Product Review
First impressions review: Cancer council clear skin SPF50 (mineral)
TL:DR; Very nice imo if you don’t mind a tinted product and have light-medium skin. More warm toned tint, great under makeup.
A first impressions review of the Cancer council clear skin (new)
I picked up mine from Chemist warehouse for about $18. It’s a SPF50 and uses zinc as its UV filter.
Lots of the claims around this sunscreen are that it doesn’t flare up acne or cause breakouts, so I’ll use it for a little bit and report back on that!
My review:
It’s a very thin fluid texture (if I’m being fussy I’d prefer it in a squeeze tube with a small nozzle, but for less than $20 I’ll live)
It isn’t overly greasy or oily, and feels light on the skin, and spreads around easily. It’s almost slippery (slightly?)- I wonder if applying it in two layers would be a nicer experience
Rub in time was a little longer which is expected with a mineral.
Very comfortable, no heaviness or tightness.
It was a bit too shiny for me even after settling, but mattified well under some powder without any cake or lifting. I think it layered really beautifully under makeup and it looks like I have a light skin tint on.
The colour is slightly warm leaning on me but still feels flattering / like I can get away with it
I did get it in my eye (not on purpose, lol) and that didn’t feel great but it didn’t give that classic “sunscreen sting” it was more “cream in eye” sting- but more so than other minerals I’ve used.
Very much a second skin look after powdering.
Didn’t oxidise on me, but the colour does look warm leaning. On deeper skin this will be ashy (maybe anything last medium)
Didn’t go grainy on me, or smear around.
Not overly hydrating, you’ll need a decent moisturiser underneath. I just used the Lait creme sensitive as a base to keep things simple and predictable
I like it, but I also am very used to tinted SPF and minerals. IMO this doesn’t feel like a typical mineral, so if you’ve been curious, for the price it’s worth a try!
Skin type and concerns: Acne-prone, sensitive and normalish / combo. I get scarring and blemishes often
Let me know if you have any questions
Images:
Texture / tube
Bare skin
Just applied (1/4 teaspoon)
Settled 10mins
Light makeup over (no foundation, just concealer + powder + cream blush)
Cancer council’s response to my DM about the CHOICE situation (take that as you will)
A friend who’s a deeper skin tone and found it was ashy on her
Oh thanks for this review with pics! It does look a tiny bit warm on you, and a bit glow-y. Not terrible for a <$20 tinted SPF (when on sale) for light coverage days.
Did you get oily by the end of the day?
What foundation/tinted SPF do you use normally/before?
I did get shiny, and I also noticed it transferred off around my jaw, but I only powdered lightly down my T zone with a hydrating powder so that wouldn't of helped with transfer.
IMO very manageable and i'd treat it differently next time (more powder, maybe applying the sunscreen in two layers)
For tinted SPFs the cancer council one feels more like a tint for the sake of counteracting white cast rather than purposeful coverage, but still has a nice filtering effect and light coverage on my skin tone (a nice perk)
For true tinted sunscreens I use the naked sundays peptide tint as a secondary sunscreen pretty religiously for hyperpigmentation and when i'm building it up full coverage I just use that, same as the IT Cosmetics CC (but when I use the IT cosmetics like that there's no way i'm getting the right coverage eep)
A pleasure. It felt nice to review a sunscreen again (esp after everything). I do personally think the whole sunscreen and testing world in Aus will change a lot in the next year as everyone tries to catch up.
I don't think any brand will be immune (bc the break down is with testing + testing methods prob) and to some extent probably all products are affected, but that doesn't mean that they're useless- but that still feels awful. Very weird times!!
I’ve been put off anything Cancer Council after the choice findings since it’s what I mainly used before. But I wear a BB sunscreen as my foundation so may give this a go in the future — thanks for the review!
I get you! Weird times. I have a feeling that a BB cream SPF might actually give you less sun protection than you think- is it pigmented? I think you'll like this either way :)
Absolutely love this! I have light olive skin and it blends in perfectly. It hasn't broken me out at all and is actually calming my rosacea down, hands down the nicest textured mineral sunscreen I've tried
I have rosacea and am also olive toned, but pretty pale, nc/nw 10 and Lisa Eldridge skin tint in T1.5 are my closest matches. Was wondering if you think this would be too dark? Would be so keen to try especially as it’s a mineral formula.
