not a professional. just crazy.

I’m an SPF Obsessive and This $16 Sunscreen Is the Best I’ve Ever Tried

Photo: Rio Viera-Newton

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when I tell you that SPF is far and away the most important step in any skin-care routine. Beyond protecting your skin from harsh UVs, sunscreen also happens to be the closest thing we humans have to the Fountain of Youth. What do Hollywood beauty queens Connie Britton, Julianne Moore, and Diane Kruger all have in common? They’re all sunscreen obsessives and look younger than me.

So needless to say, I take choosing my sunscreen very seriously. Cosrx’s Aloe Vera Sunscreen has been my go-to for quite some time now. This sunscreen has never once broken me out, left a white cast, or failed to protect my skin from the sun. I’ve used it more or less every day for the last two years; it’s a staple and a close friend.

But then a friend recommended trying out Purito’s Centella Green Safe Sun sunscreen. The name alone got me excited — as you guys know, I am a huge fan of centella asiatica. The ingredient never fails to soothe and heal my dry, acne-prone skin. The idea that I could protect my skin from UVs and get an extra hit of centella at the exact same time was extremely appealing.

My main feeling after a week of using this sunscreen was: How have I lived for so many years without this magical product? While my Cosrx sunscreen never irritated or upset my skin, it also didn’t actively improve it. The Purito, on the other hand, almost immediately improved the texture, radiance, and moisture levels of my skin for the better. On top of the Centella, this sunscreen incorporates niacinamide for brightening and shrinking pores, and hyaluronic acid for pumping serious moisture into the skin. It also has an SPF of 50 and is PA++++, the highest possible protectant level against UV rays. This sunscreen, in other words, is a three-fer: it does the job of an SPF, a serum, and a moisturizer, all at once. What a world.

After just a few uses, I noticed that some errant redness I’d had on my chin had subsided, and my skin looked glowy, hydrated, and supple. If you have dry or breakout-prone skin, this is an absolute must-try. I can’t wait to repurchase this product over and over again and apply it nonstop this summer.

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