I guess I’m not the only person fascinated by the Asian beauty market, but Europe has a lot to offer too. There are many niche and indie brands worth your attention, one of these brands is Skingineered - a German skincare brand created by Ying. I had an opportunity to try the UVA Booster and share my opinion with you.
Disclaimer: this post was sponosored by Skingineered, still it shows my personal opinion on the product.
What's UV?
UV stands for Ultraviolet. It's simply the selected range of frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum. UV rays are invisible to humans, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Each type of UV—UVA, UVB, and UVC—has different wavelengths and properties.
UVA, UVB, and UVC - what do each of them do, and where can you meet them?
I'm sure you're familiar with UVA and UVB, but what about UVC, or the distinction between UVA2 and UVA1? Let's start from the shortest wavelengths - UVC (100nm - 280nm) exist in space and is absorbed by the ozone layer, it can kill bacteria that's why on Earth you can find it in germicidal lamps - you might ask me, but these lamps are usually visible to a human - it's because they are made in a way that makes them safe for you and other people - you shouldn't enter the room when the UV lamp is on and make people aware that the lamp is on we add other substances so the lamp has a blue/purple colour when it's on. This technology is used, for example, in labs and hospitals.
We all remember UVB (280nm –315nm) because it is said that B in UVB stands for BURN. Indeed, this UV length is responsible for sunburns, but it also helps synthesise Vitamin D - a vitamin which we all need because lack of it can lead to osteoporosis. UVB is focused on the epidermis, aka the outer layer of the skin, while UVA (315nm –400nm) can penetrate through the epidermis and dermis, so it penetrates your skin deeper. A in its name stands for Aging. The bad news is that UVA can penetrate glass, and both UVA and UVB cause lots of damage, including skin cancer and oxidative stress.
Should I wear sunscreen at home?
We already know that UVA penetrates through the glass, so do we need to use sunscreen at home? Yes, especially if you spend a lot of time working near the window, it's better to apply a layer of sunscreen in the morning and have some type of protection at home as well. But you can also use window films to reduce the risk. The choice is left to you. What I do is keep my blinds on the window during the entire morning, and when the sun is not that intense. Because my windows are situated on the Eastern side, the light usually starts to fade in the afternoon. Usually by afternoon, I already have sunscreen on, and I've reapplied a few times.
What's the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen?
It depends on which side we look at this topic. Mineral sunscreens are sunscreens that don't contain any carbon atoms - this automatically makes them inorganic sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens contain carbon atoms, which makes them organic substances. The main difference is that mineral sunscreen usually leaves a white cast, and it's better if we use both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide for a broad spectrum of UV protection. Chemical sunscreens don't leave a white cast, and they have more sophisticated formulas. Both are amazing. In some cases, PIH (hyperpigmentation), mineral sunscreens, and natural pigments can make a good layer of protection from UV rays.
Sunscreen reapplication
The majority of brands recommend reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours. The reason behind this is simple: we are active, we sweat, we wear clothes, or we touch our faces. All these things can remove a layer of sunscreen from the skin. We react differently to the same amount of UV radiation - my skin might react badly to 5 minutes of sun without protection, and my skin might need 10 more minutes. That's why, on average, we say that reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours is the best.
About Skingineered
Skingineered is a German skincare brand created by Ying Hösl, who is the brain behind the brand. It’s not that common to see people who know the beauty market and cosmetic science leading the company, but Ying did it! She's a process engineer with a diploma in cosmetic science.
Skingineered is a brand that introduces clients to the cosmetic chemistry behind each product without the whole batch of misleading marketing. Instead of misleading claims, the brand shows effectiveness and science behind the product in a simple but effective way. Skingineered is still a fresh brand, and while publishing this review, the brand had only two products: UVA Booster and Hydrology: Moisturizing Morning Serum, which I plan to introduce you to in the future.
Skingineered UVA Booster - Packaging
Skingineered UVA Booster is backed in a container made of polypropylene. You can find information that it’s PP 05, which means that it’s recyclable, and it’s the safest packaging. Lots of brands are using this type of material to pack food in it.
