ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection Review

ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection

Hi Beauties,

Today, I am again reviewing my most favourite skin care product: a sunscreen. However much I buy sunscreens; I never seem to have enough of them. During my initial days with IMBB, I had reviewed a powder sunscreen from Peter Thomas Roth; which I still use; and is one of my all-time favourites. While browsing the internet, I came across a few more mineral powder sunscreens, which can be used for touch-ups any time of the day. Amongst them, I bought this sunscreen from E.L.F.; mainly because it was the cheapest of them all.

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E.L.F. stands for Eyes Lip Face; and this company mainly aims in providing low cost quality skin care and make up products for the general consumer. Though low cost does not always help in providing very high quality products; but I believe E.L.F has, over the years, maintained a certain level of quality; which is why it is liked by most women throughout the world.

About the ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection

A portable loose powder sunscreen that can be worn alone or over any makeup for key sun protection. Shields against harmful UVA/UVB rays to prevent premature skin aging and sun damage. The soft translucent powder is infused with healthy ingredients such as Aloe Vera Extract, Grape Seed Extract and Vitamins A,C & E to help nourish and soothe the skin. Not tested on animals.

How to use: Apply all over the face and/or body prior to sun exposure for optimal sun protection.
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Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (21.25%), Zinc Oxide (17%)

Inactive Ingredients: Mica , Silica , Talc , Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163) , Boron Nitrate , Aluminum Hydroxide , RetinylPalmitate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Magnesium AscorbylPalmitate , Sodium Dehydroacetate , Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) , Manganese Violet (CI 77492) , Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract

Price: 6 USD for 10g product

My experience with ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection:

The product comes in a black color packaging, which looks simple but quite attractive; and contains all the details of the product. Inside, it contains a square shaped, black color, tough plastic container; which is attractive to look at and quite sturdy. The lid has to be twisted anti-clockwise so as to open the container. The “black box” contains a white color applicator puff on the top; underneath which is a sifter having a plastic covering. Underneath is the mineral sunscreen powder.
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The sunscreen powder is very finely milled and peachy pink in color. I would have preferred it to be completely translucent, but it is not; it is a tinted powder. The plastic covering has to be removed, so that the powder comes out of the sifter. The powder can be taken into the lid, and applied over the face using the puff provided.

However, I find the puff applicator extremely ordinary; and very difficult to achieve an even application of the powder on the face. It is better to use the powder with a kabuki brush. However, the large size of the box along with the kabuki brush is extremely cumbersome to carry along every day in my purse, and also very cumbersome to use. So I hit upon another idea of using the sunscreen. I have the Clinique blended face powder with brush; and the brush was lying alone since I never ever used it. So I put the sunscreen powder into the brush; and I carry just the loaded brush in my purse; so that I can use it easily on the go.

Now regarding the sunscreen powder. The powder, as I said, has a peachy-pink color; which will not blend very well with yellow undertone of skin. My skin tone is around NC 30-35; with yellow undertones. On application, it just about blends with my skin, without looking ashy. But anyone having skin tone more than NC 35; will get a very white and ashy look on their face; unless you blend it very well. You may mix it with a bit of loose powder matching your skin tone; and then use this sunscreen; so that it does not look very ashy on your face. Frequent application of this sunscreen may even give you a chalky look, since it contains talc as one of its ingredient.
It is not mentioned anywhere how much of the powder is to be applied to protect your skin from the sun. However, I just brush the powder lightly over my face every hourly; and it has given excellent sun protection to my face. I have never had any episode of sun burn or tanning at all. E.L.F claims that it can be used as your basic sunscreen and also for touch-ups; but I use a good sunscreen or sunscreens based BB/CC cream on my face first thing in the morning; and use this product mainly for touch-ups.

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This product gives me a matte look, and takes away the shine from my T-zone in these hot and humid months. It actually does blur out my pores a bit. It has never broken me out; and provides an extremely high level and good quality sun protection.

Pros of ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection

• Inexpensive
• Contains very finely milled powder
• Packaging is sturdy
• Provides good quality sun protection of SPF 45
• Excellent for fair to medium complexions with pink undertone
• Has not broken me out
• Provides a matte look to the face
• Blurs out the pores a bit
• E.L.F is against animal testing
• Contains some really good ingredients
• Good for touch-ups throughout the day; even on top of your makeup

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Cons of ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection

• Packaging is bulky
• Applicator puff is not of much use
• Application out of the tub is cumbersome
• Powder is tinted, peachy- pink in color; hence may not suit all skin tones
• May cause an ashy and chalky look to your face due to presence of talc in it.

IMBB rating: 3.8/5

Will I repurchase ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection?

No. Although it is less pricey compared to some other brands, I am in love with my Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45. This one provides a chalky look, unless blended very well. Also the packaging is bulky and may not be easy to carry in your purse every day. The quality of sun protection is excellent; but the chalkiness and bulkiness of the product really puts me off.

ELF Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Review
Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 Review
L’Oreal Paris UV Perfect Longlasting UVA/ UVB Protector SPF 50
Jovees Sunscreen SPF 30 and SPF 45 Review
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ELF Studio Lip Primer and Plumper
ELF Eye Widener
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IMBB RECOMMENDS

13 thoughts on “ELF Studio SPF 45 UVA/UVB Protection Review

    1. Thnx lisha… Yeah… This becomes very easy to reapply while on the go… But would recommend it mainly for reapplication….i believe better to use a proper sunscreen lotion as ur primary sunscreen

    1. Anshulika… U must must try powder sunscreens…. I personally prefer the peter thomas roth one which I have also reviewed…. And sunscreen has to be applied every two hourly… But with make up on ur face… How r u gonna achieve that… By using powder sunscreens…. U must try it dear… U will definitely love it

  1. Doc, sunscreen with mineral ingredients, then again it is a mattifying powder, i think this is worth a try for the price, great review, very elaborate…

  2. Excellent review, Arpita! This sounds like a perfect product for touch-ups. It is not always practical to reapply cream sunscreen every few hours if you are wearing other makeup on top of it! This seems to be the perfect solution for both mattifying and sun protection! Surely getting this. Thanks for the review! 🙂

  3. Thnx padma…. This is “THE ONE” u must carey diring travels… Sunscreens tend to wear off after 2-3 hrs…. Then what…. This is where these powder mineral sunscreens come in hand

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