On a recent trip to the mountains here in Colorado for the 4th of July holiday, we stopped into Target to grab a higher than 25 SPF since the sun’s rays are so much more intense at that altitude. I grabbed 2 SPF 50 formulas from companies that I knew featured mineral protection from zinc so we could get the safest protection possible for the girls delicate skin. One of them was Pacifica All Mineral Continuous Sunscreen Spray SPF 50.
With this formula, it was love at first spray. The light lotion smelled like the beach (not surprising from Pacifica who is known for their yummy fragrances) and the sunscreen, although white in color, blended in easily and completely leaving behind only a slight slip of moisture just like a body oil would. I couldn’t wait to use it every day, for like, the rest of my life. It was such a relief to find something with this caliber of protection that I liked and could also be good for the girls.
Um, no. In fact, ‘too good to be true’ would be a big fat understatement. This stuff is like spraying on cooking oil and iodine where you just wait for the burn to happen. I literally haven’t had a sunburn in more years than I can count, but with this I did. In fact we all did. Well, maybe not all of us, but those of us who actually used it including my 3 year old, and Mike while Harper and Lola wore another brand (more on that formula later) and had no signs of sun. And yes, I know how to shake a can, apply generously, and re-apply which I did throughout the day. It just didn’t work. Our skin was pink and hot by sunset and I was so mad at myself for trusting something that didn’t remotely look like any sunscreen I’ve ever used.
I dislike giving negative reviews as much as I do the smell of hot garbage, but I can’t allow another family to spray down their kids thinking they’re protecting them when they aren’t. It’s not a lipgloss shade that didn’t work for me, this is important.
The formula is missing from Pacifica’s website and has a ton of negative reviews on Target.com from people who say they’ve also been burned using the spray.
On the bright side, there is a new formula that we found to be mild in whitening, easy to blend, and just $13 that I’ll review soon.
Safer ingredients don’t always mean better ones. Shame on me for not sticking with a company known to produce sunscreens that work.