When it comes to sunscreen, and when I find a sunscreen I like, I tend to be very faithful. There is nothing worse than trying a new sunscreen and then having it fail on you when you need it most i.e. when you’re out in peak noonday sun and you’re overheating or if you burn. Horrors!
As someone who has skin that reacts easily to sun exposure (I develop sun spots and freckles very quickly and my skin heats up easily under the sun), sunscreen is my most important skincare product. I will still use a sunscreen that is greasy or heavy, if it leaves my skin protected. I used to get a lot of comments from readers on my last chosen sunscreen, which most people find too heavy or greasy for their liking. I tolerate it, because it works well for me LOL! 😛
I bought the Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF50 a little while ago, and decided to test it over the Chinese New Year holidays, without much expectations. I was indoors for most of the day, but I still had to be outside with my pup for part of the day, and that’s when I noticed that it was working very well for me.
It wasn’t until I used it during an outdoor event held under the hot sun that sealed the deal. The Altruist Sunscreen is a keeper! 😀
Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF50
What’s interesting is that ‘Altruist’ is actually a word in the English language. Altruist means a person who cares about others and helps them despite not gaining anything by doing this. The name makes sense when you learn that the founders are Dr. Andrew Birnie, Consultant Dermatologist based in Canterbury, Kent who specializes in skin cancer and Mohs micrographic surgery, and David Westerbeek van Eerten, an economist who has worked in skincare.
Their mission is to reduce the incidence of skin cancer, by enabling as many people as possible to wear sunscreen. They do this by reducing the price of sunscreen, a product that you should be using daily, but making it of the highest quality possible.
I loved this concept, because I am a firm believer in not stinting on sunscreen use, which is why I do not advocate nor use very expensive sunscreen. When the sunscreen I loved (by Shiseido – I was practically their ambassador LOL!) became too expensive, I just ditched it overnight. There was no way I would pay RM195/50ml for sunscreen, a product I use daily in copious amounts. In my mind, it is illogical, as you’d just stint on use, and that means that you do not get sufficient protection.
Altruist Sunscreens are hybrid sunscreens, formulated using chemical and physical blocks and filters approved by the European Union Cosmetics Regulation, including the most efficient UVB and UVA filters known today – Tinosorb A2B, Uvinul T150 and Tinosorb S.
While I usually shy away from purely chemical filters, I noted that the Altruist Sunscreen has titanium dioxide in it, which is a physical blocker as well. I personally find mineral sunscreens work better for my purpose, due to my regular sun exposure. If I were based indoors in an office as I used to be, I would be more comfortable wearing a chemical based sunscreen.
My personal preference when wearing sunscreen is to use a SPF50 sunscreen. While there are people who may scoff at it and opt for SPF30, I don’t, simply because I prefer something higher SPF for our weather here in the tropics. Perhaps if I were somewhere that does not get as much sun, SPF30 would do.
Large tube and cost effective
The first thing that sold me on the Altruist Sunscreen was that it came in a 100ml tube. There is a different item called the Face Fluid, which I may have a tube lying around, so I might try it in future. But I love the 100ml tube because it’s a lot of product, and I can use it for face, neck and arms if necessary.
The second thing that sold me was that it was just RM58 | £5.25 for 100ml! That is so affordable, and it means I can be generous with use and not feel the pinch.
Creamy texture like a moisturiser
I wasn’t sure what to expect with the texture of the Altruist Sunscreen, but because it came in a squeeze tube, I expected a creamy texture and I was not wrong.
The texture is like that of a cream or moisturiser. While I find that the creamy texture feels comfortable on my dry skin, I can appreciate that those with oily-combination skin may find it a little heavy.
I personally however find that it sinks into my skin and does not turn it greasy or oily. It isn’t drying either, which is something I like, as someone with dry skin.
I can understand how some people might say that you could use it in place of moisturiser, but I hesitate to suggest this, because it isn’t moisturising enough. I use it on top of all my day time skincare, and I do not feel uncomfortable.
Use enough sunscreen for best protection
How much sunscreen do you need?
Well, 2 fingers length is what is advised, although I personally use a little more. With this Altruist Sunscreen, you may find that 2 fingers is more product than usual, because it is fairly creamy and spreads well over the skin. It is tempting to cut back a little, maybe use just a dot, but I’d caution against that simply because you won’t be using enough product, and that would be a travesty for your skin!
What I do is to squeeze one line on a finger, and then spread it over half my face, rubbing it in. It can seem like a lot at the beginning, but it will absorb, I promise LOL Then, I repeat on the other side of my face. I do find that when I use the Altruist Sunscreen, I only use about 2 fingers-length because it is quite a lot of product, and it covers my face sufficiently.
RELATED READING: Learn more about the 2 finger method for measuring how much sunscreen you should be using READ MORE
A slight white cast
I do find that initially, there is a slight white cast. On my skin, I don’t notice it very much. But I imagine that on darker skin tones, it might be more noticeable. This more so when you use a lot of product.
Will be honest and say that I’m unsure if the white cast remains on darker skin tones, so if you have tried it, feel free to share your experience.
Protects my skin VERY well!
What made me fall in love with the Altruist Sunscreen was after an event I was at recently, which was an outdoor event. I was out in the sun from 10am to 5pm, and believe me when I say that it was a super bright, hot sunny day. The UV index must have been through the roof as there was not a cloud in the sky!
However, after the event, I realised 2 things. First, my skin on my face did not feel warm and overheated, as I usually feel after prolonged sun exposure. This is something I notice immediately, as the last product I used that felt this way was the Avene sunscreen, of which I used numerous tubes.
Second, my skin did not turn red, and I did not notice any increased sun spots on my skin after the weekend. Again, this is a big thing for me, as new sun spots sprout almost overnight on my skin once it’s been exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. It’s just how my skin is, and I’ve come to terms with it.
I read that Altruist Sunscreen has a 5 star ultra UVA rating (PPD 52), which is a very high rating. Basically, PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) is used to measure UVA protection in sunscreen and measures how long it takes for skin to tan. A PPD10 means that it takes 10 times longer for skin to tan as compared to unprotected skin. A PPD of 52 therefore means that it takes 52 times longer for your skin to tan compared to if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen. That is very impressive, and it is to be noted that a PPD of anything over 50 means that it has very high UVA protection.
I must admit that I am impressed by this because I am no stranger to using sunscreen, and having used many brands in my time, this is the one that has left me feeling the most comfortable after standing out in the sun all day long!
It is to be noted that at this time, I am not using any Vitamin C product (I ran out and I haven’t had the time to buy a new one LOL!) so I’m pleased that a sunscreen is helping protect my skin so I don’t have to treat it as much.
It is labeled as waterproof, so I always double-cleanse my skin to remove it at the end of the day. That said, I double-cleanse regardless, as I think everyone should! 🙂 I did not experience any breakouts while using the sunscreen, and it has been an amazing product for me, especially because I am exposed to the sun a lot and need all the protection I can get!
All in all, I have to say that this Altruist Sunscreen is one of the more comfortable sunscreens I’ve used in recent times, and one of the more effective ones. It helps of course, that it is relatively affordable, so I can use more product without being too frugal about it.
The downside of course, is that the Altruist Sunscreen is only available online here, and therefore is less visible to most people. I only came across it because I am a fan of the skincare that Worthee Cosmetics brings in, and I know that they do their research to only bring in quality brands and products. I am also a little late to the party as I know others are already big fans of it, but late is better than never! 😀
IN A NUTSHELL
The Altruist Sunscreen is a hybrid chemical and physical sunscreen that has a slightly thick creamy texture like that of a moisturising cream. It spreads well over the skin, and does not leave a sticky or greasy feeling on dry skin. It is a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVB and UVA with 5 star ultra UVA rating (PPD 52). It may have a slight white cast on deeper skin tones, but on me, I find that it absorbs well and I don’t experience any white cast thereafter. It is comfortable and moisturising on my dry skin but is no substitute for a moisturiser. I especially like that it is very affordable as well, which makes it easier to use generous amounts of it daily, so my skin is adequately protected. A truly 5 star sunscreen!
PROS:
Very affordable
Creamy texture is moisturising and absorbs quickly into skin
Protects skin very well from the sun and UV rays
Skin does not feel warm nor uncomfortable despite prolonged sun exposureCONS:
Only available online
May be too thick for some people with oily-combination skinWHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants an affordable, high quality sunscreen that protects skin very well from sun and UV exposure
PRICE: RM58 | £5.25 for 100ml
WHERE TO BUY: Worthee Cosmetics website (Use code PARISB for 15% off!)
For those interested, this is the ingredient list for the Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen SPF50
Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide (Nano), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Alumina, Panthenol, Simethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Piroctone Olamine, Titanium Dioxide, Silver Chloride, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol
Have you tried the Altruist Sunscreen or any other formula?
I just noticed that the Altruist Sunscreen SPF30 comes in a huge 1 litre bottle, wish they’d do the SPF50 in that size too! I’d grab it in a heartbeat! 😀
Paris B
Tomikai says
Hi Paris,
What a great review! As someone who has tried this sunscreen I totally agree with everything you’ve written, except that it was not working too well for my normal-oily skin. On me it felt heavy and oily, but there was no white cast for sure even though I’m much darker than you. So sad it didn’t work out for me, I would’ve saved a lot!
Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year! I hope I’m not too late.
Paris B says
Never too late for CNY! Thank you for chipping in especially about the white cast 🙂 So sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you. I can imagine the texture is a bit too heavy for those with oily-combination skin. Have you tried the Face Fluid? I’m told that the texture is a little lighter and more comfortable for oily skin