Sukin Sheer Touch SPF30: My New Favourite Reef Safe Sunscreen

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Summer is here finally, and with summer, comes my annual testing of the latest clean sunscreens. I thought I’d cracked it last year with REN Clean Screen. But I’ve found one that I like even more this year! Meet Sukin Sheer Touch SPF30 Sheer Touch Sunscreen. It’s reef safe sunscreen suitable for facial use, that comes in tinted and untinted versions. It has mineral, rather than chemical sun protection.

I’ve tested both the untinted and tinted versions of this reef safe sunscreen, so which is best? Read my review of both Sukin Sheer Touch SPF30 Sheer Touch Sunscreens to find out.

All About Sukin Sheer Touch SPF30 Sunscreen

Sukin Sheer Touch SPF30 Sunscreen is a daily use mineral facial sunscreen, with Zinc Oxide providing the active broadscreen UVA and UVB sunscreen protection. The reef-friendly formula is free from the chemical absorbers oxybenzone and oxtinoxate. They are thought to be damaging to coral reefs and sea life. This reef safe sunscreen is Vegan, cruelty free and contains no nasties.

It is important to use a reef safe sunscreen because it protects coral reefs and marine life from absorbing the harmful chemicals found in chemical sunscreen.

Mineral sunscreens like this one are also known as physical sunscreens. This is because they absorb and then deflect the UV radiation as well as absorbing the UV light and releasing it as heat. The two active ingredients for mineral sunscreens are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

You get sun protection as soon as you apply a mineral sunscreen. But they will wash off with sweat and water so it’s important to reapply regularly. They can also leave whitish cast on the skin unfortunately. Using a tinted version like this reef safe sunscreen could help overcome that issue.

How to Use Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Reef Safe Sunscreen

It’s really important to mix this mineral sunscreen well before you apply it. So just give the tube a good shake, or knead it before you squirt it out. Apply a generous amount over your face and neck and massage well in to your skin. I like to use the tinted version on my face and the untinted version on my neck. This means it doesn’t get on clothes. Sadly I didn’t think of this until after I got it on the neck of my favourite white tshirt… You could also use your body sunscreen on your neck, rather than buying both of course!

Like all sunscreens, reapply every 2 hours or more if you’re swimming of sweating. This sunscreen is not water resistant. Sukin reef safe sunscreen has to be used within 6 months of opening, so don’t be tempted to save any for next year, as it may not be as effective.

Did you know?

According to the British Skin Foundation, about 67% of British people do not use enough sunscreen. They recommend that an adult uses the equivalent to a full shot glass of sunscreen for their face and body. This equates to half a teaspoon for your face and neck, one teaspoon for your arms, two teaspoons for your legs, and two teaspoons for your body.

I squeezed out about 1/2 teaspoon of the tinted sunscreen to show how much it is. Are you surprised? When you put this much on your face and neck, it’s a pretty thick layer and needs rubbing in quite a lot. I’d recommend trying this out with your sunscreen to help you see if you’re using enough.

How Does Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Reef Safe Sunscreen Feel On Skin?

Sukin claim this sunscreen is “non-greasy, doesn’t leave a white caste and is sheer to touch.” Well, whilst it isn’t greasy, it is moisturising, so may be too rich for oily skin. Scroll down for my oily skin sunscreen recommendation.) Both versions leave a nice glow on the skin, but the untinted version does also leave a bit of a white caste. It does sink in in a few minutes though, so I don’t consider this to be too bad. It’s a lot easier to rub in than many I’ve tried!

Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Reef Safe Sunscreen Tinted and Untinted Swatches

I personally prefer the tinted version of this mineral facial sunscreen. It gives a little coverage and a healthy look. It’s a bit dark for my very pale skin tone but I can get away with it in the summer. I also found when I layer over my favourite Madara CC Cream, it gave a really good perfected finish, and also looked closer to my skin tone.

This is how the tinted version looks on my hand — it also comes in a medium/dark version for darker skin tones.

And this is how the untinted (white) version looks on my hand. See how you can still see a few lines of white on the last photo? They faded pretty quickly though.

How Does Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Reef Safe Sunscreen Look Under Make-up?

This is how Sukin Tinted Sunscreen looks when worn beneath Madara CC Cream, Hynt Concealer, Love the Planet Finishing Powder. I’m also wearing RMS Beauty Straight Up Mascara and Madara Brow Pomade here.
As you can see, skin looks natural yet perfected and whilst not totally matte, it’s not shiny either.

This photo was taken at the end of the day and I hadn’t touched up my make-up at all. I’d also been wearing a facemask as I went shopping. So I think it’s stayed in place well and doesn’t have much shine breakthrough.

And finally this is how my skin looked when I added more Sukin tinted sunscreen over the top of my make-up. You can’t see it at all and it didn’t go all lumpy or greasy. This means I can take the tube with me and reapply without ruining my make-up — result!

How Eco-Friendly is the Packaging?

I wish the packaging for this sunscreen was not plastic — Sukin, please look at this in future! It comes in an easily-recyclable cardboard box. But the tube itself is plastic, with the 7 code, so it can at least be recycled.

Ingredients in Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Face Sunscreen

Active: Zinc Oxide 215mg/g Contains Phenethyl Alcohol Inactives: Aqua, Isoamyl Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sucrose Cocoate, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum.

My Verdict on Sukin SPF30 Facial Sunscreen

This reef safe sunscreen is almost perfect for me. It sinks in well after a little effort, give a nice finish on the skin, doesn’t look greasy although it does feel a little heavy on your skin. I love the fact that you can apply it over make-up without ruining it and that it comes in untinted and two shades of tinted. I wish it was a little paler for me though. The only real drawback I’ve found for this reef safe facial suncream from Sukin is the smell. It has quite a strong smell when you apply it, and it does linger for a while.

You can buy Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch Face Sunscreen at Love Lula in all three types.

Looking for a mineral facial sunscreen that’s ideal for oilier skin types?

Why REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF30 Is The Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin