Do They Work? – Lovely With Brains

Final Up to date on December 18, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Look, I’ve been burned by sufficient “pure” sunscreens to have belief points. You recognize the kind: they promise reef-friendly safety and depart you wanting such as you robbed a bakery and face-planted into the flour bin. Or they really feel so greasy you would fry an egg in your brow. On this MyChelle sunscreen overview, we’ll see in the event that they’re any completely different. They’re promising broad-spectrum safety, reef-friendly formulation, and a few magical “nourishment” that works for all pores and skin varieties. Do they defend your pores and skin with out turning you right into a ghost? Do they really feel first rate or do they tablet up like low cost material? And most significantly, is MyChelle merchandise value your cash or do you have to save your money for one thing that truly works? Let’s dig in.

MyCHELLE Solar Protect Liquid SPF 50 Non-Tinted ($27.99)

That is their flagship liquid sunscreen and truthfully, it’s a blended bag that basically is determined by your pores and skin kind. The feel is light-weight and it really absorbs with out sitting on high of your pores and skin like a moist blanket, which is uncommon for a 100% zinc oxide method at 20.5% focus. It dries all the way down to a genuinely matte end, which is nice in case you’re oily or mixture, however in case you’re dry you may really feel like your face is being slowly mummified. The method makes use of safflower oleosomes because the supply system which helps it unfold higher than most mineral sunscreens, and there’s raspberry seed oil in there for some antioxidant motion. It will probably tablet in case you layer an excessive amount of skincare beneath it, and whereas it’s speculated to be non-tinted, it could actually depart a slight solid on deeper pores and skin tones. It’s water resistant however not waterproof, so in case you’re sweating buckets you’ll have to reapply. For $27.99, it’s first rate in case your pores and skin tolerates it, however I’d seize a pattern first earlier than committing.

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 20.5%
Advantages: Broad-spectrum SPF, matte end, absorbs comparatively rapidly for mineral sunscreen, reef-safe
Cons: Can tablet with different merchandise, probably drying on dry pores and skin, slight white solid potential, love-it-or-hate-it method
Finest For: Oily to mixture pores and skin
Perfume-Free: Sure

MyCHELLE Solar Protect Stick SPF 50 ($14.99)

When you want touch-ups on the go otherwise you’re coping with youngsters who gained’t sit nonetheless, this stick is definitely fairly handy. It’s bought 17% zinc oxide so that you’re getting strong safety, and it’s water resistant for 80 minutes which suggests it’ll survive your sweaty commute or pool time. The method glides on easily as a result of it’s filled with emollient oils (avocado, jojoba, shea butter, cocoa butter) which makes it moisturizing but in addition means it’s not going to dry down utterly matte. In case your pores and skin is oily, this will really feel waxy or heavy, such as you’re carrying an precise protect on their face. It makes use of beeswax as the bottom so it’s not vegan, and whereas it says it “dries clear,” you’ll have to mix it in otherwise you’ll have seen streaks. The value is correct at $14.99 and the dimensions is TSA-friendly, however that is actually higher for spot software or physique use than full-face protection except you don’t thoughts the feel.

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 17%
Advantages: Waterproof 80 minutes, moveable, moisturizing oils, reef-safe
Cons: Waxy really feel, sits on high of pores and skin, requires mixing, not vegan (accommodates beeswax), can really feel heavy
Finest For: All pores and skin varieties for spot software; higher for physique than face
Perfume-Free: Sure

MyCHELLE 3-in-1 Tremendous Serum ($28.00)

That is MyChelle’s try at making a tinted serum-meets-SPF hybrid, and it’s really fairly good if you wish to streamline your routine. It’s bought 16.2% zinc oxide which provides you SPF 30 safety, plus hyaluronic acid and squalane for hydration, so theoretically you’re getting sunscreen, serum, and light-weight protection in a single bottle. The feel is extra liquidy than most tinted sunscreens which makes it mix simpler, and it is available in three shades (Mild, Mild/Medium, Medium/Darkish) so that you’ve bought choices. The end is described as “dewy” which suggests in case you’re oily, you’ll in all probability really feel greasy by midday and want powder. The bentonite clay in there’s supposed to soak up extra oil however truthfully, it’s not sufficient to fight the squalane in case your pores and skin is already pumping out sebum. For dry pores and skin although? This might work superbly as a result of it’s genuinely hydrating. The protection is sheer – don’t anticipate this to cowl something main – however it evens out pores and skin tone and provides you that “I wakened like this” glow. 

