Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF 25 Review

Whenever Summer comes round, I'm one of the first to be slathering on SPF. However, finding a good face SPF that doesn't make my skin itch and break out, or cause my makeup to go patchy is a bit of a struggle. So I was really excited when I got the chance to try out the new Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25*, which claims to be an innovative natural sunscreen as opposed to the traditional chemical SPFs we're used to seeing.

So how is it different to the traditional SPFs?
First of all, it includes some key ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid (I think everyone knows the benefits of hyaluronic acid by now as it's been taking the beauty world by storm this last year, so I did rejoice a bit when I saw it included - if you didn't know, it's great for hydrating the skin and making it appear more plump), titanium dioxide (a physical filter to protect against UVA/UVB rays) and kukui seed oil (a natural silicone replacement that's great for moisturising the skin).

But what is a physical filter?
So for the next part I have done some research, but please don't hold me to it as I'm not a skincare expert by any means...

So when you buy a combined sunscreen in the shop (one that is both a moisturiser and SPF), there is a danger that you will not be getting enough protection. Many suncreams use chemical filters, however you have to wait for these to sink in, and they can sometimes lead to irritation on sensitive skin. Therefore, if you're using a combined suncream it's best to go for one that has physical and natural filters, either titanium/zinc oxide, as they offer immediate protection. Titanium/zinc oxide are minerals which act like reflectors, so they basically block the UV rays in the first place, rather than letting it be absorbed like chemical filters (which absorb the rays but stop it damaging the skin to an extent).

You also need to look for a broad spectrum sunscreen which offers protection against UVB rays, which are associated with sunburn for example (this is what the SPF number relates to! So an SPF of 15 offers 93% protection against these rays, SPF 30 97% protection, and SPF 50 98% protection - not a huge difference like I imagined) and UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin's dermis. The Balance Me SPF covers both of these.

So with that done, I can honestly say I had no idea that there was a choice available between chemical and natural filters. I've also read that chemical filters can also play a part in pigmentation, and you all know how I'm on a journey to get rid of my hyperpigmentation, so I will definitely be making the switch to natural filters, where possible. They are also supposed to be a better option for sensitive skin, rather than chemical filters, hence why I think my skin got on so much better with this SPF.

So onto my thoughts now!
The Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF 25* is marketed as a super light daily moisturiser, and due to the emphasis on natural ingredients it should protect you from the sun and environmental damage, all without leaving you with a white cast. When I first tried it out, it was actually thicker than I expected it to be. Not as thick as say the Nivea SPFs, but thicker than your average moisturiser, so it did need to be massaged in. I didn't get a white cast per say, but it did leave my face looking a tiny bit more pale. However, after massaging it in and waiting a minute, it had fully absorbed like any other moisturiser. The thick feeling was also gone and my skin was back to it's normal shade. It did leave a bit of shine, again not as bad as other SPFs I've used, but noticeable around my cheekbones. Here's where I made a discovery though! Pairing it with the Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver (a serum/primer in one) instantly mattifies it, and together they give a great base for makeup application. I use the SPF over my serum, and substitute it for my moisturiser.

As for how it fared during the day, honestly for these past few weeks I couldn't even tell I had SPF on! My skin doesn't feel hot or itchy, like I have something sitting on it. My makeup hasn't gone patchy, my concealer hasn't broken up, there isn't much shine popping up through the day either (apart from the normal amount when it's a hot day). There's also no greasy residue at all, I wash it off with a hot cloth cleanser in the evening, and my skin's been absolutely fine! No breakouts (in the past I would get white pimples from certain face SPFs) or dry patches either.

You get 40ml of product for £26, find it here on the Balance Me website, or at M&S/John Lewis. I will admit that it is on the pricey side, so it depends on what you want in an SPF. All of Balance Me's products are free from parabens, mineral oils, sulphates etc (including this), and they are cruelty free, so for a lot of people I think it will be worth the premium price for more natural skincare. You might also be happy paying more than drugstore prices for a natural, rather than chemical filter. The SPF is also an update on a previous version so I would just double check the packaging, to ensure you pick up the right one.

The packaging is a squeezy tube that comes presented in a box (as per the first image). It has a screw lid which is quite sturdy, and the small nib means that it remains relatively air tight (there's always that worry that SPFs can lose their power - so that's an added bonus).

As for flashback, I did read that physical filters are more likely to cause flashback in photography as they reflect the sun's ray, but I did take some pictures with flash on and I didn't notice any flashback personally.

Overall, I've been really impressed with the Balance Me Natural SPF*, and it's also got me thinking about the sunscreens I use too! My only criticism was going to be that I prefer having a higher SPF (due to pigmentation issues), however as I found out above a higher SPF doesn't offer a lot more really, so I'm more than happy with the SPF 25 as I know the physical filter will be blocking the rays from being absorbed into my skin.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

What do you think about natural versus chemical filters in SPFs? Would you make the switch?

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