Yesterday I trialled Live-Live’s natural sunblock. I went for a skate for a couple of hours under the full sun and I didn’t get burnt so it passed the most important test!
It’s also the best natural sunblock I’ve ever used. In fact, I think it works better than some of the chemical sunblocks. This morning I went to the beach and applied my sunblock at the last minute (I KNOW you’re supposed to apply 20 minutes before you’re in the sun but I forgot!). I used Live-Live on my body and Shiseido on my face. My face got burnt but my body didn’t. That’s a pretty good indication that this stuff actually works, and works well.
The Live-Live sunblock is also not thick and chalky like most natural sunblocks are. It spreads easily on the skin and has a subtle orange smell which is refreshingly unique for a sunblock.
I recorded a video review yesterday, along with a few other little bits of important information I discovered about natural sunblocks after a little research -
Everyone I’ve personally showed the Live-Live sunblock to has raved about the texture and gorgeous smell, so it’s not just me that’s loving this product. I only have eight left in my online store so get in quick …if it’s popular I’ll get some more in from Live-Live but it may take a while for my shipment to travel from NYC to Australia.
And of course, let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t answer in my video. And if you’ve found an awesome sunblock too, I’d love to hear about it.
29 responses ↓
That looks great.
I found a natural (99.18% at least I think:P) sunscreen that has that same active ingredient. Except I think I need more vitamin D so I haven’t tried it yet. I think most everyone needs more vitamin D. If you get enough then you can actually lower your risk of things like skin cancer. I really hope you can avoid it, I’m sure you can!
I can tell that this product is definitely something worth adding to the shopping cart.I’ve been reading more and more about the dangers of the sun on our skin and I recently read from a top notch beauty expert that she recommends we wear SPF 15+ everyday, a bit tedious albeit necessary.
Hi Fran Thank you so much for finding this sunscreen! If you burned with shiseido and not this it must really be strong! But I was wondering what is the percentage of titanium oxide and zinc oxide in this?
Hi Zack, I don’t think it’s really strong, just very good quality. It uses “micronized” titaninium and zinc dioxides which after a bit of research I discovered works better than when it’s not micronized. These active ingredients are not listed as percentages, but they’re near the bottom of the ingredients list if that helps.
Wow Fran! Your skin looks great! I have seen other youtube video posts where you were still trying to achieve clear skin and it looks like you have really succeeded. Could you run me through your daily skincare product routine? Are you still just using Bee Yummy cream and Philosophy cleanser?
Cheers!
Hahaha Kevin, I’ve been reading more and more about the benefits of sun. I think our ancestors got a lot more sun than we did too.
Hello, I want to try this sunscreen. It says that you have purchased it in a NYC store. Do you mind if u tell me the address to it so I can buy it? I live in NYC myself. Thank you.
Please email me back. Thank you.
Hi Fran,
I have a very oily skin with acne. I wear makeup also. Do you recommend using this product daily under makeup? Also, is it greasy at all when you put it on? Thanks a lot for your help.
hey!! Fran—-first i must say you look so bautiful with your hair that way.:P.. prety woman over there…:D
ok and now to the sunscreen, well i know you usualy try natural products, but i wanted ot ask you if you´ve ever used LaRoche-Posay Anthelios XL 50+…????
and if you have or anyone here..could you tell me what u think about it… please..:D thx..David.
I use “UV Natural Sunscreen Baby SPF 30+ 150GM ” it’s all natural and it works for me – but I have indian skin, so it may be different if you have fair skin. I bought it from http://www.organicbeautyworld.com.au/
Hi, Fran. Just recently I was looking up for a natural sunblock that would not irritate my skin. What I found was a sunblock from a brand called Mexitan. It, like the Live-Live contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which have been micronized. I’ve also been using the Clean and Clear Morning Burst as it helps me wake up in the morning and cleanses. Is there a natural product similar to that?
Thank you! But it is too heavy for acne prone skin?
