I slapped this on at 8am. By 2pm, my T-zone wasn’t a slip-n-slide. That never happens.
Most SPFs for oily skin feel like paste. This one? It’s watery. Stupidly watery. Like putting nothing on your face — but with SPF50+. The shock is real.
It’s Skin1004‘s Hyalu-CICA Sun Serum — a sunscreen that calls itself a serum because it’s that thin. $18 for 50ml. I tried it because I’m tired of SPF that feels like a second skin I didn’t order.
Serum texture
It’s runny. Almost like a toner. You’ll think you didn’t apply enough — you did.
Zero white cast
No zombies here. Even on my medium-tan skin, it disappears in 10 seconds flat.
No fragrance
Smells like nothing. Which is exactly what oily, reactive skin wants.
Photo: CHUTTERSNAP / Unsplash
Two heavy hitters: hyaluronic acid for hydration that doesn’t clog, and cica (centella) to calm the redness oily skin loves to throw at you. No silicones, no alcohol — unusual for a matte-finish SPF.
- Hyaluronic Acid: pulls moisture in without oil
- Centella Asiatica: anti-inflammatory, keeps breakouts quiet
- Niacinamide: controls sebum over time
- Zinc Oxide: mineral UV filter, sits on top of skin
Photo: Maria Lupan / Unsplash
First pump — it dripped off my finger like water. I spread it, blinked, and it was gone. No tacky layer. No waiting 5 minutes to apply makeup. My moisturizer didn’t pill underneath.
Week two: I actually forgot I was wearing sunscreen. That’s rare. But here’s the catch — if you’re oily *and* dehydrated, this might not be enough moisture alone. Layer a light gel moisturizer first.
Photo: Vya Naturals / Unsplash
Three weeks in: less midday shine, zero new breakouts, and no gritty sunscreen buildup around my nose. My pores didn’t shrink (nothing does that), but they looked less… angry.
Photo: Raed Kasrwani / Unsplash
If your oily skin has been ghosting sunscreens, this one’s the rebound that sticks. It’s the rare SPF that actually does its job without reminding you it’s there.