you for reviewing this product. Great timing!They use to have a joke when I lived in Vancouver BC that you could trow one rock and hit 10 starbucks with the same rock. ;-) Aha... I have to laugh tantejoan, "coming out of the shower with the barista waiting" I have my husband doing that now. AHA... He brings me coffee or latte in bed every morning. I know I'm very lucky! :) Now if all Starbucks had drive thru I would be in Momma heaven. Or if the barrista could just bring it to my car, so I wouldn't have to take my son out of the carseat. hmmm....
Lulu, thanks for your comments but let us be clear. There is NO replacement for Gigi. Ever. She is a national treasure and could be replaced no more than the Washington Monument could be replaced by a thumbtack. I am just the pale cardboard bookmark, holding her place and happy to be!Well, if I had a husband he could definitely be my barista and welcome. As it is, I suppress my caffiene craving until I get to my office corner Starbucks, where my barista is a diminutive ball of charm named Nigel. He, for reasons I have given up trying to divine, calls me "Vegas." I live in fear that Nigel will be fired for constantly supersizing my Tall iced Chai lattes into Ventis. But he was recently graduated from college, so I am afraid that come the fall he will depart to run a multinational and I will be back to being merelyTantejoan
Wow, this sounds like a really awesome buy. I've been looking for a good cheap sunscreen, and this looks like it could be the product for me.
AHA.... Agreed with you tantejoan Gigi is one of a kind but I think you are too. Love y'all! Awww I love it when your barista knows you, it makes it that more special to go get your caffeine fix in morning. We have a Starbucks near the house and they know us my name, just like in "Cheers", my husband and I will walk in and they start our drinks right away. Just having them smile and name you by your name makes it that more personal and nice. I feel like a traitor if I have to go to another Starbucks in the morning. ;-) Well I hope if Nigel has to go that he will be replace with another diminutive ball of charm for you. :)
Tantejoan, I wouldn't be surprised if Conan came to you next to write him a funny script! This review was so entertaining and yet so informative! I'll be on the lookout for this sunscreen next time I'm in the drug store...One of the biggest reasons I always get such bad sunburns is because I refuse to put on that guck my Mother calls sunscreen!
This looks so expensive! It sounds really awesome though. I love it when drugstore products perform especially well. I hate old school sun screen. It's greasy, goopy, and heavy. It smells bad. It's just blah. This sounds really nice in comparison.
I am going to go to my local CVS and check this out! my daughter is very fair skinned. She has just moved to Florida, I worry about her getting the living s*it burned out of her. I love sending her "care packages" and this week it'll be Mission skincare.Thanks for the great review Tantejoan!!
OMG this post makes me want to run out to CVS right now and pick it up. It's almost 11p, though, so I have to wait until tomorrow. I am always looking for a new sunscreen as I live in the desert. Spray on, no greasy residue, no odor and can be applied over mineral makeup? SOLD!
WE have no CVS here and our local Walgreen's doesn't carry this. I would love to try it.
Beste Hilsin
i like the idea of sunscreen you can use on face and body at the same time- since i am kinda lazy and dont wanna switch spf lotions.
haha very true, i love multipurpose products :D
Tantejoan - you are a funny one! Travelling from the San Gabriel Valley to Beverly Hills to get my hair done: the cars are more expensive, the parking is through the roof, and the looks of disdane are waiting for anything fashionable that doesn't rhyme with oochee. The sunscreen sounds like the perfect solution to greasy, stinging, and smelly protection. My question is this - does that face stick produce anything other than a white streak down our nose and burning eyes? My mission is to find that as well....
The stick is perfect for what ails you. No warpaint, no stinging at all, and although it says sweatproof, if you are playing sports and some dew gets in your eye, it won't make 'em, burn. Test driven by squirrels like me.
I don't believe this bran is sold where I live but what caled my attention the most is that it's paraben free. Parabens are so dangerous for your health that I think people should really support comapnies and products that don't have them.
I have looked into this product, I want to try it. I really like the ingredients. The cream version of this sunscreen, MISSIONS SKINCARE Ultra Sweatproof SPF 30 has some great ingredients. Ivy: decongests the skin, helps protect the skin too. cucumber: tightens and revitalizes skin, it is a natural moisturizer, it has a mild astringent relieves puffiness and removes dead skin cells. Elder Flower: is a member of the honeysuckle family, it cleanses the skin, lightens freckles and soothes, arnica: reduces redness and heals, natural antibacterial,controls oil and allergies. marshmallow extract: treats sores and skin ulcers, anti inflammatory, soothes redness. This sounds like a great product and one I will try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sounds great! sunscreen is definitely a must, i'm getting used to using it everyday so when i get older my skin won't be all wrinkly. :D
I love drugstore deals!!!!!
