When I headed to a sunny island holiday, I realized that I’d be out and about frolicking in the sun so I packed my sunblock arsenal, and in there, I tossed this mist spray sunblock. I’d never used a spray sunblock before so this would be interesting. I figured it would make it easier (and more fun) to re-apply my sunblock, instead of rubbing the usual creamy white lotion all over – something I tend to get lazy with.
The Mentholatum Sunplay UV Body Mist Sunblock has been around a while, and it proclaims an impossibly high SPF80. If you look at the Sunplay series of sunscreen, they all boast very impossibly high SPF numbers. I’m never quite sure if it can really go that high to be honest. I’m not good at these things. I usually stick to SPF50 and anything over that is a bonus.
Application is easy peasy. It is an aerosol can, so just spray the fine mist all over your body, ensuring you cover every inch. The directions say you can also spray it on your face, but if you plan to, please make sure you close your eyes 😛 The spray mist is clear and cooling on the skin which is really nice in the heat of the sun. But really, do I like this?
No I don’t 🙁
The product sprays out a fine cooling mist as I’ve noted, but on contact with the skin, it takes on an oily texture I absolutely dislike. It feels oily and even after you spread it, it still feels oily. I tested it on my arms and legs, and when I felt that oily texture, there was no way I was putting it near my face.
I went round spraying this mist on most of my travel party to gauge their reaction, and they all disliked the oily feel. After you spread it on your skin, the oily feel remains and gives your skin an oily sheen. We all agreed the cooling mist was nice on a hot day, but that we did not like how it felt after that.
Mentholatum Sunplay UV Body Mist sunblock ingredient list
From a practical point of view, a spray mist is perfect for topping up on your sunscreen application. Heaven knows, its easy enough to forget or to ignore reapplication once you are lounging on a sundeck or on the beach. A mist makes it fun and easy to apply. So, if the texture agrees with you, you will like this. If you dislike the texture, you won’t. I didn’t, and I don’t 🙁
Pros: Cooling fine mist, Colourless and no white cast on the skin, Easy and fun to use
Cons: Oily feel on the skin
This isn’t the first mist spray sunblock there is out there and if there’s one thing I learnt from using this product is that a spray on sunblock is great when you travel! Its quick and easy to use and you don’t get your hands sticky from applying creams and lotions. Also, a spray covers a larger area and possibly gets into corners you might otherwise miss. So I will be keeping an eye out for other spray on sunblocks for reapplication purposes 🙂
Have you tried this product and do you like it? How about spray on sunscreens or sunblocks? Have you tried one you like?
Paris B
The Mentholatum Sunplay UV Body Mist Sunblock SPF80 PA++ retails at RM45.90/150ml at most leading pharmacies
Jess says
I like ROC Minesol Tripple Defense SPH50, not sticky !!
ParisB says
Hmm… I’m scared of ROC Minesol. It broke me out so bad it wasn’t funny.
ksuan says
I swear by only two brands of sunscreen: Banana Boat and Coppertone. Both companies make solid cream-based sunscreens for both face and body (even sensitive skinned folk have a range with these two brands, love it!), but Coppertone has a great spray-on range that I found incredibly lightweight and easy to use, but not cheap.
ParisB says
I cut my sunscreen teeth on Coppertone! 😀 Way back in the day, that’s all there was available. I don’t use it anymore because their ingredients don’t agree with me. I prefer something with titanium dioxide in it and no avobenzone 🙂
Sandra says
I’m using Neutrogena SPF50+, love the non-greasy feel but I wish it has no fragrance. But at least the smell is more subtle than the others. 🙂
ParisB says
Is this the spray version of Neutrogena? I’ve seen that around but never tried it. I tried the cream version which was ok
Kat says
i prefer the spray version of neutrogena sunscreen to the lotion one. it’s lighter and not greasy.
Amanda says
Currently I’m using biore UV Perfect face milk spf50, and I looooove it and its cheap :D.
I never tried the spray coz im affraid it will not cover the whole area of my skin, prefer dry cream… wanna try neutrogena dry-touch spf 50 for my body.
ParisB says
I’m a little afraid of Biore breaking me out. I don’t have an affinity with Japanese sunscreens 🙁
Amanda says
I have a bad luck with sunplay… years ago, and keep trying few other brand from rm30-140.
I alway very lazy to put sunscreen on my face bcoz I dont like the feeling of it tried like other 3-4 brands until I found this one and I <3 it. 😀 I slap thick sunscreen on my face i like how it feels.
