This post contains affiliate links. Product provided by Oshen Skin.
If I suddenly decided to only post SPF reviews, I could probably sustain this blog for some time. I have so many sunscreens - a lot of them are sealed and patiently waiting their turns, but many are opened and in active rotation. I typically finish a tube before I start something new, but I have a few different tubes in my rotation at any given time. Some are winners, some not so much, but I rarely give away sunscreens regardless of their finish and texture. They make for good massive sunscreen review videos, like this one. I also have a sunscreen guide here.
SCENEARTH Oh, Everyday Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ came to me in a care package from one of my friends, a co-founder of Oshen Skin. Definitely check out their site and use my code KBHOBBIT10 for a discount. And while Oshen Skin doesn’t carry this product, I thought it was still worth a review, since it’s an interesting brand and available on Olive Young (discount code KBHOBBIT77).
The sun essence promises a light texture, natural tone-up effect (code word for “possible white cast on darker skin”), and a restored skin balance. This is a chemical sunscreen that also contains plant-derived squalane and something called “blue lotus shield” to protect the skin from UV damage.
How to use
Apply at the end of your skincare routine to all exposed areas
Let dry down / set in before applying makeup, if using
I would not call the texture particularly light. It’s a cream that still spreads easily and does dry down to a semi-matte, non-sticky finish. I’m used to sun essences being more watery / runny, but this one isn’t. When the tube was new, I could pick up a pretty noticeable alcohol scent. But a few months in, I no longer noticed it. Either it lessened, or I got used to it. Either way, it was never strong enough or lingering enough to bother me.
My impressions
I waited so long to write this review that my sunscreen tube is completely empty. At first, I thought I loved this SPF. Then, I decided I hated it (but as it turned out, it wasn’t the SPF’s fault but the products’ I was putting under it - the Bellflower vitamin C serum makes everything a sticky mess). The final decision is that I love it, but with some disclaimers.
First of all, Scenearth Essence Sun will likely leave at least a little white cast on deep skin tones. It doesn’t on me, but “tone up” products, including this one, often try to even out and lighten the skin, which might look quite off on people who aren’t as pale as I am. It’s somewhat counterintuitive, because chemical sunscreens are usually clear. Well, not this one.
Second, the alcohol scent doesn’t bother me and the formula isn’t drying, but some may have an issue with it. It definitely replaces moisturizer for me, even during the cold dry weather. Will it be too rich for oily skin? Will the alcohol be too much for dry skin? I don’t know. This is such a unique formula, because ones with alcohol denat are usually thinner, very quick drying, liquid, and potentially not OK for dry skin. But this one really feels like a rich moisturizer but smells a little like alcohol… For my combination skin, it works just fine. Perfect for Fall and Winter, still usable in the Summer.
With all of these notes, I really enjoyed the formula and used it often, taking breaks to try and review other sunscreens. For a while, it wasn’t available for purchase anywhere but Korea, but now it’s on Olive Young. If you want it, you can actually buy it. If you try it, please let me know what you think.
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SCENEARTH Oh, Everyday Essence Sun ingredients: Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Triazone, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-15, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Water, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Polyether-1, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Myristic Acid, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol