I remember the first SVR’s sunscreen for acne-prone skin. It was a thick, white, zinc oxide based pomade that you could spread on your face, but good luck going out with it. You ended up with a geisha-like face that would melt after a few minutes of being in the sun. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It’s the reason why people avoid sunscreens. I absolutely hated that sunscreen and I used it only once. When I found out that SVR reformulated their sunscreen to a more modern version, based on chemical filters, I was willing to give SVR’s sunscreens another shot. I thought they have learnt from previous experience, and they tried to deliver a sunscreen suitable for oily skin types. Unfortunately, they were just hopes.

SVR Sebiaclear Cream SPF 50 provides high protection, and it’s alcohol-free (for those who prefer not to use it). Moreover, it contains niacinamide and salicylic acid – it would seem that it is perfect for oily skin types. There’s a tiny bit of fragrance, though very little because the sunscreen still smells like a sunscreen does, so nothing to worry about. The best part is, it claims to be ‘dry touch’. And here’s where the problem lies, it is not ‘dry touch’, whatsoever, at all. It doesn’t dry out either. Twenty minutes after application, my face looked as if I had just finished applying the sunscreen – a greasy face. In order to be able to go out with this sunscreen on, I had to use five blotting sheets for my face alone! Usually one or two is enough for me. And to make things more interesting, as you remember, a couple of posts ago, I included a picture of a table indicating how much sunscreen we should apply. It’d come with this sunscreen, so I decided to use the suggested amount. On the leaflet, they recommend applying a half teaspoon to a full teaspoon (about 5 grams) of sunscreen for the face and the neck. I measured 5 grams of sunscreen on my kitchen scale and applied the amount on my face and neck. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I had to wash my face and redo my routine before leaving; otherwise, there’s no way I could show myself to anyone.

I don’t remember the last time I came by such a horrible sunscreen formulation. I am not sure if the first version wasn’t better; at least it had zinc oxide, so if you prefer mineral sunscreens you could pick that one. SVR Sebiaclear Cream SPF 50 is worse than many cheaper sunscreens on the market. In fact, last year, Garnier released a sunscreen for sensitive and acne-prone skin, also with salicylic acid in it. It is much, much better and cheaper. I am also suspecting SVR’s sunscreen clogged my skin, but I will not blame everything on it. I find the addition of salicylic acid in a sunscreen a bit awkward; this is why I didn’t like the Garnier’s product either. I worry that salicylic acid in a sunscreen may cause irritations or burns. I always had a red face after wearing and reapplying that sunscreen so… I would rather have my sunscreens without acids.

Anyway, this sunscreen is just pure crap. Not useable at all. I was planning to use it on my hands, as I do with all sunscreens that I don’t like for my face, but this is utter rubbish. This type of products is the reason why people do not use sunscreens! Please, do not waste your money on it and do not approach it. SVR need to learn what ‘dry touch’ really means. I have purchased another sunscreen from SVR to test out, and I hope it will be better. For now, I am sticking to Biore.

INGREDIENTS (CONTAINS) : AQUA (PURIFIED WATER), HOMOSALATE, DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, SILICA, ETHYLHEXYL STEARATE, NIACINAMIDE, GLYCERIN, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, BEHENETH-25, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, CORN STARCH MODIFIED, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIBUTYL ADIPATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, GLUCONOLACTONE, SALICYLIC ACID, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, SARCOSINE, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, XANTHAN GUM, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE)

The sunscreen retails for €11.90 available from svr.com, but please do not bother. 

Update 22/01/2021: Salicylic acid may act as a UVB absorber in sunscreen, so that’s why it as added to Garnier’s sunscreen that I mention in this review. Anyway, that sunscreen made my skin red and irritated, and I wouldn’t use it.