Sunscreen has been a part of my skincare routine since 2012. Yes, it was the year I started working, thus having my own money to spend on my desired skincare products and one of them is sunscreen. For all of these years, I have only used 3 brands of sunscreen. I’d like to share my experience in using a sunscreen from relatively unheard brand called Like I’m 5.

My encounter with facial sunscreen was the year I started to build my skincare routine. I have heard about the importance of using sunscreen on a daily basis but never really had it figured out, until one day I met my aunt on a holiday. She was like, “Ahh you’re using skincare now. Do you use sunscreen?” I answered no and she went into a panic. “You must wear sunscreen. Look. I have sun spots on my face, it’s the result of years not wearing any sunscreen. It took me a lot of time and money to get them removed!”

The first sunscreen that I use was Clinique Super City Block SPF 40.  I used it for years. It was a mineral sunscreen, the texture was like liquid foundation. I didn’t know if it was slightly tinted or not, the product had a skintone like color. It was a great sunscreen. Too bad it was discontinued. The second sunscreen I used was Innisfree Intensive Long Lasting Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++. It had a bit of white cast but I didn’t mind. I only had one tube of it. When I ran out of the Innisfree sunscreen, I looked for other sunscreen brand alternative.

I wanted a physical/mineral sunscreen, clean product that is save enough to be used by pregnant/nursing women. I am married and planning on pregnancy. I browsed through Sociolla’s website and found a brand called Like I’m 5.

Like I’m 5 is a relatively new Korean brand. It was founded by Korean actress Eugene. She was looking for products that were safe enought to be used by her baby. According to an article I read, all of Like I’m 5 products are EWG certified, paraben-free, mineral oil, coloring, and synthetic scent free. Their products are also hypoallergenic and recommended by Korean Atopy Association. Not only that, Like I’m 5 doesn’t test on animals and their products use environmental friendly packaging. Sounds promising.

The sunscreen has SPF 50 PA++++. A white cream that is easy to spread and absorbs easily. It has a slight white cast, almost unnoticable and I don’t mind. The faint scent of the product reminds me of patchouli. Here is a peek on the sunscreen’s ingredients I took from Inci Decoder’s website (Sorry… I already threw out the box):

Purified Water, Cyclomethicone, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Dibutyl Adipate, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Stearic Acid, Lavender Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pullulan, Octyldodecanol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Cardiospernum Halicacabum Flower/​Vine/​Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (source).

One thing I am impressed about the product that’s unlike other sunscreen I’ve used:

It has a MATTE FINISH!

I have an oily skin, and I layer skincare on my face: toner – essence – serum – moisturizer or sometimes face oil before putting on sunscreen. My skin is pretty much oily from all of the products I use but when I put on the sunscreen, it immediately turns into matte. The sunscreen feels good to be used as a base before make up (whether I am wearing foundation or just loose/compact powder).

Like I’m 5 Mild Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ is a good catch: a clean product with high SPF with nice user experience that is also safe for babies.