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Review: I tried a sunscreen that contains 100% pure niacinamide

It’s packed with niacinamide to protect my skin against UV rays and make it look younger

By Vanessa Chia - 

Review-YSL-Beaute-Pure-Shots-Airthin-UV-Defender
Credit: ammentorp / 123RF.com
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Do a quick Google search and you’ll find countless articles reminding you to wear sunscreen – even when you’re indoors. Because UV rays aren’t just an “outdoor” thing. UVA rays, for example, can penetrate through glass. They also penetrate deeper into the skin, causing premature ageing, like wrinkles. UVB rays aren’t much better. They damage the surface layers of skin, leading to sunburn. And both types of UV can cause skin cancer.

While I don’t need any convincing when it comes to applying sunscreen, I’m also extremely picky about my sunscreens. Quite a lot of them leave a telltale heavy texture and chalky finish after application, which doesn’t feel comfortable on my skin. And if they happen to be lightweight in texture, they leave my skin looking overly shiny and feeling somewhat sticky.

Finding a sunscreen that ticks all the boxes – lightweight, absorbs easily, has no white cast and leaves skin shine-free and non-sticky – is an ongoing quest for me.

So imagine how surprised I was to discover that the new Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender comes with a tag that says its texture is 8 times thinner than other sunscreens available on the market. That piqued my interest right away!

Then, the next piece of news – that this sunscreen is packed with niacinamide, which is the It skincare ingredient at the moment. Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide is touted to be one of the most hardworking, all-rounder active ingredients in skincare. It has been found to help repair skin damage, minimise enlarged pores, refine and brighten skin, keep excess sebum under control, reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and strengthen the skin barrier. 

In addition, the Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender also promises to strengthen the skin while protecting it not only from UV rays but also pollution and dust too – exactly what my skin needs, especially in an urban environment like Singapore. 

Here’s my honest review:

What It Is

1/4

Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender SPF50+/PA++++, $92

A lightweight sunscreen that’s packed with skin-loving ingredients to protect skin against damaging UV rays, as well as improve skin tone, keeping it smooth, supple and youthful looking. I like that it also protects my skin against environmental pollution and blue light exposure.

Key ingredients: Besides the use of chemical UV filters (which are responsible for the sunscreen’s light and thin texture) that protect skin against UV damage, it also contains 100 per cent pure niacinamide along with Moroccan citrus peel, to repair and renew skin.

The Texture: Like a really lightweight lotion. It doesn’t take much effort to be fully absorbed and leaves no white cast on my face. At first glance, it doesn’t look like sunscreen –  its slim tube packaging reminds me of a spot corrector instead.

The Results

2/4

My complexion looks quite shiny upon application, although my skin looks brighter. My face doesn’t look chalky or pasty white though, something I’ve been conditioned to think sunscreens should look like on the skin.

It seems to me that, with its slight brightening properties, the Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender could even double as a light makeup base. I’m looking forward to testing this out later on.

The scent too, is very telling of a French skincare product, as they tend to be quite strong in general. But while the floral scent is a little overwhelming at first, it does dissipate quickly.

After a couple of minutes, less than five, the sunscreen settles into a soft matte finish, which I’m pleased with as I’m heading into a video call, and the last thing I want is to look shiny in front of my client.

Glowing Complexion

Credit: Kiattisak Lamchan / 123RF.com
3/4

Application-wise, I found dispensing the sunscreen a little tricky. The dropper, while great for its precise and hygienic delivery, had me squeezing the tube quite hard to get the product out. But it does ensure that there is no mess around the applicator, unlike other sunscreens I’ve tried where the product starts to accumulate and gunk up after a while.

As I’m heading out to run some errands the next day, I decide to try the Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender with a BB cream. I wait a few minutes after applying the sunscreen, then dab my BB cream over. The sunscreen doesn’t pill, which is a great relief, as I’ve had little balls of sunscreen and foundation collect on my skin before.

My complexion looks like there’s a soft glow thanks to the sunscreen beneath, and it’s much smoother too. I’m impressed.

The Verdict

Credit: TORWAI Suebsri / 123RF.com
4/4

The Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender now sits on my dresser and is part of my daily skincare routine. With its antioxidant-packed formula that protects against blue light exposure, which I’m constantly facing thanks to longer hours in front of my laptop as I continue to work from home, I know that my skin is well taken care of all day. With this sunscreen, I don’t have to think about what happens after I apply it – whether it’s pilling or making my skin look shiny or feeling sticky. That’s a big plus in my books.

Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Pure Shots Airthin UV Defender SPF50+/PA++++ is available at all Yves Saint Laurent Beaute boutiques and counters.

Tags

sunscreensunscreen skincareYSL BeauteYSL Beauty
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