Wow thats awesome. Definitely thought this would be something much more expensive. Great deal.
Wow! Pretty impressive. I've been using some of the aerosol spray SPFs but they take a while to dry and generally have some not-so-great ingredients, like parabens and/or propellants. I'll look for this!
Acne is mainly caused due to overproduction of sebum in sebaceous glands of the body. Diet containing much oil must be avoided to prevent from acne. Balanced nutritious diet should be taken.http://www.skinb5.com/
Is slow-drying sunscreen a problem? I just use Skin-so-Soft sunscreen from Avon and it seems to soak up pretty quick
French DRUG STORES are way less cool =( wll never found a deal liike that !!!! bouh
Chloe http://thehollywoodheels.blogspot.com
What? Slow drying sunscreen? Where have you been all my life?
My scrapbook shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elle71125
This sounds terrific, especially since I'm still looking for a good sunscreen! A CVS just moved in close to my house so I'll be making a trip soon.
Just back from the beach. You can see the drag marks from my heels as we drove north on I 95 from Hilton Head. I made a trip to CVS before I left for Mission. It sounded perfect. And since no one at my CVS has been seen biting people or packaging I felt safe. Then I discovered the CVS stands for CHAOS Vending Sunscreen. There were no fewer than three places that one could find sunscreen: with the moisturizers, on an aisle end where one brand was on sale and finally, where I found Mission, with the beach toys. I snatched up a bottle and the free lip balm being offered with it and felt like a champion. Then I put it on before my first run at 8 AM on a breezy and not very sticky southern beach morning. About 45 minutes into my run I was wiping some sweat away and came away with a handful of white residue. Taking a look at my arms and legs I was covered in sweat infused sunscreen that had risen to the surface. YUCK. I had rubbed it in well before leaving and it is greasy going on, the spray is not multi-directional and does not cover a wide area (I am not a very wide person, but still). So I tried it again the next day and the same thing happened. I started using sunscreen towelettes for protection before my run and did not have any residue. Using Mission while on the beach, I found that the protection was good, but not better than Aveeno or Neutrogena, both of which I prefer as well as those towelettes which I can only find at Douglas beauty. The product's price falls between the Aveenos/Neutrogenas and the Estee Lauder/Clinique lines. I wanted to love this, but I didn't.
For my own personal health/anti-aging preventative measures, I actually don't wear sunblock. I know most of yall will probably flilp over this, but I'm sorry. You may tell me things like sun is damaging to your health and helps age you faster. But I have found a lot of research that says the exact opposite. In fact most of the people in the longevity hot spots of the world actually spend a decent amount of time outside, and many times most of their time outside. I know that there are a lot of other factors that play into the reasons people stay alive/look younger longer. But I believe the sun is a major factor. I don't know if any of you have heard of the longevity hot spots, but it is a big topic of recent discussion for many. Oprah even did a whole show on it, along with Dr. Oz. It showed this man that was over 100, and he looked great. I forgot what area he actually lived in. But he was still in shape, and very tan. He worked outside for a living. He was a farmer. And he wouldn't even stop long enough to talk to Dr. Oz. Dr Oz had to talk to him while he was harvesting plants. That is just one example. But I really think the sun is made out to be a bad thing, when it is in fact the opposite. I have even read medical journal studies that show that using sunblock may be the thing that is responsible for skin cancer, and not the sun. How often do you read the back of a sunblock and understand what all the ingredients do, and what they mean? I would do some research before I tried to put any of those on my body. This is my opinion based on years of research I have done. It is my only personal practice, and I don't necessarily recomend it for anyone else. Although I think as people we should do research on the things we put on/in our body. But I do recommend you at least know what you are putting on your body before you do. This looks and sounds like a great sunscreen. And the fact that it a spray makes it all the better. My little brother is supposed to wear sunscreen at all times because of all the medication he is on. But he has a job where he has to work outside all the time, and he stopped wearing sunscreen because he hated the greasiness of it. This sounds like a good sunscreen for him to use. Things that you can simply spray on, are always more convenient then things you have to rub on.