Happy 4th of July, everyone! Today is the perfect day to spend time with family and friends at the beach, the pool, or outside for a fun barbecue! But with all that time in the sun it is very important to protect your skin, so today I will be reviewing the Tarte TarteGuard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30!

For kids, teens, and even adults, putting on sunscreen when you are  busy having fun is, well, not very fun… I have very dry skin in the winter, but in the summer, I have more combination skin, so when I apply regular drugstore facial sunscreen it immediately looks very greasy, always feels thick and sticky, takes forever to blend out, smells awful, irritates my skin and eyes, and always clogs my pores and breaks me out, making  me not want to even apply sunscreen to my face in the first place! However, this product I will be reviewing completely changed all that.

TarteGuard 30 can be purchased at Sephora and costs $32 for 1.7 oz or $12 for 0.4 oz. It is intended to be a facial sunscreen, but, if you are in a pinch, you can also use this on your body if you really need to. It claims to “protect, moisturize, brighten, and re-invigorate skin for a youthful-looking appearance”, and so far, I would agree with this!

The packaging is a bright pinky purple, my favorite color in the entire world, with coral text, and although the rubber sleeve on the glass bottle does get dirty daily, it cleans easily, as well. It features a convenient gold pump with a cap, unlike most sunscreens, so you never waste any product or make a mess.

Yes, this sunscreen is only available in SPF 30, but studies have shown, that anything higher than that does not actually make much of a difference.

One of the reasons this  sunscreen comes with a higher price tag is because it is a physical sunscreen rather than the typical chemical sunscreen. This means that instead of absorbing the sun’s rays through a chemical reaction, it blocks the sun’s rays, and because it is broad spectrum, it also protects against both UVB and UVA rays.

In place of harsh chemicals, this sunscreen contains all minerals and antioxidants to help “nourish, tone, and retain moisture while helping to combat signs of aging for a firmer, brighter, smoother appearance.” I honestly think this sunscreen does do what it promises to, but the thing that really sets it apart is its amazingly universal formula!

The “lightweight, non-sticky liquid lotion” has a surprisingly thin, runny formula which I love compared to the disgustingly thick ones that I usually use.

Tarte claims that this also serves as a light moisturizer and it does in fact leave behind a really fresh and healthy looking sheen while still staying matte which I really like. I think that all skin types would thoroughly enjoy this multi-purpose product because it never leaves your skin feeling sticky or greasy. If you have dry skin, you can wear this over your preferred moisturizer and can appreciate the subtle glow it gives, and if you have oily skin you can wear this as your light moisturizer and can appreciate the non-greasy  formula that is so rare in the world of sunscreens.

This is very easy to use because it blends quickly and requires no effort so you don’t have to be paranoid about having embarrassing white splotches all over your face even after rubbing it into your skin for what seems like ages.

What I have found from wearing this sunscreen every single day by the pool during my Hawaiian vacation is that this sunscreen is truly non-comedogenic, so I don’t have to worry about it clogging my pores and causing me to break out. The lack of irritating chemicals means that this is ideal for those of you who have very sensitive skin and I love that this doesn’t burn my face or around my eyes.

It also has a pleasantly spa-like “ocean’s lily” scent  that’s very fresh and clean unlike traditional sunscreen smells.

Before I tried, I was worried that the white lotion would look pale and ghost-like on my very tan skin, but it sinks into my skin really well, so it should work for all skintones including very dark ones. Because I just wear this for the pool, beach, or other times when I will be spending direct time in the sun such as tanning, I am not sure if this leaves a white cast in flash photography, but in person, it looks beautiful!

It also works perfectly under makeup too for everyday use and I like to apply it after my skincare routine and moisturizer, but before my primer, so that my foundation and everything else will go on smoothly and last all day.

One of the only downsides to this product is that it is not waterproof or very water-resistant so when you’re sweating or spending time in the pool it is not very long-lasting. If you are just using this product by itself and are in direct sunlight such as the pool or beach, then you should reapply this every two or three hours.

PROS:
-physical, not chemical
-not greasy, thick, or sticky
-does not clog pores or cause break outs
-pleasant scent
-works well under makeup
-leaves all skin types and skintones moisturized, smooth, and bright
-blends effortlessly
-non-irritating, good for sensitive skin

CONS:
-expensive
-has to be reapplied frequently and not water-proof

So, what is my final verdict? Because this is an expensive skin care product, I would only recommend purchasing this if you have tried several other sunscreens that feel greasy, thick, and gross, break you out, and just do not work for you. Maybe ask for a sample at your local Sephora and try it out because it might just change the way you feel about sunscreen! It did for me!

XOXO,
Makena

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