Is this the most innovative sunscreen, ever?
That’s what I asked when I tried South Korean brand, Nature Republic’s Ice Puff Sun sunscreen. At first, when Nature Republic sent me this product, I was a
taaaadbit confused. The entire product is bright, cheddar yellow, comes in a canister that resembles Cheez Wiz, and looks exactly like what you’d find at your next Super Bowl party. But at closer examination, this product was so much more. It’s the Bop It of beauty products: The top twists, the cap opens up, and you can press it down like a pump.
SEE ALSO: You don’t know s*** about SPF!
What did this all mean? And how TF was this actual sunscreen?
Unlike most SPFs, which come as creams, sprays, or gels, this one comes in aerosol form. You simply twist the cap once to the right, open the top, take out the cushion, and pump. Pumping allows the actual sunscreen to not only soak the cushion, but to keep it extremely cold. Icy, even. Anyone who’s used an aerosol mist knows how freezing cold the bottle actually becomes. That’s because the propellant evaporates inside the container to maintain a constant pressure.
Ingredients
The formula includes provence calendula flower extract, which Nature Republic says helps sooth irritated or sun-damaged skin. It also has Hawaiian deep sea water from the Coast of Kona, natural minerals Nature Republic claims is used for nourishing your skin. Finally, there’s hyaluronic acid to keep the skin moisturized, bouncy and plump, while also reducing appearance of any wrinkles.
And that’s the genius of this product. When you pump the bottle, a freezing cold substance soaks the cushion, which you then dab onto your face much like you would a compact. You then place the product all over your face, allowing your pores to soak the icy liquid in.
Initial thoughts
I’ll admit at first try, using this product was a very eye-opening experience. For one, I was completely shocked when the icy substance first hit my skin. I mean, I read that it was cooling, but I wasn’t expecting it to be completely like ice cubes splatted on my face. Not a bad experience at all, but uncomfortable if you’re not expecting it.
After testing for an entire week, I felt it completely soothed my sun-kissed face, beaten and battered by intense sunlight (especially here in Colorado where I am for a wedding. Since the elevation is higher, we’re closer to sunlight, meaning, the UV rays are more extreme.) I totally understood just why a product would want to instantly cool your skin. Not only does it help with inflammation, it also allows your skin to calm the f*** down, especially if it’s been damaged or burned by sunlight.
The best use for me were the under eyes. Mine get super puffy and tired in the mornings. My dark circles are also even more pronounced since I’m getting a little older. I’ve used the cushion compact and the icy substance on my under eye bags. I place it there for a good 5-10 seconds and it instantly depuffs them. It’s the same with any other part of my face I feel is a little swollen from the night before.
The formula that I had also had a small bit of tinted moisturizer inside. There’s also one that comes without any tinted moisturizer, for those who don’t needed any coverage. For Koreans who need that boost of color, it’s absolutely a smart and easy way to get the benefits of a BB cream while also getting your sunscreen needs. But I was disappointed to hear how there was only one shade. Meaning, if you are a fairer complexion, or darker, this wouldn’t quite work for you. At all. When I asked Nature Republic about this, they did say they were rolling our with more colors in the near future.
Would I recommend this product? Definitely. It’s probably the most innovative sunscreen I’ve ever use, period. It’s especially amazing for these upcoming summer months, especially as the sun’s rays will piercing into your pores. Fear not. With this Cheez Wiz of a bottle, you’ll be able to soothe your skin to completely beat the heat.
Buy Nature Republic Provence Calendula Spf 50 Ice Puff Sun
for $38.
