SHE. IS. HERE. And she is a game changer, believe me. Glossier has launched the Invisible Shield and I don't think I've ever been so excited in my entire life. If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know using a dedicated sunscreen is something I find non-negotiable in my skincare routine. I don't care if it's cloudy outside. You use sunscreen every. single. day. But I also know how difficult it can be to find a sunscreen that works for you. They're often heavy and greasy or have a white cast or don't sit well under makeup. Invisible Shield has changed all of this.
After two years in R&D, Invisible Shield SPF 35 Daily Sunscreen + has arrived and it is perfect. Invisible Shield is an innovative chemical serum-like sunscreen, not a psychical one. There are a lot of people who wanted a physical sunscreen, but those utilize mineral filters meaning a white cast (ew). Chemical filters also allow for the incredibly lightweight texture and the invisibility (duh). It dispenses as a cloudy, almost watery gel (think milky jelly but runnier), then blends completely into the skin turning totally clear! It smells divinely of orange by using sweet orange peel essential oil to cut through the typically sunscreen-y smell of the filters. Also the packaging. The electric lime stands out from the typical baby pink of other Glossier products, but that's on purpose! It's meant to stand out and to remind you...
Invisible Shield is your daily sunscreen. Meaning, you apply it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. But keep in mind, this isn't a beach or sweaty activity sunscreen. It's legitimately to be worn everyday. Did you know that the glass in your car window only blocks UVB rays, not UVA rays? And that it's UVA rays that really cause the damage? (More on this later). And for those of you who think that the clouds protect you from the sun, think again. Up to 40% of the sun's radiation will still reach the earth on a totally cloudy day. So wear your damn sunscreen! Basically radiation will find you anywhere, in your car, in your office, on your couch. It doesn't discriminate. SPF 30 filters about 97% of UVB rays (nothing filters 100% but this is pretty damn close).
The actives are Avobenzone (with Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate to stabilize), Homosalate, and Octisalate. Avobenzone protects the skin from UVA rays by absorbing them instead of blocking them (like a mineral sunblock would). UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin's dermis, where it can cause premature aging and wrinkles. UVB rays on the other hand are what cause immediate effects aka sunburn (yikes). It damages the skin's epidermal layers, but also plays a lead role in the development of skin cancer. Homosalate provides mostly UVB protection, but also provides a narrow protection from UVA (which is why it's generally combined with another ingredient). Octisalate also protects the skin from UVB rays.
Invisible Shield is formulated with water, a lot of water. The water gel formula means it disappears into the skin without drying alcohol or greasy ingredients. The active microcapsules store the UVA/UVB filters that break upon application releasing them! (This is pretty cool right?) You can see the little tiny bubbles when you dispense the product. What I think is the greaaaaatest thing about Invisible Shield is that it's full of antioxidants. A powerful mix of Vitamin E, Vitamin P, Broccoli, and Aloe Leaf extracts help fight free radicals which cause sagging and wrinkles (rude). Also it contains fermented yeast and vegetal extract. This sounds a whole lot like Marmite to me, but it actually creates an invisible matrix on top of skin that prevents pollutants from getting into your skin! Because you best believe free radicals don't just come from the sun, they come from everywhere. Smoking, drinking alcohol, fast food (ouch), and just the blinking air as well. Yeesh. Nonoparticulates in the air can be up to 20 times smaller than your pores. This means they can sneak in and cause dehydration, sensitivity, inflammation, fine lines, dark spots, and more.
Obviously the only thing I can speak to now are the ingredients and texture, but I'm genuinely so so happy with this. It wears incredibly well under makeup or on its own. I've done a little video for you guys here if you want to see how it applies and what step in your routine to apply it! I was very lucky to get to sit in with the Glossier team to learn about Invisible Shield and received the product from them, but am going to purchase (several) backups today!
Don't forget you can shop my rep link: glossier.com/reps/amelia to get 20% off your first order! Thank you guys so much for supporting me and the blog by shopping the link!
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