Summer weather kept us waiting this year. With the sun finally out, skin protection was in order and I’ve been very excited to give (the new!) Sun Love by Annmarie Skin Care a try. Here is the full review.
Table of Contents
Sun Love is a very natural sunscreen. They don’t make ’em any more natural than this, so if that’s something that sounds good to you, do check it out.
The brand Annmarie Skincare uses only all-natural, organic, and wild-harvested ingredients in the entirety of its line.
There has been a previous version of Sun Love, which I reviewed a while back. It went out of stock and the current version is a completely different-looking product.
The old Sun Love was purchased. This time, Annmarie Skincare’s team sent it to me for review. Aaaand… Disclosure, check.
Now on to the fun part.
As you’re about to find out, I am just as brutally honest about this new version. No feelings are spared here. When something is gunk, I’ll try to say in a nice way that it’s gunk. But it has to be said. You get the idea. 😉
Read on for the pros and cons of this super green, squeaky clean, natural, organic, and cruelty-free sunscreen lotion, and how it compares to some of my other favorite natural sunscreen alternatives.
And the Color is…
Since the old Sun Love had a tint, I was not expecting the new version to be white as snow.
Initially, it was disappointing to open it up to something white. The old version had the most perfect skin tone tint and was very flattering. I was expecting a tinted sunscreen again.
The white tint actually made me avoid using Sun Love for a while. It sat for a few weeks before I worked past the disappointment and actually tried a smidge. Turns out, it does go on clear. It takes a minute to dissipate but after that time my skin is almost completely clear.
That was one surprise. The other has to do with the consistency.
I don’t understand how something that looks this oily in the jar can go on to make my face look so velvety matte. Sun Love feels very oily at first but after putting it on, my skin does not have that slick feel and the glide that comes with using an oil.
So that’s the second good thing about this all-natural sunscreen lotion.
Sun Love Ingredients
The full ingredients, straight from Annmarie Skincare’s official website: Zinc oxide (non-nano), *Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, Sorbitan olivate (olive derived emulsifier), *Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, *Olea europaea (olive) oil, *Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil, *Cera alba (beeswax), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, *Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruit oil, Tocopherol (non-GMO vitamin E). *Organically grown or wildcrafted
As you see, it has some oils, including a few regulars in skincare (sunflower seed oil, hemp seed oil, and olive oil) as well as some not-so-common ones. Pumpkin seed and buriti fruit oil certainly aren’t quite as widely used.
The zinc oxide is – of course – non-nano, as we’d expect from a higher-end organic skincare brand like Annmarie Gianni’s.
Promises vs. Reality
Sun Love is advertised as a lightweight daily sunscreen for all skin types, that protects the skin from UV rays while adding deep moisturization and visibly enhancing your glow.
Lightweight
Verdict: Matter of opinion.
Sun Love checks out as far as being lightweight, though some context is in order to manage expectations on this front.
If you are used to regular sunscreen or sunblock products, the ones that use chemicals for UV protection, you may find natural products to be ‘greasy’.
I have used Anthelios by LaRoche Posay, for example. Other brands probably make similar fluids of the kind that go on like a thin lotion and dry up almost completely on the skin.
The reason I’ve left Anthelios behind is simple: despite the comfort of that bare-skin feeling, I was not comfortable with the chemical sunscreen approach, which has been linked to skin cancer.
When you decide to ditch sunscreen that absorbs into the skin cells to (hopefully) protect from UVs by the use of chemicals, you’re left with the only other option: Mineral sunscreens lay atop the skin and create a physical barrier that prevents UVs from reaching skin cells in the first place.
As such, it is very hard to achieve that same bare-skin sensation. It’s a trade-off and one that many people are very happy to make. (Even if I sometimes nostalgically think back at my beloved Anthelios.)
On the flip side, a good mineral sunscreen can be a fantastic layer when you use it to your advantage. Tinted mineral sunscreen pretty much equals a light foundation (or at least a nice natural tinted moisturizer), which can hide imperfections with the most flattering sun-kissed result!
Unfortunately, the tint is no longer a part of this new formula. I really preferred the old version for that reason. Not sure why they changed it – maybe to tailor it to all skin tones?
Sun Love is indeed lightweight in that it feels slightly dewy and very delicate. It is not lightweight in the sense that it’s not even there, a sensation reserved for chemical sunscreens.
Daily use
Verdict: Sure! (Depending on what your day looks like.)
Sun Love is definitely a good staple for daily use. It is very gentle and suits the most sensitive skin. This also depends on your makeup style, as it may be the best fit for natural beauties.
I’m not sure how well it lends itself to being part of a full-fledged glamorous cosmetic look. When the skin is expected to have a matte finish, you could probably add a bit of setting powder on top. (Here are some great natural and cruelty-free powder foundations.)
Does it really work for all skin types?
Verdict: Yes
Guess what makes me the perfect person to review natural beauty products from a variety of angles?
The fact that my skin is now aging, complete with wrinkles and sagging and all those joys, all while still having the occasional acne flare-up and being generally sensitive and reactive, regardless of whatever else is going on.
Some days, it’s a total train wreck. Other times, everything appears to mellow down simultaneously. During those windows, I even got a taste of what it must be like to have so-called normal skin.
With that said Sun Love does not break me out. It does good things for the aging parts of my face and does not cause acne to flare up.
Protection from UV rays
Verdict: Yes
While I am pretty much unilaterally positive about Sun Love, the only caveat is that the SPF is only 20.
Great for some shopping, an afternoon in the park, or light gardening. For a hike in the blazing sun, I would add extra layers of protection in the form of a stronger SPF and/or hats and clothing.
Sunumbra natural sunscreen is sturdier. It’s also sticky and tenacious to wash off. Which makes it brilliant for activities that involve sweating and water.
Glow
Verdict: Sun Love adds glow indeed.
While the pictures above show clearly how the whiteness of Sun Love completely dissipated after application, I do want to mention that a very faint lighter veil does remain.
Part shimmer, part glow, or whatever else you might want to call it, my skin looks a little more pearlescent when wearing Sun Love. Whatever the reason for switching over to this new, white formula from the tan one, Sun Love does not hugely interfere with looks.
That said, I can imagine wanting to top it off with some natural setting powder or a nice natural and cruelty-free powder foundation – on certain days, at least.
Sun Love by Annmarie Skincare: Summary
Sun Love is a natural sunscreen lotion made with organic and wild-harvested ingredients. It is one of the most natural products you’ll find, and a pleasure to use.
When it comes to SPF, Sun Love is not an iron-clad beast, throwing itself between you and the sun rays with white-casted conviction while you brave sea, surf, and sun all day long. It is rather dainty and elegant – great for day-to-day protection when you don’t want to look like a ghost.
The whiteness dissipates almost entirely a few minutes after application, which makes Sun Love a good fit for most skin tones and skin types. I love how luscious and moisturized it makes my skin feel and it feels super nice, even on sensitive skin.