Hi Fran,
I found some really useful info on micronized zinc/titanium oxide – they even tell you how to make your own sunscreen: http://www.wabisabibaby.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/more-on-zinc-oxide-nano-scale-micronized-sunscreen-should-you-be-concerned/
Also, certain oils like avocado oil and red raspberry seed oil are natural sunscreens. But they can’t attach an SPF to it legally. I tried red raspberry oil on my face as a test when I went to the beach, and I didn’t get burned, but the downside is it makes your face look orange at first because the oil is very red. Even though it didn’t break me out, I’d prefer not to use oil products on my face, so I’ll stick to using it on my body. I haven’t tried avocado oil, but I hear it feels nice.
Also, here’s some info on red raspberry seed oil:
http://www.naturesgift.com/carrier_oils/raspberry-seed-oil.htm
Cranberry oil and seabuckthorn berry extract have similar claims (all of these oils are orange to red in color).
Too bad these alternatives aren’t oil free! Grr. Maybe I could use zinc/titanium sunscreens on my face, and the oils on my body (i don’t get acne on my body)?
Christina- Thanks
My updated skin routine is in the forum- http://www.highonhealth.org/forums/showthread.php?t=882
Lisa- Lucky you for living in NYC!!! You can visit the store, the address is on their website: http://www.live-live.com OR if it’s too far and you want to buy from me, all US orders are shipped directly from the store in NY.
Alex- I personally don’t recommend wearing sunscreen every day because of the chemicals. I just use it when I need it. But when I do wear it, I wear it over my moisturizer ..but under, over is fine. It’s definitely the least greasiest sunscreen I’ve ever used.
David & Deseray- Sorry, i haven’t tried these products
Zack- I think this will be fine on the face every now and again, but I wouldn’t recommend it every day because it’s oil based ..and I’m a big believer that oil based products are not good on acne-prone skin. I used it all weekend from the neck down and I didn’t get any breakouts from it.
Hi Fran, thanks for posting this review! Great timing as I’m looking for a new sunscreen. I’m currently on Accutane and thus my skin is really susceptible to the sun. A 20 minute walk outside gave me a minor one!
Anyway, since I know that the sunscreen aspect is superior, I’m wondering how it is in terms of skin absorption. My skin is extraordinarily dry from the Accutane, and it’s getting to the point where even straight oils aren’t doing their best! I think I read that you have dry skin, so how did you find it absorbed when you used it on your face? Does it absorb well or is it kind of greasy?
Hi Jenn, it definitely absorbs better than any other natural sunscreen I’ve used before without the greasy feeling ..that’s the first thing I noticed about it
I like Badger Balm sunscreen for the body… it’s very thick and can make your skin look pasty though, due to the whiteness of the high amount of Titanium dioxide. I have yet to find a good facial moisturizer with SPF though.
Ooh I see you have the “Honey I shrunk the pores” scrub in your shop! I got several samples from that company, including two of the scrub. I just used them a few times… maybe I’ll give them another try
Hi Fran I was hoping u could help me.ok so here’s my ?s first 1.I get acne pretty easily so I’ve tried the neutrogena sunscreen that says is non-comdegenic and it’s too thick and causes me to break out excessively I’ve used an SPF of 15,30,75 using this brand so it didn’t work plus I’ve used other sunscreens that say they’re non-comdegenic but they still cause breakouts So what’s the beat chemical sunscreen that u have used that u would recommend? 2.can I,should I use sunscreen/moisturizer on my face or(I already use cetaphil) should I keep using the cetaphil and put a sunscreen over it? cause u know how they say don’t do too much to ur face at once(if u think I should use sunscreen/moisturizer do u recommend one for acne prone skin)thank u so much it input would be greatly appreciated
Hi David, I’ve written about Shiseido previously in blog articles, do a search using the box on the right hand side of the screen to find the article. That one won’t clog your pores.
I don’t use a sunscreen on my face every day because I don’t want the chemicals …I’d rather just stay out of the sun.
