Hi Natural Beauties,

I have been on the hunt for a natural sunscreen for ages so I was chuffed to find Facetheory Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm. It is a new release by Face Theory who are my absolute fave brand. If you follow my blog you will know this, since I often gush about their products. My skin has evolved beautifully since discovering the natural skincare brand.

It comes with a 5 star UVA rating and is a broad spectrum sunscreen. It contains plant-based solvents and best-in-class UVA and UVB filters (Tinosorb® S and Uvinul® A Plus).

It also contains Hydroxystearic acid, derived from castor oil, which acts as an inhibitor against UVB stress. It doesn’t contain any alcohol, is free from parabens and it’s vegan and cruelty free.

Facetheory’s Sunfragma SPF 25 melting balm is an innovative and interesting formulation. It has a balm/gel type consistency which I love, as I do love balms so I was intrigued to try this out. It is formulated in a way that it melts onto the skin for easy application, then softens at 20°C and liquifies just below body temperature. This makes it a lovely silky and effortless application.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it when I first applied it to be honest! I expected it to be a heavier consistency due to the balmy texture but actually it is surprisingly light. You only need a relatively small amount. I normally use a generous amount of balm when cleansing but this is different since you don’t wash it off.

I decided to use a little wooden spatula to apply it. This is a fuss-free application for me and lets me apply a tiny amount at a time. Although not necessary, I enjoy using the little spatula anyway so I just apply a dot to the cheeks, a couple to my forehead and chin, then neck and décolletage and start massaging that in. I will leave some on the spatula in case I need any extra but a little goes a long way.

You can tell when your face, neck and décolletage are covered so that is good that you wont miss any skin coverage. It goes on quite oily so this is why I was initially unsure whether the product would work for my skin type. I have combination skin, which gets oily in summer. My skin transitions from normal/combination to combination/oily on the t-zone in summer.

I know from experience that you are supposed to apply sunscreen at least 10 minutes before sun exposure so I have a routine in place. I apply my sunscreen after my moisturiser, after letting that dry in for a bit. Then I follow with Facetheory Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm and then leave that to dry in for around 10 minutes minimum. I explained this in my last post, My AM and PM Natural Skincare Routine.

Considering I use retinol in the evenings, I always remember my sunscreen as it is essential. To be honest, I was wearing sunscreen daily long before retinol was introduced to my regimen but when using retinoids or acids it is absolutely essential. I never forget to apply my sunscreen and I do not rely on moisturiser with added SPF, just in case.

Righto, so after 10 minutes or so, maybe longer depending how busy I am, I start my 3-minute makeup routine. I call it a 3 minute routine but actually I can do it in one minute if needs be. I apply my Jane Iredale Glowtime BB mineral makeup, which is full coverage. I then set that in place with my Bellapierre banana setting powder which I received with my Cruelty Free Beauty Box.

The Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm is a little on the oily side, but it doesn’t affect makeup application. My makeup still goes on fine, then the powder sets it all in place and I don’t get any excess oil afterwards. I do think that the setting powder is a must but that is the case for me anyway in summer due to my oily t-zone.

It is suitable for all skin types. I guess this is an ideal product for anyone with dry skin as it is non-drying. The fact that it has an oily consistency shouldn’t put off oily skin-types as it works fine for me.

It doesn’t leave any white cast which is important for me too. It is comfortable on the skin and you would hardy notice it at all. There is no alcohol in it so ideal for sensitive skin types.

I have sensitive skin and it doesn’t irritate me at all. You may need to re-apply it throughout the day, especially if you are swimming etc. I personally just apply it once and then do my makeup but then I don’t stay out in the sun for long periods.

It comes in a dark glass jar and you store it in a cool dry place, however if it does liquify it doesn’t affect the effectiveness or quality. Once cool again, it sets to its original state again.

I like to have my sunscreen with me just in case. I sometimes use it on my arms and legs. It is suitable for use on the body so comes in handy for that too.

I decided to transfer some of the Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm into a smaller glass pot that I had for DIY lip balms. I can pop that in my handbag/beach bag for use on the go. It is refillable too so that is handy to have on hand. Just to note, if transferring to another vessel, make sure it is either glass, aluminium or polypropylene.

Some other plus points to consider are –

• There is no scent (some of the SPF scents are overpowering and have a chemically smell, IMO)
• It is moisturising and protects the skin without irritation
• It doesn’t clog pores
• It isn’t sticky and glides on easily
• Makeup application is normal (no silicone-like film to make it slippery)
• It is really reasonably priced at only £14.99!
• This will last ages since you only need a small amount and the pot is big
• Silicone, SLS and sulphate free

So all in all, I am really happy with the Facetheory Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm. I feel as though my skin is nourished, protected and most importantly, shielded from the harmful rays of the sun. The sun is the most ageing and damaging of all for our skin so if you have one thing in your beauty routine, then make it SPF!

Here are the ingredients –

Coco-caprylate (plant-derived oil)

Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (Tinosorb S)

Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (Uvinul A Plus)

Corn starch modified (plant derived thickener)

Hydroxystearic acid (plant derived thickener)

Let me put it this way, why would you put so much effort into preserving and looking after your skin only to undo all that good work and effort by not protecting it from the sun?

Have you invested in a good quality sunscreen? If so, do let me know in the comments what is working for you. I love hearing your feedback! If you haven’t already tried Facetheory, check out their amazing range here – with a 20% OFF COUPON!

If that hasn’t convinced you enough to try Facetheory then read their satisfaction guarantee! –

We have confidence in our products and I want you to be really happy with a purchase from facetheory. There’s a lot of lines you could choose from and we really value you taking an interest in our brand.

If for some reason you’re not completely happy with a facetheory purchase and don’t notice any visible improvement in your skin within 365 days – just return your products for a free replacement or refund – no questions asked.

So there you have it, Facetheory believe in their products 100% and are happy to stand by that. You have nothing to lose by trying them for yourself. I can honestly say, I have never looked back since I discovered their amazing brand.

If you want to check out my first post on Facetheory glycolic acid and retinol check it out here. Ever since then I have been obsessed! I love trying out new products from the range.

Let me know if you do try Facetheory and what products you try, especially the Sunfragma SPF 25 Melting Balm, I would love to hear your verdicts.

Happy Summer!

Ciara x