Believe it or not, despite being a lifelong member of the Super Pale Club, I only recently realized how important it is to use cosmetics and moisturizers and other products with SPF in them. It wasn’t until an awful sunburn a few years ago that I even really started wearing sunscreen at the beach. (I know, so bad!)
What can I say? Bad teenage habits…
Now, though, I’m serious about it — serious about sunscreen and moisturizer with SPF.
But I’d never really thought about primers with SPF, not until I tried Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($65).
This little potion/primer couples makeup priming powers with potent sun protection.
“Flawless and fabulous in just one step. This invisible skin perfecting shield blends together advanced treatment, primer, and SPF technologies to immediately blur and protect while combating the signs of aging.”
I’d used other Murad products before, but only briefly. Not long ago, before consulting a dermatologist for my acne, while I was trying everything under the sun in the hopes that I’d find something that would help, I’d tried the Murad Acne Starter Kit, and some of the things in the kit helped, a little, but I think I just needed something stronger.
Before giving Invisiblur Perfecting Shield a try, I wondered if it would be as good as or better than e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer, my current favorite primer, and, well, it is. As a primer under makeup, Invisiblur Perfecting Shield works like magic.
I apply it after my regular moisturizer, which also contains SPF, and for the record, when I do it, there’s no clumping, which happens sometimes when I mix products that contain SPF.
I’ve been wearing an SPF 15 moisturizer for the past few months, but we’re getting closer to summer, so a little extra protection will be nice. Sadly, I didn’t have this with me on my first outing of the season to Coney Island, and I ended up getting a little burned. 🙁
As a primer, Invisiblur also blurs fine lines. I don’t have many wrinkles or deep lines yet (except for on my forehead, and they’re really only noticeable when I furrow my brow…which I tend to do often!), but when I apply it under makeup, Invisiblur does a fantastic job of hiding the lines I have.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Avobenzone (2.0%), Homosalate (4.0%), Octisalate (4.0%), Octocrylene (2.0%)INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Isododecane, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, C15-23 Alkane, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Cake, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Extract, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Oleate, PEG -8 Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Alcohol, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lentinus Edodes (Shiitake Mushroom) Extract, Mucor Miehei Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum)
The only thing that bothers me about it is the packaging, specifically the pump.
It’s a little annoying… It has a very odd little cap, and I’ve never seen one quite like it before. I don’t feel like I get a full pump worth of product out of it (although you don’t need a lot).
For $65, Invisiblur is quite a bit more expensive than the primers I usually buy, but it works and works well.
I also like the clean, airy scent, and the formula doesn’t agitate my sensitive skin. I haven’t had one single breakout while using it, which is something I always look for when I start using a new face product. It’s been a great addition to my skin care routine.
Have you ever used anything from Murad, and what products are you using now to get your SPF?
Finally, a primer with decent SPF! In Japan literally EVERYTHING was packed with SPF and I loved it but here for some reason it hasn’t really caught on yet. So I’m glad to see this. Maybe I’ll check it out.
Well, the beauty world has been needing a product like this for a long time! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Now to find it in the UK!
Beekeyper – Latest post – REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask
First: I don’t know how to feel about the fact that you use SPF 15 when you’re so pale and me with my tan skin use SPF 50 to avoid dark spots.
I use a cheap Mexican drugstore brand because I end up a bottle in a month but I think it’s time for investing in something with a better formula and preferably a mineral one but I haven’t found any with a decent price.
I love that this works for sensitive skin!
Years ago I used products from Murad’s Essential C line. Then they reformulated many of the items and I didn’t like the new textures, so I moved on to other skin care.
I have a sunblocking primer I got in Tokyo with an SPF50. If I can’t get back to Tokyo to stock up before I run out, I’ll give this Murad one a try.
Looks like it works well in the photos, I might give this a try!
Looks good! By the way, what lip gloss do you have on in this pic- it’s pretty?
I received a deluxe sample size of this in a Murad collection I won several months ago, and I’m really impressed with it. Though I often prefer physical sunscreen ingredients, I like how lightweight this is. Perfect for use with moisturizers without SPF
I’m even paler than you. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 100+ under my primer and makeup. It’s got the high SPF but dries down so I don’t have a creamy layer on top of my already-oily skin. I’ve never tried the Murad Primer. It sounds like a good idea, though!
I have a little tester which I’m going to try soon but even if it works it’s so expensive, I’m not sure I can afford it!
I don’t usually use primers, but Laura Mercier makes a primer with broad spectrum SPF 30. I liked it because I have a sensitivity to the sunscreen ingredient octisalate; it is hard to find effective sunscreens of a pleasing texture that don’t have this ingredient! The only reason I’m not using it now is CeraVe re-formulated their day moisturizer to make it broad spectrum SPF 30, so I am using that. I also LOVE Clinique’s City Block SPF 25. I have been using that product every summer forever! It uses physical sunscreens and has a slight tint, so I can get away without using anything else.