I received a bottle of Ella Bache‘s Everyday 30+ Protection face sunscreen when I subscribed to the Bella Beauty magazine. I was quite excited about this, as I’ve always wanted to try out something by Ella Bache, which is an Australian-made brand.
Description:
Ella Bache Everyday 30+ Protection is a weightless, oil and fragrance-free, 100 per cent mineral sunscreen lotion for all skin types. It can be used in combination with any skin moisturiser for complete protection from the sun. It offers a luminous glow, protecting the face without a heavy look or feel. New micronising technology has enabled a superior textured product using only mineral sunscreens. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, known to be the gentlest and least irritating active sunscreen ingredients, are used to reflect the sun’s damaging rays. Non-allergic formula that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
Packaging
I was very impressed with how the sunscreen was packed. It came in a tube, and the mouth of the tube was foil-sealed. So you have to remove the cap, peel off the foil, before squeezing the sunscreen out. Top marks for hygiene and also for the opaque tube.
Texture
My first impression of the sunscreen was that it was very, very thick. Instead of the usual slightly-running sunscreen goop I was used to, I literally had to squeeze hard at the tube just to get the sunscreen out. As it was very thick, I’ve decided to only squeeze out a little to apply on my oily skin. It is oil-free, and after many hours with it on, my T-zone remained matte.
Smell and Application
This would be the areas where I am most disappointed with. The sunscreen has a strong chemical scent which I really wasn’t keen on. The cream cast a ghastly shade of white/grey on my skin upon application. It dulled my skin tremendously, and I look very ashened, almost as though blood has left my face. I’m not kidding, it’s that bad.
It’s no wonder the sunscreen had such a strong smell and left an unsightly white/grey cast on my face. Check out the ingredients.
It contains 18% titanium dioxide and 4% zinc oxide as its active ingredients! These are inert earth minerals used as thickening, whitening, lubricating and sunscreen ingredients in cosmetics. Usual face sunscreens (natural ones) have around 5% of titanium dioxide.
Although I’m very impressed at the amount of active ingredients that make a good and effective sunscreen, I’m afraid I just cannot continue using it on my face as it just made me look ghastly white. I’m not sure if I want to use this on my arms either, as the smell really turns me off. I reckon I’ll use it on the legs. Too far south for me to smell 😛
Ella Bache Everyday 30+ face sunscreen is available at Ella Bache counters and salons, and is sold at AU$54 for 50ml.
What I like about it: Good for oily skin, impressive content of mineral sunscreen ingredients.
What I did not like about: Strong chemical smell; left a white/grey cast on skin.
OMG Bella magazine is a waste of money! HATE IT! How do you find it?
On the other hand, I like Ella Bache products. Heard good things about their serum. Might check it out one day.
See I thought it was all right when I read a copy at Sakura Lounge, while I was waiting for my massage. But when I got another copy in the mail, I was bitterly disappointed. Bloody thing’s just page after page of advertisements! Thank goodness the subscription wasn’t expensive.
I’ve not tried other Ella Bache products, although I’m still keen on doing so despite not liking the sunscreen. Serums eh? I’ll go check it out.
white cast from sunscreen is a big NO NO in my dictionary! But I know what you mean about being super excited to try on a product and later found out it doesn’t work out !
eww…. white casts! that’s only acceptable for the beach. I do like mineral-based sun screen. something about free radicals…. I think. hehe. oh well, at least you’ll have sun protected legs 🙂
Hahaha… yea. I can only wear those physical sunscreens because I’m allergic to most of the chem ones (which are usually used in combos so I’m allergic to at LEAST one of them). The physical sunscreen formulation I like most is DDF’s Enhancing Sun Protection. Neutrogena’s Sensitive Skin SPF30 is pretty nice too. I use that one for body. All the other ones w/ higher % leave that kind of greasy white cast. =/
isn’t is sad when you get a sunscreen with what looks like promising ingredients and then you have to go put on a truckload more makeup to look alive? I’m now wondering if the Diorsnow I just got will do the same. The Zinc Oxide content is super high! I’ll report 🙂
on the good side, this is free from the mag subscription right? 😀
hate white cast too! totally sticky and unsightly
Sorry that it didn’t work out for you. How about mixing it into a tinted moisturiser to negate the white cast, make it less thick, and bumping up the moisturiser’s SPF?
Hi there, I’m new to your blog! Glad to see another Melbourne blogger~ I haven’t found any Sydney beauty bloggers yet? Re: Ella Bache, I agree with you on their sunscreen smell.. the only product I wouldn’t mind repeating is the Beautifying Mask. Currently using Masque de Fruits (mild mask for evening out combination skin)
Maybe mix with your liq foundation?
The Ella Bache Everyday 30+ protection prevents sunburn, as I’m very fair skinned and it worked for me. Personally I did not notice a chemical smell. I paid AU $49.00 and there are other similar products which are half the price and bigger than 50ml. The cream is a little too thick, so much so that you really have to rub it in. If it reduces in price I will purchase again.