Estée Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50: A Sunscreen That Harnesses Your Day And Night Rhythm. Er, Say What?

Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50

If you’re wondering if Crescent White is another whitening/brightening range from Estée Lauder, it’s actually a replacement of the previously-known range, Cyber White. This range is formulated in Asia and targets Asian skin, but really, anyone can use this range, just like the previous Cyber White range. The idea behind the Crescent White range is that new research shows that spots and hyperpigmentation are controlled by a natural day and night cycle. Every day, skin accumulates damage from multiple factors, including UV and pollution. At night, spots and pigmentation emerge and proliferate in response to the damage caused during the day.

According to Estée Lauder, the Crescent White range was developed to harness the biology of the night and to provide 24/7 benefits around the clock using its formulated Light Cycle QD Complex of naturally derived botanicals, which work in rhythm with skin’s own daily cycle.

Have I lost you there? Just think of it as products that work with our daily sleep and awake cycle. At night, they strengthen skin’s natural ability to repair the skin and prevent the appearance of dark spots. By day, they help neutralise and protect against new visible daytime damage. The range is said to work with our circadian rhythm. Woo woo, you say? I’m rather inclined to think so, but hey, I’m happy to keep an open mind if it works. 😉

Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50 Ingredients

I’ve been meaning to get the Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF 50 sunscreen when I was doing a quick bout of shopping in Malaysia but I never got round to buying it. In the end, I bought this on board my flight back to Melbourne. I remembered the male flight attendant who sold this to me telling me to use this sparingly as it will make my skin oily if I used too much. I told him “but it’s sunscreen! You’re supposed to use a lot of it!“. He gave me a knowing grin and left. 😛

Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50

Even though this sunscreen is formulated for Asian skin, it’s not the sort of typical light and runny Japanese sunscreens I’m used to. In fact, it’s a very Western sort of sunscreen, where it’s thick and slightly greasy to the touch. When I first tried it out, to be honest, I was a tad disappointed at how thick it was. I’ve been using ultra-light Japanese sunscreens for so long that I’ve almost forgotten how sunscreens normally feel like. It blends on the skin well and leaves a dewy finish on the skin.

Even though it feels thick when it’s first applied on my skin, once it’s blended out, it no longer feels heavy. I’m still not too keen on the dewy finish but it’s not a deal breaker. It makes a good base for makeup, which makes up for the slightly moist feeling on the skin.

Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50

But this, this is a deal breaker: it’s pretty damn expensive for such a small tube of sunscreen. As I use a lot of sunscreen on the face and neck each time, I’ve already used up 1/3 of the tube in just 3 weeks. At US$50.00 per 30ml tube (with the currency exchange, I paid over AU$70.00 for this), this makes it the most expensive sunscreen I’ve ever used. Is this worth the hefty price tag? To be honest, I didn’t see any difference to my skin in terms of that whole day and night cycle thing. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t used the entire Crescent White range, only the suncreen, but I’m a firm believer of not needing to use just a single entire brand and range of skincare to see the “added benefits”. I’m happier using a much cheaper, lighter sunscreen that I can happily douse myself with without all that greasiness. Mind you, this doesn’t make my skin look like a greasy wok, but it’s definitely more dewy than I’d like.

Estee Lauder Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF50

This sunscreen is available in most Asian countries, the UK and the US but not surprisingly, it’s not available in Australia, at least, not yet (the rest of the Crescent White range is available in Australia). Australia’s TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has strict guidelines about sunscreens and I reckon this is still under testing before it can be sold in Australia, especially with the SPF50 claims. I hope we don’t have to wait long for this to finally be released in Australia. Even though this wasn’t really my cup of tea, I’m sure there’ll be plenty who would love it.

What I like about it: It has a pleasant scent and although it leaves a more dewy finish that I’d normally like, it does make a good base for makeup.

What I do not like about it: It’s expensive for its size, too dewy for my liking, finishes too quickly. Even though this left a sheen on my skin that I’m not too keen on, I’m not about to use less of it just so it doesn’t look oily on my skin. Sunscreens aren’t supposed to work that way.

Have you used this sunscreen or any products from Estée Lauder’s Crescent White range? Your thoughts? Yay or nay?

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13 comments… add one
  1. MonicaP

    I haven’t seen this sun screen marketed in the US, but you know .. sun screen is .. sun screen. As long as it works blocking UVA/UVB rays .. and doesn’t make me oily or break out my skin .. then I’m up for using any brand 🙂

    Monica.
    MonicaP recently posted..How to style a denim skirt (hint, anything goes!)My Profile

    1. Tine

      Haha yeah I know what you mean. Which is why I’m more than happy to stick to my favourite Japanese sunscreens which are far cheaper than this one. It’s a pity this didn’t meet my expectations; it was so expensive! >.<

  2. Asha

    Love when you review sunscreen! I don’t use it as often as I probably should, I remember reading ages ago that Indian skin tone is safe from the harmful effects of the sun for about 20-30 mins and will need to apply sunscreen if we’re in the sun for longer than that and that’s been the general rule of thumb I follow. But your sunscreen reviews is what drew me to BA in the first place and led to my HG sunscreen, before that Western sunscreens broke me out without fail so I’d never wear it at all! :S

    1. Tine

      I’m so glad you’ve found your HG sunscreen, which is also mine! That’s what I love about Japanese sunscreens; they actually make you WANT to use sunscreen. Even the Western brands that are Japan-exclusive are formulated like their own. Conventional sunscreens (or at least, a lot of what we see these days) are thick and greasy; it’s a wonder people would still want to wear them!

      1. Asha

        I don’t know if its just me but I have to admit that another thing I’ve noticed with western sunscreens is that you still tan despite slapping it on whereas that doesn’t appear to be the case with Japanese ones. It may be that the products are formulated to account for the cultural differences, i.e., healthy glowing tanned skin is a priority for the western markets whereas Japanese/Asian cultures prize whitening/brightening/tan-prevention products.

        1. Tine

          Hmm I’ve tanned before with Japanese sunscreens, but I reckon it was because I didn’t reapply the sunscreen after every 2 hours. I haven’t been using much of Western sunscreens on my body and I’m sometimes still hit with tan lines. 🙁

  3. Catherine

    I will stick to my $15 bottle of Sun Sense anti ageing 50+ sunscreen. A bit goopy and unsure if the Aha have made a difference but I feel protected. Thank you for reviewing these upmarket brands for us

    1. Tine

      My pleasure, Catherine! I think I’m happier to stick to my much cheaper sunscreens, but always happy to try something new and let y’all know if it’s worth the $$$. Even the Sun Sense one is much better than this one (the Sun Sense Daily Tint is my mum’s HG sunscreen).

  4. Paris B

    Aiya if you’d wanted to try this I could have given mine to you! I hated it. Way too greasy even for this dry skinned gal and it’s super expensive too! Il stick to my Shiseido 😉
    Paris B recently posted..Hazy Days are here to stay! How to protect yourself from the haze and smog [Video]My Profile

    1. Tine

      Hahahah I didn’t know you have one and didn’t like it! Ish, wasted. 😛 I still have yet to try out the Shiseido. One of these days, I’m going to get myself one!

  5. Winston

    Excellent review on this product! Just wondering if it made your skin any brighter or fairer? I think that’s the main selling point of the Crescent White cycle range..
    Winston recently posted..Killer Makeover: Emilia Clarke LobMy Profile

    1. Tine

      I haven’t used the entire range, only the sunscreen. Unfortunately, I haven’t experienced any added brightness to the skin, not with this sunscreen.

  6. Rowena

    I would just like to find out if Estee Lauder crescent white is safe to use during pregnancy

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