Hi Fran! I know that you don’t use the live-live sunscreen everyday, but have you noticed any signs of congestion in your pores from using it? (I’m just remembering the “oil cleansing method” experience – it didn’t work for me either!) I’ve read that apricot oil and sweet almond oil are fairly low on the comedogenic scale, but I’m a bit concerned about the coconut wax in the sunscreen! I love the idea of using a natural sunscreen that absorbs well and doesn’t feel greasy, but do you think it’s too risky for acne prone people to use the live-live sunscreen since there is such a high oil content in it? Over the past few years, I’ve used organic products that have natural oils in them, and my pores got really clogged up, so I have reason to be apprehensive. That being said, I do use the Bee Yummy Skinfood everyday (thanks to your blog!) and it is the ONLY moisturizer that hasn’t clogged my pores. Initially I was concerned that the honey cappings in it might cause congestion, but actually my skin is finally starting to purge now that I’m not putting any oil on my face. Thanks for all you do; you’re really helping a lot of people!
Hi Michelle, I don’t use the Live-Live sunscreen on my face, I use it everywhere else. I use mineral makeup as a facial sunscreen, and on the odd occasion that I’ll be out in the sun for a while, I use shiseido.
Can somebody tell me what is te shelf life of live-live sunscreen?
Hi Fran, can you tell me which Shiseido sunscreens you use? They have so many different kinds.
Thank you.
Butterfly- The current stock I have lasts until November 2010
Naduoush- Take a look at this article: http://www.highonhealth.org/the-best-sunblock-for-sensitive-and-acne-prone-skin/
Hi Fran,
I am going to give Live-Live a try because with darker skin the “quick absorption” for natural sunscreens is always a major goal. But thus far my long-time favorite natural sunblock is Eco-Lani SPF 25.
http://store.lanisimpson.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1
The list of ingredients is similar to Live-Live’s, but has an AMAZINGLLY delicious fragrance. It is fresh and lovely – I can’t describe it other than to say you don’t want to eat it (i.e. orange) but you want to sniff it. Initially there is a “high sheen”
but this goes away in about 15 minutes. I also use it only occasionally using more sun abstinence like you do (I’m in Canberra), and since I haven’t found a natural faceblock that works as well and smells great, I use this on my face. By the sheen factor I think if I were using it more frequently then I think I might have breakouts, but thus far, no. They use their face moisturizer as the base for all their sunblocks, so perhaps that helps. I haven’t tried any of their other products, but I am tempted since the fragrance is amazing. As I am a California transplant I have my family send it to me, so I’m not sure about their international shipping. Hope you can try it out and share thoughts that might be useful for others.
Thanks!
Just received the Live-Live Natural Sunscreen and will try it out this week alongside Soléo All Natural Sunscreen SPF30+. I’ll share anything “groundbreaking”, but they both seem like great natural brands, and Soléo was developed here in Oz.
Hi Fran!
Quick natural sunscreen trial update:
>> Live-Live Natural Sunscreen:
I fell in love with this as soon as I received the order from you because the smell is so lovely, as you said, and it went on somewhat thickly yet smoothly so I knew that even with a mild sweat it would last. I was so in love, in fact, that despite my better judgment I applied it to my arms in the morning, then dove in and applied to my face in the afternoon. Unfortunately, after a couple of hours I developed a red, itchy rash (arms first, then face)! I was so surprised as it is designed for sensitive skin, and so sad. I don’t know what ingredient triggered the rash, the only new-to-me ingredients being micronized zinc oxide, usnea extract and MSM. But had to pass it on to someone else. So, so sad.
>> Soléo All Natural Sunscreen SPF30+:
Very, very awesome! No rash. No fragrance (neutral). No ashy effect. Water resistant. Organic ingredients. Goes on thinly, but protection is great. Awesome ratings (the highest) for low toxicity on Cosmetics Database. Coral-reef safe. Developed in Australia, and made here as well (although main base and manufacturing is in California). I’m SO happy, because I don’t have to ship my old sunscreen from the US (bad for environment) and this is a definite step up in quality. I encourage you to try it!
Take care!
does it clog your pores? i’ve been looking all summer for a nice face sunscreen that works well and still haven’t found one yet.
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