It’s easy to say, “Apply your sunscreen generously and top it up every couple of hours.” How the heck do you do that when your skin is covered with its own grease?!
Oily skin + sunscreen = tricky relationship.
Go down the mineral sunscreen route and you’re left with a white, oily cast that makes you look like Caspar The Ghost after a workout session. Opt for chemical sunscreen and the high alcohol content will dry out your skin worse than the Sahara.
What’s a girl to do?! It’s not like you can skip sunscreen. Unless you’d be happy to see wrinkles creep up on your face anytime soon…
Enter Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30. It uses the next generation of chemical Uv filters + absorbing agents to keep you safe from UV harm and excess shine. Bonus point, it’s alcohol-free.
What’s In Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30?
CHEMICAL UV FILTERS FOR LIGHTWEIGHT & SAFE SUN PROTECTION
Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30 use a bunch of first and second generation chemical UV filters to keep you safe from UV harm:
- Octocrylene: An UVB filter that helps avobenzone last longer, coat the skin better and make the sunscreen water-resistant.
- Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol: A.k.a. Tinosorb M, an hybrid filter that absorbs, reflects and scatters both UVA and UVB rays. It’s stable and helps protects other UV filters from degradation, too.
- Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane: A.k.a. avobenzone, an UVA filter that’s very unstable (i.e. stops working quickly when exposed to light) on its own. It’s absorbed by the body (and expelled quickly through urine), so it’s not recommended during pregnancy.
There’s this misconception that chemical filters are more dangerous than mineral filters. That’s not true. So how did this myth originate?
Chemical UV filters, like avobenzone, are more likely to cause irritations in sensitive skin. But if your skin isn’t sensitive, and chemical UV filters don’t bother it, why give up on a good thing?
These filters have a lighter texture that leaves no oil slick and no white cast. Take it from a fan of mineral sunscreen. If your skin’s oily, chemical is the way to go.
Related: Is Avobenzone As Dangerous As They Say?
OIL-ABSORBERS TO KEEP SHINE AT BAY
Texture aside, what makes Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30 ideal for oily skin is the addition of oil-suckers:
- Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer: A film former that absorbs excess sebum and give skin a matte finish.
- Silica: A mineral found in sandstone and clay that soaks up excess oil.
This duo soaks up excess oil from your skin, leaving it matte for a few hours. Granted, the effect is only temporary. But hey, you need to reapply sunscreen anyway, right?
Related: Is Silica In Skincare Products Dangerous?
Is your sunscreen up to the job? Download your FREE “Sunscreen Audit” to find out if your sunscreen is both effective AND safe:
Texture
Lightweight texture that’s easy to pile on without turning your face into a greasy mess. Seriously, I don’t even feel I have it on!
Fragrance
Floral and subtle.
How To Use It
It’s the last step of your skincare routine in the morning. Apply it generously and reapply as needed during the day.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30 has a lightweight texture that dries down to a matte finish that helps keep shine at bay for a few hours. How long depends on how shiny your skin is. If your skin’s super oily, you may need the help of a mattifying power. On my slightly oily t-zone, this sunscreen’s all I need.
Summer’s in full swing in London, with some days reaching 30ºC. Feels like being back in Italy sometimes! It’s the perfect weather to test how well the sunscreen fares under intense heat.
I’m happy to say it lives up to its promises. I skip moisturizer and foundation, and use just sunscreen as my base. It does a great job at keeping my skin safe from UV harm. I didn’t get any sunburns, bad tans (FYI, all natural tans are bad tans) or anything like that.
It’s waterproof, so if you sweat a lot, this will keep you safe for around 40 minutes. But you do have to reapply it often to get adequate sun protection.
Even the best sunscreens fail at their job if you apply a thin layer in the morning and don’t touch-up during the day. The tube’s small enough to snugly fit into your bag, so you have no excuses ladies. Reapply your sunscreen!
Who Is This For?
- Oily skin
- Acne-prone skin
- Combination skin
Who Is This NOT For?
Dry skin.
Packaging
A white tube with yellow accents. Sleek and practical.
Does Bioderma Photoderm AKN Mat SPF 30 Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Guarantees a very high UVA/UVB protection. | True. |
| Improves sebum quality and prevents the appearance of blemishes. | True. |
| Provides a long-lasting matifying effect. | True. But the shinier your skin is, the less time it lasts. |
| Activates the skin’s natural defences and protects from risks of cellular damage. | Sunscreens can’t activate skin’s natural defences. But they do protect from the risk of cellular damage by preventing UV rays from hitting your skin. |
| No greasy effect, no white traces – Colourless upon application. | True. |
Price & Availability
Available at: £14.50 at Escentual, Feel Unique and Look Fantastic
Do You Need It?
If you have oily skin, this is a great sunscreen to consider.
Dupes & Alternatives
- EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47Â ($25.00)
- La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60 ($19.99)
Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Octocrylene, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol [Nano], Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, PTFE, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG- 100 Stearate, Tridecyl Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ectoin, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Dodecyl Gallate, C20-22 Alcohols, Decyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum) [BI573]
I am wondering how this compares to Neutrogena Dry-Touch spf 30 sunscreen. How does this one compare to that one or others suited to oily skin?
Geo55, this one has gentler chemical filters that are suitable for sensitive skin, too.
The Tocopheryl Acetate in this product… . Is it naturally sourced? I have a contact allergy to the lab made TA.
Susan, I’m afraid I have no idea. You should contact Bioderma and ask them.
I hope all is well with all of you. I wnat to start by saying, you are doing such a great job. especially for people who are confused about skincare.
So,
After reading and searching a lot, mostly in your blogs and channels. I have put together a skincare routine for myself.
I have to confess, i never really had a skincare routine, mostly moisturizer and sunscreen only. Until recently I had almost no skin issues, and everyone would talk about how good my skin is regardless of all the makeup I use etc etc.
But since March i started getting acne, which left marks behind. So, i started looking into skincare.
I have:
dry skin – always
acne marks on my cheeks – recent
skin dullness – recent
dark circles – they have been there for yrs now.
I am 32 years old, so I need anti aging as well.
So below if my skincare routine and I would love to have your input about it before i go out and buy all of these products.
MORNING:
– Face wash using CeraVe Hydrating face wash
– Toner – Clinique clarifying lotion clarifinate 2
– The ordinary – Vitamin C suspension 23% +HA spheres 2%
– La roche Posy Heal B5 Hyaluronic Acid serum
– Moisturizer – The ordinary moisturizer
– Sunscreen – bioderma spf 100
Evening:
– Makeup remover – Garner Micellar oil infused cleansing water
– Cera Ve hydrating face wash
– Glycolic Acid – The ordinary (once a week) – other days – Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
– La Roche Heal B5 hyaluronic acid serum
– Rose hip oil
Saima, thanks for your kind words, so glad you find my blog helpful.
That’s a great skincare routine, well done! I’d only make two tweaks:
1. NO toner. You don’t need it.
2. Try salicylic acid instead then glycolic. It’s better if you still have acne.