This post contains affiliate links. Product provided by Oshen Skin.
Mary & May CICA Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ is a vegan sunscreen that uses chemical filters. In addition to its obvious function of providing sun protection, it also promises to soothe, moisturize and brighten through the use of ingredients such as centella asiatica and its derivatives, fermented yeast, and niacinamide. This sunscreen is available on Oshen Skin (save on your entire order with my code KBHOBBIT10).
How to use
Spread evenly over exposed areas at the end of your skincare routine
Reapply as needed when exposed to the sun
I don’t typically look for skincare benefits in sunscreen, aside from the obvious protection from the sun, but Mary & May CICA Soothing Sun Cream contains some interesting ingredients that I am not used to seeing. F-Cica Complex combines seven centella asiatica derivatives to soothe sensitive skin, inositol attracts moisture to the skin and betaine helps with plumping and dewiness. A full list of ingredients is available at the end of the review.
The formula has a light cream texture and a noticeable scent that I happen to enjoy. It doesn’t linger, so hopefully wouldn’t be a deal breaker for those who don’t like it as much as I do. I am surprised that a formula advertised as soothing and being great for sensitive skin includes fragrance, since it’s a potential irritant. My skin doesn’t have an issue with it, but many sensitive types do.
The finish is on the dewy side and stays dewy all day unless I put some powder over the top. With powder, it’s perfect. I use Mary & May all over the face, neck and ears, including the area around the eyes, with no issues. Even when I work out and sweat, my eyes aren’t irritated.
There is no white cast on me, not even a hint of it. Not surprising with all chemical filters, but worth mentioning.
My impressions
This is a fine sunscreen and can be a holy grail for some, even though it’s not a must have for me. If I had gotten my hands on this tube before trying any other Korean or Japanese sunscreens, it would have absolutely blown my mind. These days, I’m spoiled by tons of other lovely options and some of them have matte finishes that I prefer to Mary & May. Here’s a short summary of the pros and cons, in my subjective opinion.
Pros:
Great scent that doesn’t stick around long
No white cast
Easy application
No stickiness / oiliness
Doesn’t irritate the eyes
Cons:
Too dewy for my liking (easily fixed with translucent powder)
As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons, so I will happily keep using this until the tube is out. Mary & May in general is a great brand that was not on my radar until last year. I fell in love with their cleansing balm (review here) and idebenone cream (review here). Mary & May CICA Soothing Sun Cream didn’t disappoint either. A special thanks to Oshen Skin for introducing me to this and many other amazing brands!
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Mary & May CICA Soothing Sun Cream ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methyl Glucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Fragrance, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyle Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Betaine, Inositol, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiatic Acid