Review: Altruist Face Fluid Sunscreen

There was a recent sale on the Altruist Sunscreen on shopee, so I shared about it on Instagram, and it received a lot of positive response. But I also received a lot of questions about texture, because I previously shared that the Altruist Sunscreen has a thicker, more creamy texture, and understandably, that can feel a little off-putting.

Incidentally, I had purchased the Altruist Face Fluid sunscreen in the past, and tried it not too long ago, so I figured that it’s time I shared my thoughts on it.

Altruist Face Fluid Sunscreen SPF50

Altruist, as I have shared in my previous post, is a brand helmed by a dermatologist and an economist who work in skincare. Their mission is to reduce the incidence of skin cancer by making as many people as possible wear sunscreen. To do this, they use high quality ingredients, and keep their prices low.

This is a concept I can firmly stand behind, as it is my personal philosophy that sunscreen is a non-negotiable skincare product for me, and one I use with diligence in generous amounts. This is in contrast to when I hated having sunscreen applied for me as a kid by my Mum who is obviously far-sighted in the use of sunscreen! 😀

The Altruist Face Fluid sunscreen is, as the name suggests, formulated for use on the face. It carries a PPD52 UVA rating, which is very high protection against UVA rays. It also carries an SPF50 rating to protect against UVB rays, and is enriched with Vitamin E and antioxidants to protect skin and keep it moisturised.

The Face Fluid does come in SPF30 and SPF50 rating, but I personally do not use any sunscreen below SPF50, especially in the tropical climate where I live. I just don’t think SPF30 is suitable for use here, but you may read up on it and decide for yourself – I’m not here to dictate what anyone wants to use 😛

Like the Altruist Sunscreen, the Face Fluid is a hybrid formula which means it uses both chemical UV filters and mineral UV blockers.

Lightweight liquid texture

The most marked difference between the Altruist Face Fluid and the Sunscreen is the texture. The Sunscreen has a more creamy texture, while the Face Fluid is a noticeably more liquid texture. It is also fairly lightweight when applied on skin, and seems to absorb more quickly.

For this reason, I’d suggest that if you have oily skin or a combination type skin, you may feel more comfortable with the Altruist Face Fluid. I have dry skin, and I don’t feel uncomfortable with a slightly more greasy feeling on the skin, so I prefer the Altruist Sunscreen tube.

I reckon that as the Face Fluid was formulated for use on the face, they made it light so it would feel more comfortable. Most people prefer a lightweight product on the face, especially if you wear makeup over it.

For me however, I personally found the texture a little too light. If you have noticed the change in my header, I’m embracing catering to the 40’s and up, and one of the problems you face when getting older is that your skin has a tendency to be drier.

Face Fluid is a little too light for those with dry skin

To test the texture, I applied the Face Fluid SPF50 on one half of my face, and the Sunscreen SPF50 on the other half.

I found the Face Fluid to be a little too light for me, and made my skin feel a little dry. By contrast, I love the creamy texture of the Sunscreen, and that side of my face felt more hydrated.

However, if you are used to the texture of a Japanese/Korean sunscreen, then you may prefer how the Face Fluid feels on the skin. The Sunscreen feels more like a moisturiser.

Packaging could be better

Because of the liquid texture, I found that the packaging was a little clumsy. I felt that it should have been designed with a nozzle, so the liquid is a little more controlled when you dispense the product.

As it is, when you flip the top, the product can ooze out, and smear all over the inner lid. This makes it messy and isn’t a very pleasant experience. I have to remember to clean it off before closing the lid, so it doesn’t smear and get gunky.

Protects skin well from the sun and heat

Texturial preferences aside, I did find that the Altruist Face Fluid did just as good a job at protecting my skin from the sun as did the cream. My gauge of a good sunscreen is one that does not result in my skin turning red (burning), or heating up. As I am rather fair-skinned, this happens to me more quickly.

The weather here in the tropics has been horrible lately as well, with temperatures soaring beyond what they used to be, and my current job and lifestyle sees me outdoors more often than before. I found that the Altruist Sunscreen does an amazing job at preventing my skin from burning or even from heating up when I’m outdoors.

The Face Fluid is the same. The texture may not be what I prefer, but it does a similar amazing job at protecting my skin. My skin does not heat up nor burn even after extended sun exposure. At the end of the day, I can return home, sweaty and grimy, but not sunburnt.

I recently went on a trip to Bangkok, where it was extremely hot. We are experiencing a heatwave in this region, and temperatures are hitting 37°C daily. It was brutal! Everywhere I saw tourists with red skin, burnt and overheated from the rising temperatures as we walk about in the sun.

But at the end of the day, when I returned to the hotel, I noticed that my skin was comparatively calm. It was not red, I did not burn, and it did not feel overheated at all. This is as good a testament to the quality of the Altruist sunscreens!

I had the bf use the Face Fluid, as he is put off by thicker textures, and it was gratifying to see that his skin did not burn nor go red from sun exposure either. I did have to nag him about putting on enough product, so that is something to bear in mind.

Use enough sunscreen for best protection

My rule of thumb (or finger) follows the 2-3 finger rule. I use 2-3 finger lengths of sunscreen to cover my whole face, and some on my neck and décolletage area.