Crystal Clear Protect and Repair

RRP: £35 (100ml)

--What does the promo say?--
"Sunscreen is the key to great skin care success at every age. Tinosorb is the highly effective ingredient in Protect & Repair, working in four ways: micro fine particles reflect and scatter the light; photo-stable organic molecules absorb the UV and minimise the risk of radiation damage in the skin; Vitamin E offers excellent anti-oxidant properties; and lupine extract and thermus thermophilis prevent sunburn, dehydration and ageing. Use the power of science to protect yourself from the sun with this sophisticated anti-ageing product.


* Anti-Ageing
* Reduces wrinkles
* Tones and hydrates
* Boosts collagen production
* Suitable for all skin types"

--Packaging--
There is a nice contrast between the predominantly black box (with silver decoration) and the white tube (with black decoration). The screw top is easy enough to operate and the semi-rigidity of the tube makes dispensation of the product easy to control; the only flaw, perhapd, is the slight ridge running around the edge of the tube opening, meaning that some product collects there and is wasted.

--Application--
After moisturising, smear this onto your face every day (even in winter). More is needed than it might initially appear, so don't be afraid to be liberal with it.

--Scent--
Lemony. Nothing like the traditional suncream smell at all.

--Texture/consistency--
Reminiscent of egg whites that have been beaten for a very long time, this stiff white lotion is not too sticky, absorbs extremely well, and is definitely not greasy. No residue is detectable on the skin after application.

--Appearance--
The white lotion rubs in clear, and while there is some shine effect after application, it is not as pronounced as it is with some suncreams.

--Effects on the skin--
It doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts, which is always a plus for a sunscreen. For this reason alone, I'd be happy to use it all year round, and the high SPF provides more than ample protection for hotter summer weather too. So I get the 'protect' pârt. As for the "repair"...I'm not really sure what this product is meant to repair. It's well-known that you can't get rid of already-existing wrinkles (you can only prevent future ones). Tones and hydrates? Possible. Boosts collagen production? You'd presumably need to use it for a really long time (many years) to be sure of this.

--Value for money--
While this is a nice enough sunscreen that protects your skin from damage by UV rays and which doesn't cause breakouts of leave you looking too shiny, I'm still not sure that I would pay £35 for it - the concept of protecting AND repairing is just a little too vague and unsubstantiated for me.

perfect partners

Crystal Clear Wipe Away The Years, £27
Crystal Clear Revitalising Tonic, from £20
Crystal Clear Polish, £32