Recently I picked up the Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory to Fair, which was the lighest color I could find.
The first time I wore it, I felt like it wasn’t moisturizing enough, but the next several times I tried it out, it’s been fine, so I think that was a fluke.
Color:
Like just about every drugstore foundation I’ve tried, and every tinted moisturizer I’ve tried, the lightest color is still too dark for me.
Here it is on me right after application. You can see how it’s too dark.
That’s ok, I can make it work. To make it work I have to put a layer of foundation over it. Since I would do this regardless because I like having powder on my face to help my slightly oily skin, it’s not a problem.
You can see that it still looks a tad dark, but no one noticed.
However, I would LOVE it if a drugstore brand actually addressed the issue of not being light enough and made foundations for people who are pale. PLEASE! Some of us cannot tan.
Moisturizer:
I was worried it wasn’t moisturizing enough but it actually did a pretty good job. I still prefer to apply a vitamin C serum underneath this for extra moisturizer.
SPF:
I love the fact that it’s SPF 50. I live in Florida, and the sun’s rays are strong here, so this is really nice. This tinted moisturizer delivers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
Additional Benefits:
This is supposed to have a potent antioxidant blend to prevent future UV damage and premature signs of aging. It’s also supposed to restore with licorice extract and tomato derivatives to brighten skin and diminish the appearance of sunspots.
I think wearing SPF helps to prevent signs of aging and sunspots, so this is a good thing.
It’s also hypoallergenic, fragrance free, paraben free, non-irritating, dermatologist approved, non-comedogenic and oil free. Since Physicians Formula is a big company, they can state all of these things and more, since they do extensive testing. Be wary of small companies making claims like these.
Price:
$14.95 but I got mine for $11 at ulta. If you shop around at Ulta or CVS you can get this for much cheaper than the suggested retail.
It’s 1 fl. oz/ 30 ml.
Would I purchase again?
I probably would purchase this again. I like it, but I’m not using it every day. If this came in a lighter shade that matched my skintone, I’d be far more inclined to use it every day. As it is, on days I know I’m going to be out for a prolonged amount of time, I’ve been using it. I’m happy with the results.
Have you tried this tinted moisturizer? Did you like it?
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It sounds like PF has several good products. I definitely need to wear SPF on my face more than I do currently (which is rarely to never, unless I’m out sailing, and sometimes not even then) what with the whole living in California thing. It sounds like PF products might be a good way to start.
My only question is, how’s the scent on this? Does it smell like sunscreen? Because that’s the main reason I don’t use sunscreen much, I *hate* that smell.
I have allergies all the time, so my sense of smell is a bit off. That said, I don’t think there’s a sunscreen scent. Sunscreen is a scent I’m not fond of, and scents I don’t like I tend to be more sensitive to.
There’s a powder version of this too, which is nice. However, it’s a tad too dark for me as well unless I put another lighter foundation on top.
Awesome. I’ll definitely have to check this out, then. I’m lucky enough to be within the fairly narrow range of skin shades drugstore cosmetics come in. They rarely do pale, and from what I’ve seen, aren’t too good with most “ethnic” skin tones, either. Thank whoever for Meow’s 80-some-odd foundation shades!
OMG I know! The fact that not 1 but 2 Meow shades are wearable for me is AMAZING!
I’m not super fair, but I am not olive, either, so I run in to the same thing as you with the tinted moisturizers. I’m afraid to get even the lightest because I don’t want to look like I fell in to a pile of bronzer. You did a good job of “making due” with the lighter foundation and powder.
Thanks! I really do like the sun protection it provides :>
Watch RiteAid sales.
They had PF on buy one, get one half off. Attached to some of the packages were a coupon for $5.00 off.
So I spent around $10 – $12 for two products.
I don’t think I have a Rite Aid near me, but sometimes Walmart has sales like the awesome one you had
Oh, wow, we’re definitely about the same lightness then, because that’s about the same amount of difference between the moisturizer and skin. Good job on making it work! For me, the point of a tinted moisturizer is to eliminate one of my face steps and be covered with a high spf. Trying to “fix” the moisturizer’s color is too labor intensive. :p The powder is also too dark for me, but I use it on my chest and neck to try and sop up some of the sunscreen stickiness – which has gotten a little darker already from the sun.
Have you tried making your own tinted moisturizer with meow’s foundation?
