Althea Petal Velvet Sunaway SPF50PA+++ Is Here! (Plus Review)

Packaging and Scent: This comes in a simple, sleek square shaped bottle. This has a shaker inside to ‘disturb’ the sunscreen as it needs vigorous shaking before use. This is enriched with Damask Rose essence, so it smells like potpourri roses!!! Personally, I love it soooo much. But I think it also should be brought up that since the fragrance is a bit on the heavy musk side, it’s not something for everyone. I cannot imagine my fragrance-averse mother using this. 

Product Texture: This has a smooth texture, and has a velvety (and baby soft powdery) finish once blended in. It feels lightweight, and has a totally non-greasy and non-sweaty feel. Some sunscreens feel like greenhouses on the skin, and like the moment I apply them it already feels so hot and stuffy. That is definitely not the case with this sunscreen. There are sunscreens that feel like you applied baby oil and lotion at the same time, but that’s also not the case with this one. It feels velvety soft and not oily. 

Hydration vs. Oil: Indeed, this is a very hydrating formula. I felt like my skin looked fresh and supple all day long. It also is not greasy, nor does it make skin oily. Indeed, it’s hydrating and sebum controlling at the same time. However, on the nano level, it seems to be very slippery for makeup. If like makeup primer is there to add traction to make your makeup stay, this seems to have the opposite effect. Even in differing conditions, my base makeup slips off quite easily over this sunscreen. Even just a few hours after application, I’d notice big faded spots of my makeup, even when it doesn’t feel nor look oily yet. I realized this sometime this year that there indeed are sunscreens that make base makeup slip and some that make base makeup stay. This is one that makes it slip. 

Value For Money: This retails for Php480 for 55mL, and is an Althea exclusive. This more or less is how much Korean and Japanese sunscreens of the same amount and features are priced. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s far from unreasonable. Althea Petal Velvet Sunaway is SPF50PA+++ and blocks both UVA and UVB rays already, and it’s enriched with hyaluronic acid for skincare benefits as well. So for all that, it’s a good buy for the price. 

Overall Feedback: This is a new favorite for no makeup days, and no-makeup-makeup-look days! When I use this as my base, then conceal only my under eye circles, then set with powder, my skin looks nice and velvety all day long. Since the formula has micro powder particles, it’s already like a blur primer to some degree. There is not much oiliness, and it looks natural and appropriate for daily use. It also feels comfortable as it never feels hot and heavy even when the weather is really hot. However, I will not deny that this is slippery for base makeup and will cause noticeable fading, not unless you do a lot of trial and error and figure out which products you own will work over this sunscreen. Overall, if you are the type of person who doesn’t wear a lot of base makeup, you will surely love this as it’s got good sun protection features and a lightweight powdery soft finish. 

So here are the photos! 

This is how the box and the bottle look like: 

When you try to blend it in a little, this is how it looks like. It’s still visible. But you will see that it’s not shiny and looks velvety matte. 

This is me before applying it! 

And this is me about 4 hours after using this sunscreen and applying makeup. I haven’t done anything to make me sweat at this point, as I’ve just been to the temple to pay respects to my grandparents and to have lunch with my family. You will notice that generally the look is fresh and vibrant, but yes, there are big blotches of faded makeup on the nose area. But the good things to point out are that it indeed is matte, velvety, and has controlled the oil on the other parts of my face. 

So yaaay, if you’re looking to try a new sunscreen, check out theirs!