HydraKate Illuminating Sunscreen Drops – Tinted SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, Moisturizing & Anti-Aging Sun Protection, 1.7 Fl Oz

I know this is pricey (I bought it when it was on sale) but it’s holy grail status. I've tried several sunscreens, in my opinion, this is the best to wear layered & under makeup without any issues. It also has a slight sheen to it, which I like.

This SPF works great and gives the skin a beautiful, subtle illuminating tone. It blends easily, feels lightweight, and is perfect for everyday use. I love how it protects while giving my skin a healthy glow.

This is very greasy. It almost doesn’t dry once applied to the face, especially if you are applying the required amount for full SPF protection. It stays sticky. BUT: if you apply setting powder on top, it makes it ok.

I have been on the search to find a sunscreen that does not break my skin out and flare my rosacea up. My previous sunscreen I was using for years was breaking my skin out like crazy. I have tried so many zinc and non nano zinc sunscreens but my skin did not like them due to causing breakouts or flare-ups. This sunscreen is very hydrating but it will sink into the skin after a few minutes. Does not feel heavy at all and my makeup applies perfectly over top. I think it’s actually been healing my rosacea from the Ecotin ingredient.

My favorite sunscreens take advantage of newer chemical filters that are available elsewhere in the world, including the EU and Asia. They have an elegant application and leave zero white cast or shine on my skin. They are so nice that I don't mind using sunscreen daily. While I saw some disdain from a popular and theoretically quite educated skincare influencer about non-FDA approved products, the science supports use of the new filters, and they offer more stability in the sun and are effective against a broader range of UV wavelengths, including UVA. However, when I am active and sweaty, I need something heavy-duty versus elegant since I burn easily. Thus, I was eager to try this and see how it held up and how it performed on my combo skin. This has a slight tint to attempt to cancel out the white cast from the zinc oxide. Since I am very pale, this worked well on my skin, but those less fair might still see a bit of a cast. This left a bit of shine on my T-zone, so it definitely felt less elegant than what I'd prefer. It is a lot better than most sunscreens available for the US market, and the zinc oxide based sunscreens are less likely to cause skin irritation (I get hives from some US-approved chemical filters). My go-to for waterproof sunscreen will still be from Australia where they are serious about sun protection, but not everyone has time to shop around for Aussie and EU/Asian products, so this is a respectable choice for a water-resistant sunscreen. The product info currently says this is unscented, but that is not the case (probably just a data entry error than deliberate). On my box, it says that it contains fragrance and orange peel oil. On the product website page, it's clear that the "fragrance" ingredient is actually lavender oil, and the product indeed has a light floral and citrus note. It's not overpowering, but I would have preferred it to be unscented as listed. Orange peel oil is also known to be a little more allergenic than some ingredients.

Love this

I really wanted to like this sunscreen as it was recommended by one of my favorite YouTube influencers. She has oily skin and lives in a very hot and humid place, just like me. This stuff feels like you’re applying straight up olive oil on your face. It takes forever to rub/sink in, which definitely improves the texture. But…and this is an huge BUT… every time I wear this sunscreen my eyes eventually start burning and watering. So much that I have to wash it off. It also has a very strong citrus scent, which may have contributed to the burning eyes. So, I stopped using it around my eyes. It finally just threw it away because it is so uncomfortable to apply and wear. It’s just too heavy and greasy for 99 degrees and 1000%, yes 1000% humidity. If you live in NC, you know!!

This sunscreen has a medicine fragrance. I did not like the smell, but it felt wonderful on my face. I gave it five stars because it did not pill under my makeup, and felt creamy and not drying.