I’ve been overwhelmed with questions about what products I use lately, so I know it’s time to start writing reviews about the products I’ve tried and am currently using.

Know that when I write a review, it’s after I’ve REALLY used the product. This generally means the bottle is empty, or a few bottles of the product are empty.

Today, Im finally ready to write about Paula’s Choice Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+.

As you know it takes at least a month to really see a product’s effects in your skin, and I’ve tried this product for over 6 months.

SPF 30 is the minimum I aim for in sun protection and I bought this product as a sunscreen, while most people use it as a moisturiser.

About The Product

The Paula’s Choice Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+ comes in an awesome tube with a very narrow tube tip. This makes total sense because of the sunscreen’s ultra-light, somewhat runny consistency. The tip allows for very accurate dispensing so that you don’t waste product.

The name of this sunscreen actually describes the product really well, because the consistency is extremely light and fluid. It’s quite literally the lightest sunscreen product I have ever tried.

It is super easy to spread! I would often just apply a few lines of it directly to my face, and then spread it gently with my fingers.

Moreover, it soaks in very beautifully and doesn’t leave a white cast as some sunscreens do. It feels like almost nothing.

The Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+ is described as having a matte finish on the official Paula’s Choice website, and I would say that it’s more matte than other sunscreens I’ve tried, but it isn’t entirely dead matte. I think this is a good thing because it leaves your skin looking normal and healthy.

It can sometimes sting a little upon application, but the key word here is sometimes…Like if I exfoliated my face beforehand or something.

This sunscreen can also ball up on some moisturisers, and this was the most annoying part of it. But if your skin isn’t super dry then you don’t need a moisturiser underneath this product since it’s technically supposed to be a moisturiser.

I just saw this product as a sunscreen from the very beginning and often moisturised underneath for an extra cushion of hydration…but this step is not necessary.

You can ditch your moisturiser and try the Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+ instead to save you a step.

In terms of actual sun protection though…

I put this product to the ultimate test when I used it on my trip to Italy. The result was unwanted tanning and wrinkles!

My face definitely tanned with this suncreen, and I developed some wrinkles on my forehead. 🙁

It wasn’t enough for the mid-summer Italian sun. I would recommend this sunscreen if you aren’t leaving the house, or for spring, fall, winter…Not so much actual summer when the sun is at its most powerful.

Again, this product does not replace a real sunscreen in the summer.

The Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+ is a “chemical” or “synthetic” sunscreen, meaning that the synthetic ingredients actually transform the harmful sun rays into harmless energy, instead of blocking out the sun physically as is the case with mineral sunscreens.

Reviews on the Paula’s Choice website have been very positive, especially from people with acne and rosacea who are in love with this sunscreen. It’s meant for all skin-types, but super sensitive skin-types rave about how light and effective this sunscreen is.

Paula’s Choice does offer some mineral sunscreen options…In fact, their sunscreen selection is pretty huge!

Ingredients

Here’s the official list of ingredients from the Paula’s Choice website for the Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.0%, Octinoxate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 2.0%

Other Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin (skin replenishing), Silica (absorbent), Dimethicone (hydration), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract (chamomile extract/skin-soothing/calms redness), Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (grape extract/antioxidant), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (green tea extract/antioxidant), Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract (green tee extract/antioxidant), Peucedanum Graveolens Extract (dill/antioxidant), Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, (black elderberry extract/antioxidant), Avena Sativa Bran Extract (oat extract/skin-soothing), Punica Granatum Extract (pomegranate extract/antioxidant), Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract (goji fruit/antioxidant), Hydrogenated Lecithin (skin-restoring), Titanium Dioxide (texture-enhancing), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (hydration), Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate (hydration), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (texture-enhancing), Xanthan Gum (texture-enhancing), Sodium Carbomer (texture-enhancing), Benzyl Alcohol (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (stabilizers), Potassium Sorbate (stabilizers), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

It’s actually full of nice antioxidants like green tea and grape, which also add to the quality of this product.

Product Details

• Time Tested: over 6 months
• Colour: White, dries clear
• Consistency & Finish: Ultra-light fluid, very liquid, a little runny, dries to an almost matte finish.
• Spreadability: A+
• Scent: It’s “fragrance-free”, but it still has a slight sunscreen scent
• Comegenicity/Irritability: Can sometimes sting upon application, but this is very slight
• Upon Application: skin feels smooth and hydrated
• Effect: kept my face from burning but I still tanned. It sometimes made my liquid foundation ball up.
• Concerns: Can ball up on top of some moisturisers or under liquid foundation. Needs to be reapplied throughout the day if you’re outside for longer, because you can still tan with this product if you don’t reapply.
• Pro tip: apply my 3 step moisture system underneath to optimise hydration if your skin is on the dry side. Apply sunscreen to your neck and hands too, because these are areas that show signs of aging.
• Notes: Good everyday option, especially if you aren’t outside for too long, but does not replace a real sunscreen in the summer.

• Overall Grade: B+

Final Thoughts

I went through at least 3-4 bottles of the Paula’s Choice Clear Ultra-Light Daily Fluid SPF 30+ and hooked my friends and boyfriend on it too. It’s that invisible and easy to use!

It doesn’t clog pores, but you have to make sure to remove it properly at the end of the day with a good soap-free cleanser — water is simply not enough.

Wearing sunscreen made my skin better and clearer than it was when I didn’t wear sunscreen. I credit this product for really helping my skin heal.

It’s a super good starter sunscreen if your’e afraid that sunscreen will clog your pores or if you’re not used to wearing sunscreen. It’s also an awesome product if you can’t be bothered to apply a moisturiser AND a sunscreen, and can simplify your skincare routine if you’re super low-maintenance.

However, it does NOT replace a real sunscreen in the summer. I would only use this product on days when I’m indoors, on days when it’s cloudy, and maybe during seasons where the sun isn’t very strong.

Otherwise this product is not strong enough to protect you from the real, summer sun and can not replace a real sunscreen with a higher SPF.

Which sunscreen do you like? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,
Olena