There’s no additional paper box, but Skingineered packs products in paper boxes and takes care to make each package eco-friendly.
Skinginnered UVA Booster - Texture & Scent
This texture is a huge surprise, it’s lightweight, it leaves no white cast, it doesn’t feel oily, and it has no scent. It’s a sunscreen that you can comfortably wear every single day, all year long. You might be surprised how moisturizing it is. If you smell anything, then it’s the scent of the ingredients, but there’s no added scent. I mentioned a few times that sunscreens have their own typical scent, and usually scent ingredients added to the formula are supposed to mask the natural scent. This product is free from scent ingredients.
Skingineered UVA Booster - SPF & UVA protection
Skinginnered UVA Booster was tested professionally, it has SPF 30 (ISO 24444:2019), and UVA protection (UVA PF) result is 55. All the information is available on the Skingineered website.
Is Skingineered UVA Booster vegan-friendly?
Yes, you can find information on the label that Skingineered UVA Booster is vegan-friendly.
Skingineered UVA Booster - Ingredients
Aqua, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Hydrated Silica, Glycerin, Ectoin, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lycopene, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Water is often hidden in cosmetic products under names such as "Aqua" or "Eau". It's a solvent, but it's not your regular drinking water. Water in skin care products must meet specific standards. It should be clean and free from minerals, microorganisms, or other substances. Typically, water constitutes the majority of the product's content. Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate or Uvinul A Plus is a sun-protecting agent. It covers the UVA range (320-400 nm), and its peak of protection is 354 nm. Dicaprylyl Carbonate is a dry emollient. It prevents your skin from TEWL (transepidermal water loss) and makes your skin barrier stronger. It makes your skin velvet to touch. In hair care, Dicaprylyl Carbonate supports your hair condition from difficulties like exposure to cold and warm temperatures. It prevents hair from drying. It can be used as a solvent or emulsifier.
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is quite a hard name to remember, that's why you can find people talking about this ingredient by calling it Tinosorb S. It's one of the newer types of sunscreen agents and one of the strongest ones. It's a chemical sunscreen that protects skin from UVA (315-400 nm) & UVB (280-315 nm), and its peak is high. It's a stable sunscreen that works with other sun-protecting substances to protect them from early photodegradation. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emulsifier and emollient. It prevents skin from TEWL (transepidermal water loss), it makes skin soft, and it prevents the product from being too oily. It's useful in UV-protecting formulas.
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate or Neo Heliopan AP is a sun-protecting ingredient. It's an ingredient that protects skin from UVA (especially UVA II). Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate is an oil-in-water emulsifier. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane or Avobenzone is a sun-protecting agent. It protects skin from UVA I and UVA II wavelengths (310-400 nm), and its peak is 357nm. It's not a stable sunscreen, so we use it with other chemical sunscreens. Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch is an absorbent, but it can also work as a thickener. Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene is a UV absorber that protects the product from UV light. It's also used with retinol to make the solution more stable.
Isosorbide Dicaprylate has hydrating properties. Hydrated Silica is an absorbent and thickener. Glycerin or Glycerol is a humectant. Depending on the product, its origin can be natural or synthetic. It protects against TEWL (transepidermal water loss), a natural process that occurs in the skin. It's one of the NMFs and a natural moisturizing factor. It's practical in hair care. Glycerin won't clog your skin or irritate it—just the opposite—it protects your skin from irritation. Ectoin is a product of the fermentation process - it comes from microorganisms, and it's an amino acid with antioxidant properties. Ectoin prevents your skin from oxidative stress created by UV radiation or blue light. It has moisturizing properties.
Tocopherol is an antioxidant known as Vitamin E. It's an oil-soluble vitamin that fights free radicals and makes UVB protection and natural lipid barrier stronger. It's good to mix it with vitamin C for better effects. Oily skin might react with pore-clogging to vitamin E. It is not true that vitamin E works as a preservative or helps with scars. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative with antibacterial properties. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes. Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that is supposed to help preservatives in the formula.
Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient with emulsifying properties. Phytic Acid is an antioxidant and delicate exfoliant (AHA). Usually, it comes with other acids. It neutralizes ions in products. Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. In the beauty industry, it serves as an emollient. Many people associate alcohol with something awful for the epidermis, but not every alcohol is nasty. Cetearyl alcohol leaves a moisturizing film on the skin to prevent your skin from transepidermal water loss (TEWL). We use Cetearyl alcohol to create an emulsion. Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer is an ingredient that stabilizes the formula.
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate is a stabilizing ingredient, but it's also an oil-in-water emulsifier. It might have some mild, moisturizing properties. 1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic solvent and preservative. It protects products from microorganisms by boosting other preservatives. At the same time, it can moisturize the skin and has no unpleasant effects on the epidermis. Caprylyl Glycol is an oily emollient and humectant that leaves a moisturizing film on the skin's surface. Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil is a source of linoleic acid and vitamin E. Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil works as an emollient. Sometimes you can see it as a carrier oil for other substances. It has anti-inflammatory properties and makes the skin barrier stronger. This oil should work on all types of hair porosity.
How does Skingineered UVA Booster work?
The funniest story is that I didn’t expect the Skingineered UVA Booster will arrive on the day when I brought a smaller bag with me and forgot to pack SPF. I always try to keep at least 2 sunscreens in my bag during summer, but this time I made a mistake. I would say a rookie mistake, because the day was hot and I needed to pick up all the packages from the post office and check a few shops, since the next few days all shops were supposed to be closed.
If you know my Instagram account, then you’re probably aware that I’m a very pale person - I was kicked out of one lab at med school because they were scared that PUVA lamp might be dangerous for my skin so I was put in lab coat, few things to cover me from head to toes and kicked outside the lab because my professor was so scared. I usually go for SPF 50, but in cases when you have no sun protection, I think that any protection is better than having no protection.
Why did I mention this history? Recently, I’ve been reviewing sunscreens with SPF 50, but low UVA protection values. This time, the situation is a bit different. Skingineered UVA Booster is a SPF 30 sunscreen with high UVA protection. It’s not that SPF 30 is bad, because the difference between SPF 30 and 50 isn’t that big, but if you’re pale like me, you might need to apply this sunscreen more often than SPF 50. Reapplication is a natural thing - we live, we touch the skin, we sweat, and do some activities, that is why everyone should reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours. I believe for a big number of people here SPF 30 or 50 doesn’t make a big choice, but I’ll tell you one thing that makes UVA Booster interesting.
You already know about the protection, but UVA Booster is a nice combination of hydration, antioxidants, and sun protection. While searching for sunscreen, we don’t only look at the sun protection aspect, but also the texture and how it works with the skin. It’s a hydrating texture, but don’t worry. It’s not a sunscreen with a glow - we are used to the fact that European sunscreens are glowy or even shiny, but not Skingineered. This product has a velvet finish that works perfectly under makeup. It kinda works like a primer, and I feel like makeup stays longer when you put it on your skin.
Skingineered UVA Booster has a high level of UVA protection. It’s a sunscreen that, for my skin, is ideal on days when the UV index is lower, but if you deal with pigmentation, especially with melasma, then Skingineered UVA Booster is a good choice for you.
I honestly don’t know what else I can tell you about, it doesn’t make me cry, it doesn’t leave white cast on skin, and it doesn’t leave white marks on dark clothes. It’s a good sunscreen, even if SPF is only 30.
Where to buy Skingineered UVA Booster and how much does it cost?
Skingineered UVA Booster costs €39/50ml and you can buy it from the official Skingineered website. Skingineered ships products to all EU countries and Switzerland.
To sum up, it’s a good sunscreen with high UVA protection.
Have you already tried Skingineered?
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*** The product was was sponsored by Skingineered, even though it still shows my personal opinion on the topic and product. This post contains affiliate links, all affiliate links are marked with *. By using these links you help me to pay for domain and all the cost related to blogging.***
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