Welcome to Beauty Finds! This editions features Mimitika Lait Solaire Suncreen Lotion in SPF50 both in the new and older formula. The newer formula was released late last summer 2021.
I prefer reef friendly mineral sunscreens however all that I’ve tired have left my skin so dry it hurts to move regardless of how much sunflower seed oil they contain. I’ve noticed most mineral sunscreen have sunflower seed oil to counteract the zinc oxide from drying out the skin too much. Some were difficult to apply as they just didn’t extend out no matter how much I tried. Others left me either pink or white after swimming in blotchy patches where I applied them depending on the products colour. Most felt so nasty on, heavy, greasy. Others I couldn’t even remove! Even with soap, exfoliation, just sitting there drying out my skin more. Freshly Cosmetics body sunscreen dried my skin out so much it was painful to move as I just couldn’t remove it. It took my skin about 2 months to return to normal. That left me with the only option of chemical sunscreens and they’re the ones that are more less clean ingredients, more crap ingredients, reef unfriendly. A visit to Sephora España summer 2020, I discovered Mimitika which saved the day! Skip a paragraph for the review or read on for my Beauty Finds requirements.
I have a few requirements when it comes to beauty products: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products containing palm or coconut oil I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….
Mimitike Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
The essential for sunny days. Sun Milk SPF50 will make you forget that you are putting on sunscreen: a light and fluid texture that allows quick application. No white traces or greasy films. The skin is soft and hydrated.
I have a confession. I only really trust French sunscreens. I’m not sure why. Maybe as they just seem to get sunscreens. Most however are brands previously tested on animals so that’s a no. My view is if you didn’t care about being cruelty free until the law said so, I’m not buying your brand even if you’re cruelty free now. They also contain ingredients I’d prefer not to use. Minitika in Sephora was too good to be true. A quick google research revealed they’re cruelty free, care about the environment, vegan, yet I was still a bit doubtful if they were reef friendly as everything was in French (more on that later). The price also put me off a little. On average from most places that sell it in Europe it’s around €20 for 190ml. To be honest I’m still not sure however take their word as their products do not contain either oxybenzone or octocrylene the 2 major reef unfriendly ingredients. Even finding incidecoder.com report by chance on the ingredients I’m still not sure!
Okay, the review finally. The best I’ve found so far! I haven’t burned using it even on holiday in Andalusia last year in probably the hottest heat I’ve ever encountered. Well I have burnt but that was because I spent too long snorkelling, forgot the time and missed a spot. I’m not the palest English/British skin, I’m more freckly fair pale. I can burn within 45 minutes so I have to apply sunscreen everywhere in the summer even for a quick run I have to apply it. Behind my ears, toes, soles of my feet on the beach and reapply! Mimitika recommend reapplying after 80 minutes however fair pale me if I’m at the beach every 20 minutes and after swimming as soon as dry or 70% dry.
Ingredients: As taken from Mimitika.com. The label lists differently on both formulas 🤷♀️
Aqua (Water), Dibutyl Adipate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis- Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Silica, Glycerin, Perfume (Fragrance), Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sodium Phytate, Magnesium Sulfate.
The sunscreens: Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis- Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate,
It doesn’t feel greasy or like I’m wearing sunscreen. It’s great too for running, working out outdoors or any outdoor sports as it doesn’t run. Pun intended. It doesn’t turn white clothes yellow and it’s scent isn’t traditional sunscreen scented or overpowering. A tiny bit coconuty but not too much that it makes you feel nausea. Neither does it leave a white layer as it’s not mineral. It’s super lightweight and the red algae helps out a pale girl. It does boost melanin production! Although I am a little hmm if this is good for me. I always say it takes all summer for me to get a tan that it takes one week for a Spanish person. I’ve been running in shorts for most of April and while it’s not super hot I’m getting freckly everywhere already (just from the balcony putting out washing or from cycling with jacket sleeves rolled up sans sunscreen) so I apply sunscreen even in 15C. Not all over like in the summer hehehe. I could see my pale shorts tan line after one run! With other sunscreens I’m pale until July. I am however still pale AF and the line’s faint.
No sunscreen is perfect however. At the end of the day it does feel urgh and needs to be showered off. I can’t explain it. It’s not drying yet I can feel it on and it’s annoying me. If I applied it earlier in the day and then workout in leggings it feels nasty. Like my skin can’t breathe. It also marks the inside of the black leggings.
Another con is Mimitika’s own website. Sometimes a girl wants to do further research not relying on the vendors blurb. All social media is in French (Thank you Google Translate!). As I mentioned in a previous French brand review I don’t expect the social media to be in English however when you’re an international brand it helps. You can always have a French Instagram page and an International English Instagram page. Quite a few Spanish brands do this.
The difference between the 2 formulas. To be honest there isn’t really any different between the older version and new version with regards to protection against the sun. The older lotion is pale pale milky tea in colour and the new one is a yellow beige almost mashed banana colour from the added ingredient of bananas to help skin stay hydrated more. It does feel a little nicer on the skin yet is more runnier. Thankfully it doesn’t smell heavily of bananas as I can’t stand the smell of bananas. This was my concern when I saw it had bananas in. I was no please, I’ve only just found a sunscreen I like! The scent is stronger than the older version and as mentioned earlier coconuty. Each bottle lasts me around 2 weeks applied as a body lotion (just remember to apply body lotion underneath too!), running and touch ups after swimming so it’s not cheap. It’s on average €60 a month in the summer just on sunscreen! The pump works quite well until about 3/4 through. It’s easy to unscrew the top and apply without the the pump. Toward the end of each bottle I decant into a newer one by leaving it for a few hours. Nearly all the lotion decants and I can make 3 bottles stretch just over a month.
Would I recommend? For sure! Be sure to shop around having a few stockists on hand as it can sell out fast online! Shopping direct from Mimitika it is a little more expensive however there are many online retailers that stock it for cheaper with cheaper shipping costs if bulk buy. I got lucky with stock in store in Sephora until the end of last summer when had to buy it online and discovered how quickly it sells out.
Sephora.es currently on sale as it’s the older formula. Leave some for me!
If you know of a good reef friendly, cruelty free mineral, chemical sunscreen or a mix of the both please share in the comments below! I’m always looking to try them out and to be honest I would prefer a mineral sunscreen as I get concerned about the chemical ingredients, my skin and insides! Thank you for stopping by!