I'm definitely on the paler side of being light olive and it's ever so slightly too dark for me but it's nothing I can't fix. It you're considerably pale then I was say yes it will be too dark. I pump it into my hand and put it on in thin layers making sure to blend well, especially the edges and if I do that I have no issues with the colour
Heyya, no I actually stopped because I couldn't handle how much it irritates my eyes but my eyes get irritated from every mineral sunscreen unfortunately. I have gone back to chemical sunscreen because they are so much easier, I'm currently using banana boat mattifying face lotion and really enjoying it! I'm on my second tube atm
It’s the brand name :) they do a lot of work / support / advocacy for cancer patients and research, but they also have a sunscreen and sun care range as an extension of their skin cancer work!
My only issue with the cancer council sunscreens is they won’t disclose full ingredients. So I’d pass on this because of that. Acne prone skin here, not willing to risk pore clogging ingredients. Soz to be a negative nancy.
You're allowed to be a negative! That's fustrating, if you're happy to jump though a few steps you can look up the ingredients here: https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg/477309 - just need to download the pdf
Also! Pore clogging ingredients aren't face value all the time (unless you have a sensitivity ofc). I try and go off the claims to know if they've tested it for acne prone / clog prone skin. This one seems to have a big focus on that
That's valid, I do feel genuinely uneasy about it all too- but I do think although no one liked UV's PR, ultimately the testing process ( eg: ok it's a spf4, why were all the tests jumping around so much? how can so much variability be in a test? that alone is very worrying especially across so many labs) and the manufacturer (allegedly) was what failed - so I feel more settled with Cancer Council not using them. I am also semi-insane with sunscreen usage and overapply. That's how i'm justifying it for now but am trying to be finger on the pulse for updates!
Looks like a beautiful finish. Just curious, Does anyone know if Bondi sands has ever had any spf products that were recalled or that failed the choice testing? Keen to try some products of theirs
I really enjoyed how it looked today! Thank you. Bondi sands (before choice) had some recalls. I think it's pretty safe to try anything that's still being sold from any brand at the chemist, as long as you apply generously. Things in future might change with SPF testing and the industry but SPF30 (97% of UV blocked) is better than nothing
Pleasure! I'm combo! But can get really dry post retinol nights or during flare ups. Got pretty oily today with this on though, i'd powder more next time :)
This looks soooo beautiful! Thanks so much for the review. I just bought the Cancer Council Mineral CC Cream in the light shade and tested it today for the first time. It’s a very thick formula and needs to be massaged in a lot which kind of irritates my rosacea. But it is a beautiful satin matte finish and the zinc feels soothing once it’s settled. The shade isn’t too bad either, it’s passable.
The liquid formula of this looks so nice and has me really interested in picking this up also. Looks much easier to apply than a thicker zinc sunscreen. Do you think the tint would suit someone who’s quite pale? Lisa Eldridge Skin Tint in T1.5 is the closest match for my pale olive skin tone.
This separated so badly for me, the only thing I had underneath was cerave hydrating moisturiser and i let it dry for about 10 minutes first. Any tips?
Hey! Separated as in balled up or was the product split? If its balling up try and wait a bit before applying your layers, and apply in two layers. If the product is split thats a big problem! Return / let the brand know :)
Very helpful! Thank you! I think two things are happening;
1) very important to apply to a hydrated base as zinc can be drying and do this
2) I suspect (perhaps!) you are under-applying. Only saying this because when I apply the right amount GOSH I am glowy. Sorry if I'm wrong but trying to figure out whats happening :)
So I'd say apply a bit more moisturiser (apply to damp skin), wait a moment, then apply a generous amount of the sunscreen :) it should be 1/4teaspoon (a measuring one, not a sugar teaspoon!) for the face
It is a little hard to apply the right amount of a tinted sunscreen imo!
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