Do you remember when I reviewed this oily mess from SVR supposedly created for acne-prone skin? Well, SVR released a new sunscreen aimed at oily skin types this year – SVR Sun Secure Multi-resistant Ultra-Matt Gel SPF 50+ (that’s a long name). Let me tell you it is better, much better than the previous one. 

This sunscreen was released in spring this year if I’m not mistaken. I bought a tube of it before the summer and then forgot about it. I actually started using it at the end of the summer between the warm and cold season. Overall the sunscreen is good, I have enjoyed it honestly. It is somewhat similar to the SVR Sebiaclear Cream SPF 50, and let me explain how. It has an oily base, it is alcohol-free, but it doesn’t make you necessarily oily. The main difference is that it is almost translucent. Though it has a bit of yellowish colour which I think comes from the carrot extract, but it doesn’t appear on your skin at all. It stains white/bright-coloured clothes, so be careful. After applying, the sunscreen creates a film with a mat finish, but the weirdest part is that it’s oily to touch (just like the other SVR sunscreen). It doesn’t really set like a usual mat sunscreens, but you won’t feel or see it unless you touch your face. Also, it doesn’t move around I mean to your eyes or mouth, it stays put all the time. So for me, it’s quite intriguing, because I would suspect that an oily sunscreen would be messy and moving around, but this one doesn’t.

As a sunscreen, it performed very well. SPF 50+ and the encircled UVA symbol signify that the product offers high anti-UV protection. It protected my face, and I didn’t get any breakouts from it. It even protects from visible light, responsible for skin pigmentation. If I am not mistaken, SVR attribute this to the addition of carrot extract. There are supposedly studies showing that carrot oil or extract indeed protect from visible light. Perhaps that’s why they use it in all of their sunscreens that claim to prevent damage coming from visible light (I also think this is where the myth of carrot and raspberry seed oils working as sunscreens comes from, but protecting from visible light is not the same as protecting from UVB or UVA rays). This sunscreen also shields infrared light, so you are covered on all levels a sunscreen can cover. 

It worked underneath bb creams. It performed great in warm or cold temperatures. But when the temperature went really high, I mean above 25 degrees (Celcius) the sunscreen started to ‘melt’ – it showed up on my T-zone. There’s no shame in wearing sunscreens, but there’s also nothing nice about having a shiny face. I think it is related to the oily texture of this sunscreen. However, the issue only occurred during very warm days. It is still a marvellous sunscreen for cold weather or beach days; as you won’t mind looking oily at the beach.  

The ingredients of this SVR Sun Secure are satisfying. It contains solely chemical filters, hence the almost transparent texture (I wish I had taken a photo to show you, but believe me it looks like a yellowish, translucent gel). As mentioned before, there’s no alcohol, which for many sensitive skinned people is an issue. There’s a tiny bit of fragrance as the product has a distinctive smell of sun filters. On top of that, there are antioxidants coming from carrot and Swiss garden cress extracts, which help to protect the skin cells. Ingredients-wise, in this sunscreen there’s nothing really that would put anyone off from using it. It’s safe for anyone above the age of 3, and it’s suitable for sensitive skin (according to SVR). Great for all complexions as it leaves no white cast. You will like this sunscreen, of course, if you can tolerate chemical filters or aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients. 

Overall, it’s a decent sunscreen. It provides protection from various types of sun rays. It has a pleasant looking finish and leaves no cast. Though there are two limitations to this product, it ‘melts’ in hot weather, and it stains white/bright-coloured fabrics.

Ingredients: ISODODECANE, DIETHYLAMINO HYDROXYBENZOYL HEXYL BENZOATE, HOMOSALATE, DIMETHICONE/BIS-ISOBUTYL PPG-20 CROSSPOLYMER, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, ETHYLHEXYL TRIAZONE, BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE, BETA-CAROTENE, CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, HYDROGENATED PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE, LECITHIN, LEPIDIUM SATIVUM SPROUT EXTRACT, PHENETHYL ALCOHOL, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, AQUA (PURIFIED WATER), CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, LYSOLECITHIN, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) [svr.com]

The price may appear a bit steep. The SVR Sun Secure Multi-resistant Ultra-Matt Gel SPF 50+ costs €15 RRP for 30 ml, which is above the average, but I would say it is still not in the exaggerated price range. Considering the price of this product, I would take into account how much time and money was spend on developing it. It’s an alcohol-free, almost transparent gel. It makes your skin actually mat, and it’s a sunscreen. There aren’t many similar products out there.