The Sunscreen Project, Part 19

Here we go again!

This sunscreen is actually an eye cream, per se, but of course I'm going to review it because it has that UV protection factor!

Anyway, for those who don't know or are just new to this series, The Sunscreen Project is a series of posts I've been doing while trying out different sunscreens. I'm looking for an optimal product that will give me the following:

Good UVB protection (SPF 30 and above)
Good UVA protection (Has ZnO, TiO2, or avobenzone)
Preferrably a physical sunscreen (with ZnO or TiO2 rather than avobenzone, homosalate, etc)
Not greasy, or overly emollient
Doesn't smear or drip into my eyes
Lasts awhile
Doesn't make me break out
Affordable price

Anyway, when it gets down to that, there are a lot of things I'd like to get out of a sunscreen. Hence I've been trying a bunch.

Thus, this next one, an eye cream, is Murad's Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 PA++.

Ingredients list, according to Murad's website:

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3.0%), Homosalate (4.0%), Octisalate (5.0%)

Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Rice Amino Acids, Zinc Aspartate, Ascorbic Acid, Chitosan, Propyl Gallate, Retinol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Caffeine, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Proline, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Polyester-8, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)

A cursory glance at the ingredients list shows that the product has UVA and UVB protecting agents, as well as cool things like retinyls, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), amino acids, caffeine, sodium lactate, and fatty triglycerides. I'm not sure how big of a percentage they make on the composition of the product but they're there all right.

I got a nice sample of this at Sephora and have been using it for the past 1.5 weeks. Here's what I've found so far:

Pros:

Feels very smooth and nice
Doesn't make my eyes water
Doesn't feel overly emollient
Didn't make me break out
Does have UVA and UVB protection

Neutrals:

Chemical sunscreen
Is PA++ on UVA rating scale (PA+++ is the best)

Cons:

Is SPF 15 (below FDA recommendation of SPF 30)
Pricey - $67 for 0.5 oz!!!!

In short, while I like this product, I won't be purchasing it again because (1) it's a crazy price, (2) it's a chemical sunscreen, (3) it's SPF 15, and (4) eye creams aren't really that necessary - you can just use a sunscreen instead.

See my sources for the topic of if eye creams are necessary:

FutureDerm article 1 - by Natalie Bell

FutureDerm article 2 - by John Su

Paula Begoun - You Don't Need an Eye Cream

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Vanicream SPF 30

Part 3: Solbar Avo SPF 32
Part 4: Pur~lisse Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Part 5: Coppertone Sport SPF 30
Part 6: Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

Part 7: Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF 32
Part 8: Clean & Clear Finishes Oil-Free Pore Perfecting Moisturizer w/ SPF 15