While we are blessed with clear, sunny skies, Malaysia's sky of having fewer clouds actually means less protection from the sun's harsh UV rays. It is therefore imperative that we cover our skin with some good ol' sunscreen.
You might have also heard that we have to re-apply sunscreen for full coverage. That's because non-waterproof formulas will wear thin once you start sweating, which is common thanks to Malaysia's weather with high humidity.
Not too long ago, I made a point to wear sunscreen every day, even when I'm indoors. Not only do I make it a point to protect myself whenever, but is much easier to have my sun protection act as my 'moisturiser' too.
With that, I've had my eyes on Allie's sunscreens for a while due to their raving reviews of providing high protection alongside some of the world's best sunscreens (with actual physical tests done). Until this review, I had not gotten the chance to try them as I only have one face, and I can't have too many items open.
Allie reached out to us for a review of their new Chrono Beauty series which I was happy to do so. The sunscreens under the series are water-based, with both Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide (physical and chemical) sun protection. They are formulated with SPF 50+ PA++++ rating with a reef-safe and waterproof formula.
Allie Sunscreen Review (Chrono Beauty Series)
- Editor Profile
Before we dive in, here are details about my skin type.
Skin type:
- Normal to dry; occasional redness; slightly dull skin
Usual routine:
- Face wash, Toner, Serum, Eye Cream, Moisturiser, Facial Oil, Sunscreen
Current products used:
- Innisfree Blueberry Foam wash
- Hatomugi toner
- Melano CC Essence
- Eshumi Marine Collagen Eye cream
- Etude House Soon Jung moisturiser
- The Hive Rosehip Oil
- 3W Sunscreen
- Complete Allie Sunscreens in Malaysia (Chrono Beauty Series)
Allie states that the whole Chrono Beauty Series is designed to be resistant to water, sweat and friction (labelled "Super Waterproof"), as well as being reef-safe (meaning it shouldn't harm creatures of the ocean). They are also meant to be long-lasting, feel weightless and non-sticky for comfortable all-day wear even as a makeup primer.
Its sun protection capabilities are backed by Allie's ADVAN technology, which is a "UV-barrier technology to protect the deeper layer of skin from damage". Aside from that, most of the products under the series are free of fragrance and parabens as well as are suitable to be worn under makeup. They are also fortified with beauty essence, with its key moisturising ingredient sodium hyaluronate.
As advised by Allie, all of the sunscreens under this series are recommended to be washed off with a proper facial wash. Bonus: Following the theme of being eco-friendly sunscreens, they come in environmentally-friendly packaging too.
Main
If you're not looking for any extra fluffs and just want a sunscreen that'll do its job, look to the basics under this series (which, are not at all basic).
- Allie Chrono Beauty Gel UV EX: The most generic sunscreen under this series for all skin types. It can be used on both the face and body. The formula is available in either 40g or 90g size.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Facial Gel UV EX: This is like the Beauty Gel UV variant, but is best suited for the face only, especially for sensitive skin users. Comes in a tube size of 60g.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Milk UV EX: Unlike other variants, this formula has a much thinner yet super waterproof consistency for more comfortable wear. The sunscreen is available in a bottle of 60ml.
Tone Up
Dislike your dull skin? Or does your neck and face show a different skin tone? You may want to opt for a tone-up skin. Note that the sunscreens under these series have fragrances in them and are not as skin-friendly for sensitive skin users (see "Wear Test" for more info).
All of the tone-up sunscreens come in a tube size of 60g.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Tone Up UV 01 (Bright Shower): Its gel formula contains "bright pearls" to deliver a "translucent, bright and lustrous" finish. This variant is recommended for a "fresh" look and has the scent of jasmine and white peach. Note that this doesn't say it is free of parabens.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Tone Up UV 02 (Rose Chaire): This variant has bright pearls too, but is designed to enhance the skin tone for a bright and healthy, glowing complexion, resulting in a rosy complexion. It has the scent of fruits rose and geranium.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Tone Up UV 03 (Sheer Ecru): If the Rose Chaire is meant to give a rosy complexion, this one is like a tinted sunscreen. It utilises "bright multi-coloured pearls" and works to cover uneven skin tone for a long-lasting bare skin look.