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 16.2%
Advantages: Combines SPF + hydration + sheer tint, hyaluronic acid and squalane for moisture, light-weight texture, three shade choices
Cons: SPF 30 is decrease than superb, dewy end might be an excessive amount of for shiny pores and skin, sheer protection solely, reapplication messes up make-up
Finest For: Dry to regular pores and skin wanting minimal protection
Perfume-Free: Sure

MyCHELLE Replenishing Photo voltaic Protection Physique Lotion SPF 50 ($32.99)

Lastly, a physique sunscreen that doesn’t really feel such as you’re spreading spackling paste on your self. That is 21% zinc oxide which is beefy safety, and it’s really formulated to really feel extra like a physique lotion than a sunscreen, which is strictly what you need. It’s bought coconut oil and shea butter so it’s moisturizing with out being disgustingly greasy, and it melts into pores and skin fairly properly for a mineral method. The hyaluronic acid helps with hydration and the method is water resistant for 80 minutes. However right here’s the fact verify – at $32.99 for six oz, that is costly for physique sunscreen. You’re supposed to make use of a shot glass value of sunscreen on your entire physique, which suggests this bottle is lasting you possibly 5-6 purposes in case you’re doing it proper. The method itself is strong – no white solid, absorbs decently, doesn’t odor bizarre – however the worth makes this a luxurious merchandise when there are cheaper physique sunscreens that work simply as properly. 

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 21%
Advantages: Excessive SPF 50 safety, moisturizing with coconut oil and shea butter, minimal white solid, water resistant 80 minutes, reef-safe
Cons: Costly ($32.99 for six oz), gained’t final lengthy with correct software, not sensible for normal physique use
Finest For: All pores and skin varieties, higher for face than physique attributable to worth
Perfume-Free: Technically sure (accommodates vanillin which provides scent however isn’t conventional perfume)

MyCHELLE Solar Protect Clear Spray SPF 30 ($21.99)

Spray sunscreens are handy however they’re additionally tough as a result of most individuals don’t apply sufficient and find yourself with patchy safety. This one has 12% zinc oxide which is on the decrease finish – that’s why it’s solely SPF 30 – and it’s water resistant for 80 minutes. The spray mechanism makes it fast to use and it’s bought safflower seed oil and bentonite clay to stability moisture and oil management. However right here’s what you might want to know: you can not spray this immediately in your face. It’s important to spray it into your arms after which apply, which sort of defeats the entire “handy spray” factor. And like all spray sunscreens, you might want to be actually beneficiant and rub it in to be sure to’re getting even protection (and fairly often you’ll miss spots as a result of you’ll be able to’t see the rattling factor!). The method is ok – not sticky, absorbs moderately properly – however the decrease SPF means you’re reapplying extra typically. That is higher as a supplementary sunscreen for reapplication in your physique slightly than your foremost safety. When you’re utilizing it for face software particularly, simply purchase a daily liquid sunscreen and save your self the effort.

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 12%
Advantages: Handy spray software, water resistant 80 minutes, accommodates safflower seed oil for moisture, reef-safe
Cons: Decrease SPF 30, can’t spray immediately on face, requires rubbing in for even protection, will undergo rapidly with correct use
Finest For: Physique reapplication, not superb for main face safety
Perfume-Free: Technically sure (accommodates vanillin for scent)

MyCHELLE Solar Protect SPF 28 Unscented ($25.99)

That is their primary, no-frills day by day face sunscreen and it’s very a lot a “your mileage could fluctuate” state of affairs. It makes use of each zinc oxide (11.6%) and titanium dioxide (0.67%) which provides you broad-spectrum safety, and the SPF 28 is shut sufficient to SPF 30 that it’s wonderful for day by day use. The method has aloe and vitamin E that are soothing, and it’s genuinely unscented – no important oils, no perfume, nothing. It absorbs rapidly and dries matte which is nice for shiny pores and skin, however that is the place the issues begin. It drugs, particularly across the nostril and mouth, and it may be drying in case your pores and skin isn’t correctly moisturized beneath. It’s additionally finicky about layering – in case you put an excessive amount of skincare beneath, it turns right into a flaky mess. When you put on make-up over it, it could actually look cakey. On the flip facet, in case your pores and skin is oily and you retain your routine minimal, this may work completely wonderful.

Lively Substances: Zinc Oxide 11.6%, Titanium Dioxide 0.67%
Advantages: Really unscented, fast absorption, matte end, accommodates soothing aloe and vitamin E, reef-safe
Cons: Capsules on many individuals (particularly round nostril/mouth), might be drying, troublesome to layer with different merchandise, make-up can look cakey over it
Finest For: Oily pores and skin with minimal skincare routine
Perfume-Free: Sure

Availability

Accessible at Mychelle

The Backside Line

Right here’s the cope with MyChelle – they’re legitimately reef-safe and clear, however “pure” doesn’t imply “works for everybody.” Mineral sunscreens are simply tougher to formulate properly. Zinc oxide needs to take a seat in your pores and skin and depart a white solid, and when manufacturers attempt to repair that, they create new issues like pilling or greasiness. MyChelle does a good job contemplating these limitations, however you might want to know your pores and skin kind earlier than shopping for. Oily pores and skin? Some formulation will work nice. Dry pores and skin? Others will really feel like sandpaper. The pricing is in all places too – some are cheap, others really feel costly for how briskly you’ll undergo them. When you’re dedicated to mineral sunscreens and prepared to experiment, MyChelle is value making an attempt. Simply seize samples when potential and be ready for trial and error. Your pores and skin may love them, otherwise you may rage-quit mineral sunscreen fully.