Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector: The Ultimate in Anti-Aging

Exuviance is one of my fave skincare brands. After both my better half and I each having our own separate platinum memberships for years at Ulta, I’m very familiar with the line. So, when I found out Exuviance was sending me their Sheer Daily Protector, I literally let out a yelp- I was THAT excited!

Exuviance, by NeoStrata, came about due to the research of Dr. Eugene J. Van Scott, a dermatologist, and Dr. Ruey J. Yu, a dermatopharmacologist. The doctors had a shared interest in diseases of the skin, and began working together at Temple University in 1966. Drs. Van Scott and Yu were the first to patent alphahydroxy acids, and licensed the anti-aging AHAs to companies such as Avon, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Chesebrough Ponds, L’Oreal, Medecis, Pfizer, Aventis, and many more. Subsequent research led to even further discoveries and treatments (NeoStrata, 2016).

The scientific research of the brand is what truly sets Exuviance apart from many others. So many brands rely on consumer feedback in their marketing. How many times have you seen a product description say something like, “94% of test subjects thought their skin looked smoother”? Not Exuviance– their results are based off of actual scientific, clinical research. What does this mean? It means their results are proven- not just a matter of opinion!

If you’ve been following this blog, you already know how much I preach about sun protection. Yes, you need to protect your skin all year long, even in the winter! Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector is a weightless fluid with a broad spectrum SPF of 50, which is well above the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommended gold standard of 30 (American Academy of Dermatology, 2015). Sheer Daily Protector purportedly blends effortlessly on clean skin or layered under makeup. The mineral-based formula is a virtually invisible universal tint that helps smooth imperfections and make the skin tone appear more even (NeoStrata, 2016).

But, Exuviance didn’t stop with just sun protection; the formula is packed with superstar anti-aging ingredients! Vitamin E and lactobionic acid help protect against free radicals and environmental stressors that cause premature aging; a PHA/Bionic complex helps maintain firmness by preventing collagen breakdown; and a concentrated, highly purified form of green tea extract helps protect cellular DNA for healthy skin (NeoStrata, 2016).

In addition to the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for sun protection, one of my favorite ingredients in the Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector is the lactobionic acid. Lactobionic acid is a polyhydroxy acid, one of the new class of alphahydroxy acids (Grimes, et al., 2004). If you find this a bit confusing, think about it like this- an apple is a fruit, a fruit is a food; so, lactobionic acid is a polyhydroxy acid, a polyhydroxy acid is an alphahydroxy acid. Make sense?

The great thing about polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) is that they provide benefits similar to other AHAs, but with less irritation. PHAs provide additional moisture as well as possess antioxidant and humectant properties. To top it off, they’re a great option for those with sensitivities such as atopic dermatitis or rosacea, and can be used following cosmetic procedures (NeoStrata, 2016). In other words, Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector packs a hefty anti-aging punch, without the irritation of some other formulas.

So, you get the benefits of some stellar anti-aging actives, along with protection from further damage and aging. Yes, please, sign me up! Now, how did the Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector perform?

You need to shake the bottle for about 15 seconds prior to using in order to ensure that it’s fully blended. It has a thick, liquid texture, and a slight medicinal natural scent that dissipates quickly. The light beige-taupe tint is purported to be universal, and I think that’s probably true for most. I’m an Eskimo with medium-toned skin, and it blends perfectly. Jerry is very light-skinned, and I put some on him, too, and it worked very well.

Mineral sunscreens with high SPF are often difficult to spread onto the skin. They tend to be very thick, and can result in greasiness, especially when combined with other products. However, with the liquid consistency, the Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector was a bit easier to spread than most.  It absorbed quickly, and thanks to the slight tint, it didn’t leave any white cast from the minerals.

Since we were home all day, I put makeup on half of my face, and left the other half with just the Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector. It wore very well both ways- it felt very light and my skin never got greasy. My skin felt soft and smooth, and despite the high SPF, it never felt heavy or suffocated; once it absorbed, I couldn’t even tell I had it on. It didn’t interfere with my makeup, either- no oxidation, no dry or oily patches, etc. While it didn’t seem to make my makeup last any longer, it did make my skin smoother like a primer does.

If you’re looking for sun protection with a high SPF that is light weight, doesn’t leave a white cast, wears well with or without makeup, and has proven effective anti-aging ingredients, Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector is the one to get! When I run out, I’ll most likely repurchase!

Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector retails for $42.00 for 1.7 oz. It’s available at www.exuviance.com.

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology (2015). How to select a sunscreen. American Academy of Dermatology. Retrieved February 5, 2016, from www.aad.org.

Grimes, P., Green, B., Wildnauer, R., & Edison, B. (2004). The use of polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) in photoaged skin. Cutis, 73(2). Retrieved February 5, 2016, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

NeoStrata (2016). Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector SPF 50. Retrieved February 5, 2016, from www.neostrata.com.