Color Tuning
If you want to skip heavy foundation and prefer colour-correcting creams, these sunscreens might be up your alley (pun intended). Aside from doing colour correction, the sunscreens also aid in brightening the skin minimally.
Unlike the other two sub-series, the Color Tuning sunscreens come in the smallest tubes of 40g and are best to be removed with makeup remover. However, they have better friction-proof power as well as sebum-blur technology, making them the most ideal option for a makeup base.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Color Tuning UV 01 (Ennui Purple): If your skin is dull and generally yellow with sallow skin, this purple base works to rid them. The formula has a Hydrangeas and Sage scent.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Color Tuning UV 02 (Sunny Apricot): Got some hint of redness or unwanted shadows? The Sunny Apricot variant blurs out dark circles and pores with its apricot-pink tone-correcting effects. Not surprisingly, it has an Apricot and Osmanthus scent.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Color Tuning UV 03 (Sheer Beige): For generic uneven skin tone and patch correction, this should be your pick, working to blur away uneven patches as well as pores. This variant has a Citrus Wood and Patchouli scent.
- Wear Test (With Pictures)
According to my profile, I had picked the following three to test on my skin in a week. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with their wear test. Upon wearing them, my first impression was that they were really waterproof, as I had to use body soap to get rid of them from my skin. All of them were also truly weightless and friction-proof; I could easily get at least 8 hours of wear (indoors at a cool temperature).
What also surprised me was that despite their different functions, they were all easy to blend. There were minimal white casts and hardly any transfers happening between my face and my masks.
More details:
- Allie Chrono Beauty Milk UV EX - I had initially tried the UV Facial Gel variant, which seemed slightly drier to me than this one. Being curious due to its different texture, I was a little intimidated by its very opaque white liquid form. Thankfully, it blended easily, though I went up one shade brighter. I would avoid this variant if I don't want my face to look "brighter".
- Allie Chrono Beauty Tone Up UV 02 (Rose Chaire) - This would be my go-to out of the entire series. It's very natural looking and added a slightly pink tone to my otherwise neutral skin tone. The tone-up effect was also much more natural and subtle than the Milk UV for me.
- Allie Chrono Beauty Color Tuning UV 02 (Sunny Apricot) - I was actually most excited to try this variant due to the fact that it is said to help blur out dark eye circles. Unfortunately, it did not really meet my expectations, although I understand why this was advertised as so. This formula helped to tone down any redness, and I can imagine it would help to lessen the look of really heavy eye bags (not dark circles).
Sensitivity Issue
Regarding the "Tone-Up Series" sensitivity issue; I had initially tried on the Bright Shower variant, only to notice that I was experiencing a slight sting feeling on my skin. There might have been an issue between the formula and my Melano CC essence which has concentrated vitamin C in it. Overall, still not recommended for sensitive skin users.
Wear Test - Images
- Conclusion
- Our rating: 8/10
- Pros: Very waterproof; Transfer-proof; Long-wearing; Weightless feel; Easy-to-blend; Wears well under makeup; Eco-friendly formula
- Cons: You might experience a bit of white cast if you're darker in skin tone; Not 100% friendly for sensitive-skin users; Has alcohol (not as comfortable for dry skin users)
- Who is it for? All Malaysians who sweat a lot, or just need to go out under the sun should give this series a go. While their tone-up and colour-correcting effects are on the minimal side, they do wear well under makeup, at least in our test (concealer + tinted finish powder).
Overall, I am pleased with the series, having proved what they have claimed. While it is a bummer that the sunscreen formula isn't labelled or assured as friendly for sensitive skin users, I think the series' benefits outweigh the cons.
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