Kaz says
I recently got the Clearwater SPF50 one in the same brand. Haven’t tried it yet, but I hope I’m not allergic to it and it’s not oily. I’ve only cautiously started using SPF15 moisturiser on the face. I hope to venture into SPF50 soon and hope it will work out.
ParisB says
I hope it works for you! 🙂
makeup.addict says
I have used spray on sunscreens before (Neutrogena, Banana Boat and Coppertone) and all of them leave these oily sheen on my body. I know some people might like the look of it but I, being as tan as I am, for one do not want to look like a goreng pisang when I am at the beach. 🙂
I am currently using La Roche Posay’s Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for face and also the one from the same line for my body. The one’s I bought are formulated for normal/combination screen so it is just perfect for me as it dries down to a matte finish. I highly do recommend it. 🙂
ParisB says
That’s what I’m afraid of. That oily sheen which really, isn’t very flattering. In my case, I look like an undercooked goreng pisang 😛 I’ve always liked La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreens! 😀 We don’t get them here yet so I get them from Singapore 😀
Connie De Alwis says
Awh, I actually liked this. I used this when I was in Sunway Lagoon. I was alright with the oily sheen. Better than the heavy white stuff
ParisB says
Ooh glad to know you like it! I actually don’t mind the white cast of sunscreen on my body. Its reassuring to know its there! LOL
Julia says
Funny, the review I’ve read on http://everbluec.onsugar.com/home mentioned nothing about the oily feel, but stated you cannot directly spray it into your face. O.o
I used the Fasio sun spray in Japan, but found it rather expensive for the small bottle.
ParisB says
Well, I guess different people will have different reactions and observations 🙂 The directions on the back of the can say you can spray it on your face. I’d rather not 😛
Alla says
the ingredients’ are just crap, to start with alcohol number 1? wtf, so drying. second, where are the good sunscreen ingredients? this is useless! you will burn and age with this thing on. and spf80 but only pa++? this is just ridiculous. i recently got their skin aqua uv moisture gel spf27 to keep on my desk and apply after hand cream to get my spf, but regretting the buy, i will use it up though, but not purchasing anything from mentholatum ever again.
ParisB says
Interestingly, it wasn’t drying but it was “oily”. I used this on top of the Cancer Council one but like you, I wasn’t convinced by the ingredient list. Japanese sunscreens really don’t do it for me 🙁 I’ve never tried one I’d liked, whether from high end or drugstore 🙁
Sylvia says
I have read your entire review and glad to find the summary “Cooling fine mist, Colourless and no white cast on the skin, Easy and fun to use”.
However, I think you’ve missed out the greatest info that is “Is this Sunplay SPF80 sunscreen effective to block out the UV ray?” and “Is your skin tone preserved from darkening from the sunny island outdoor activity”?
ParisB says
My answer to whether it is effective is “I don’t know. There are too many chemicals in there that I don’t recognize and too few blockers that I do” and my answer to whether my skintone is preserved from turning darker under the sun is “It did not but that’s because I was using the Cancer Council sunscreen as the first buffer which has a very high zinc oxide content, and this spray just for fun, and I don’t sit in the sun very much” I won’t be using this one again because I just don’t like it at all 🙂
Vonvon says
I have this one too. Haven’t tried it, since I am waiting for summer to come. But I guess I have to get another sunblock just to stand by after reading your review.
I tried Neutrogena sunscreen body mist before and I quite like it. Didn’t have that oily feel.
nicky says
I totally agree with you!! Its really oily but I think I’m gonna continue using it coz its colourless and easy to apply.. I’m using this on my body. For face, I get great, great results with Biore Perfect Face Milk – it clears up my acne, excellent oil control and makes my face oh so smooth (my husband agrees with this)
Sha says
I used this before when I went to Perhentian two weeks ago, but it doesn’t really work. Its not really effective in blocking out UV rays. I still came back with a dry, tanned skin, which sorta forces me to invest in whitening products now.
Eve says
Hey parisb I need help .. I’m going of for holiday to sunny island tomorrow then I realize I lose my SPF .. Any suggestion on which brand which is high in SPF n non greasy .. I gotta buy it tonigt d lol .. Thanks a millionth !
ParisB says
For the body, try Neutrogena. I’m really sorry but I can’t help otherwise as I use foreign sunscreens for my body unavailable here 😛
Eve says
Lol it’s ok .. No need to say sorry ! =) I’ll go buy neutragena then .. Thanks !