Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Review (best face sunscreen I’ve tried!)

Summer is practically here and I’m so excited for longer, sunnier days. Nicer days mean lots of walks, pool days, and hopefully a beach trip at some point!  But more time outside also means I have to be extra diligent about wearing sunscreen.

I’ve always known that I should wear SPF every day, but I was never super consistent with it. Most sunscreens were too greasy and heavy for daily wear. And when I did findd face products with SPF built in (e.g. moisturizer or foundation), I was always worried that I wasn’t actually getting enough SPF from it. Thankfully, one of my favorite brands launched a face sunscreen a few years ago, and I LOVE it. And since I actually like it, I’m pretty consistent with applying it daily. It’s an extra step to my routine, but it doesn’t bother me one bit. Plus, I’m always proud when I apply it. I’m finally practicing what I preach!

So, what’s my favorite face sunscreen? Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face with SPF 25. A face lotion with SPF was one of the most-requested Beautycounter products for YEARS and I was so happy when they finally launched one.

Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Review

This is different from the other Beautycounter sunscreen products because this is made to go under your makeup for daily wear.

Why I Love It

It’s lightweight and fast-absorbing

It does NOT leave a greasy feeling or feel like it clogs my pores like so many sunscreens. Most mineral sunscreens leave a thick white cast, but this one does not. It blends in perfectly sheer.

Oxybenzone and Octinoxate-free

SO many sunscreens on the market contain ingredients that aren’t safe, but this one uses zinc oxide as its active ingredient, which works by reflecting the sun’s rays off of your skin as a physical barrier. Much, much healthier for you! Because Daily Sheer is Oxybenzone and Octinoxate-free, it’s also a great option if you’re pregnant.

Protects from the sun and electronics

All Beautycounter Countersun products provide protection from UVA and UVB, and all of them are oxybenzone-free, octinoxate-free and reef-friendly. But this one also provides protection from HEV blue light rays. These rays come from the sun and from electronics. Considering I spend a good chunk of my life in front of my computer and/or phone (hey, it’s part of my job!), that’s important to me.

Works well under makeup

Daily Sheer Defense is designed to be worn under makeup. It’s super thin, lightweight, SHEER, and smooth. I was a Dew Skin fanatic for YEARS before I transitioned into wearing a more full coverage foundation (Skin Twin). Part of the reason I loved Dew Skin so much was because it provided SPF, and it blended so smoothly. But since Skin Twin doesn’t have SPF, I always had to layer Dew Skin or another SPF underneath… and other zinc oxide based sunscreens often left a cast. Not. Great. This one blends quickly and easily. See? It actually leaves my skin looking brighter and more illuminated when I wear it under my makeup…similar to a primer!

More Affordable

One of the other face sunscreens I liked was this Cosmedix spray but it was really hard to track down. It also isn’t water or sweat resistant which meant it didn’t work well for running or hiking. And I do a lot of those activities! Plus, it costs over $60! Other face SPF products I tried were still $40+ and used oxybenzone.

While the new Daily Sheer Defense is not cheap at $46, it’s certainly more affordable. (My consultant discount helps too!) I use two pumps for my face, neck and décolletage. I use it daily and it lasts 3-4 months, I think? But I should write the date on my next bottle to track how long!

Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Ingredients

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is a physical, mineral-based sun protection technology that works by reflecting UV rays. (Beautycounter never uses chemical sunscreen like oxybenzone found in most traditional sunscreens.)

Chicory Root Extract supports skin’s barrier function to lock in hydration.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol) provides powerful antioxidant benefits that defend against environmental stressors to keep skin healthy looking.

Squalane is derived from olives, and draws moisture into the skin, leaving it happily hydrated.

And like all Beautycounter products, the face sunscreen was tested for safety with special attention to how ingredients may impact vulnerable groups, like pregnant or nursing women.

How to use the Countersun face sunscreen

This doesn’t replace your regular moisturizer. It layers over your regular moisturizer in your regimen, whether that’s from another skincare brand or one of the Beautycounter skincare lines – Counterstart, Countermatch, Countertime or CounterControl. (I use Countertime for most of my skincare routine.) If you’re not sure what skincare line is best for you, fill this out and I’ll email you some recommendations.

An example regimen, if you’re using all the Beautycounter bells and whistles, would look like this, listed in the order of application:

AM: Cleanse, Tone, Regular Serum, Vitamin C Serum, Eye Cream, Moisturizer, Sheer Daily Defense Sunscreen
PM: Cleanse, Tone, Overnight Peel OR Regular Serum, Eye Cream, Moisturizer

I put two pumps into my hand (the length of two fingers is the right amount), blend it into my skin and typically wait about 60 seconds before applying my foundation. I use my fingers to apply the sunscreen and a beauty blender to apply the foundation.

This is the perfect addition to your skincare routine if you like to wear full coverage makeup but need an SPF of some sort. Or, if you don’t wear any coverage (e.g. tinted moisturizer or foundation) and just need SPF, it’s a great option. Since it blends seamlessly and doesn’t leave the cast that a lot of mineral sunscreen does, you could wear this without anything else. It gives you a gorgeous glow.

If you want to get other sunscreen while you’re at it, you can see all of them here. I particularly like the sunscreen stick for the pool days. Read about all of the Countersun options right here.

The photos below were from the first time I took pictures of the sunscreen — I was pregnant!

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