Well, it’s not really an extra step for me, because I do one of 2 things:
1. mark SPF 30 moisturizer + my foundation
2. tinted moisturizer spf 50 + my foundation
The powder is too dark for me as well, unless I put a layer of Snow Lynx on it.
I’ve never tried making my own tinted moisturizer yet.
And yep, sounds like we’re both pale :>
Ah, I see, you’re saving time with the moisturizer that already has spf in it. Generally they’re not moisturizing enough for my damned dry skin (thanks, mom!) and I use an oil-based moisturizer, followed by a sunscreen, followed by powder foundation. Hmm… one day I’ll look in to the mark spf 30. Does it have silicones in it?
Ingredients
mark For Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Active Ingredients:
HOMOSALATE – 8.0%
OCTINOXATE – 7.5%
OCTISALATE – 5.0%
OXYBENZONE – 5.0%
AVOBENZONE – 3.0%
WATER/EAU
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
GLYCERIN
PEG-8
DIMETHICONE
NYLON-12
CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT
PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT
FUMARIA OFFICINALIS FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT
EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT
VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT
THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT
VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM (BLUEBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT
RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT
RUBUS FRUTICOSUS (BLACKBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT
VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) FRUIT EXTRACT
TROMETHAMINE
SILICA
TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE
GLYCERYL STEARATE
HYDROGENATED LECITHIN
CARBOMER
POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE
HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER
ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER
SQUALANE
DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER
CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
FUMARIC ACID
CITRIC ACID
DISODIUM EDTA
BENZYL ALCOHOL
CETYL ALCOHOL
POLYSORBATE 60
METHYLPARABEN
PROPYLPARABEN
Yeah, I neverbuy drugstore foundations anymore for that same reason…always *way* too dark for me.
I have been using a tinted moisturizer, though! I wear the tarte cosmetics “smooth operator” tinted moisturizer in their lightest shade, Agent 00. It’s rather light, a near-perfect match for my 1L voile aromaleigh foundation. It also has spf 20, which isn’t bad for everyday purposes, and it doesn’t make me break out/ get rashy. The price is kinda steep though, but I got it during a 30 % off sale,so it wasn’t so bad.
That’s why I fell in love with mineral foundation. Finally something pale enough to match me :>
This reminds me, I figured out why they dont sell anything above SPF 30 in Australia! It’s because SPF 50 and SPF70 and such are only 1% more effective :O
Like SPF 30 – 35 blocks out about 97%, and SPF50 is apparently only at 98%. So it’s not Australia being totally retarded haha.
Ahh that makes sense!
So my SPF 30 for the face is probably pretty good, especially since I use a physical barrier with mineral foundation.
I have some crazy SPF 100 body spray stuff now.
Wow I feel alot better just reading the comments here. I thought I was a freak because I was so pale and I have a horrible time finding foundation to match my skin tone. IIt is nice to know I am not the only one. I think you did a wonderful job of making the foundation work with your skin tone.
Did you mention that they had a powder formula? I don’t really like liquid foundations so if they had a powder variation then I would try it.
You’re not alone
I’m a bit pale, too.
They do have a powder version.
I do the same with it.
1. put on my moisturizer with spf
2. put on physicians formula spf 50 powder
3. put on a layer of Meow.
I have the same problem with tinted lotions, too dark/orange for me. I was really tempted to try this one, but if it doesn’t look right on you, then it won’t on me.
The powder foundation is so much better from what I can tell.
Yeah, it’s definitely lighter. I can use the translucent light powder and it’s only a shade or so darker than my skin. In photos it doesn’t even seem to mismatch, only in natural sunlight in the bathroom can I see it going on a tad darker and oranger than my skin.
Yeah, in natural light you can see the difference a lot more clearly than in artificial.
Yes, it’s not as dark. Though I think I made it work ok
I have and like the powder version (lightest color), and find that if anything, it’s too pink but not too dark. So I tried the tinted moisturizer, also in the lightest color, and had to wipe it off my face immediately because it was too dark.
Same thing with the OrganicWear moisturizer, which I otherwise really like.
I’m having better luck with Kiss My Face TM in Beach, which is still slightly too dark, but not noticeably so. Downside: I have to use SPF anyway because it’s only 8.
Yeah I have the lightest version of the powder. With both, I have to use another powder on top to color correct, but I really do like the SPF 50
I’ll have to look for Kiss My Face. I like their products.