Product Review: SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream With SPF 45

It's my favorite time of year! I live for summertime and sunshine. Along with that comes the responsibility of taking care of my skin, which I am finally (at almost 40 years old) starting to take more seriously. So of course I was excited to try out SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream with SPF 45.

I've been using SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream for about two weeks. Here's the low down:

• I love that this product comes in a convenient pump bottle, so just the right amount comes out. I hate when I accidentally pour or squeeze out too much moisturizer, so for me this is a great feature.
• I like to put my moisturizer on in the morning before my make-up and forget about it, so an SPF over 30 is a must. This one fits the bill at SPF 45, offering broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
• It's hypoallergenic, which is also very important to me. My skin is not terribly sensitive, but some sunscreens and facial creams do have a tendency to make my skin itchy and irritable. This one is safe for all skin types, paraben-free, and dermatologist approved. It did not irritate my skin at all.
• According to the manufacturer, "Regular use of this product may help to prevent cancer, wrinkles, and premature skin aging." Obviously I can't speak to these claims when I've only been using SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream for a couple weeks, but they sure do sound good!
• The bottle says "lightweight" and the additional product information I received says that it absorbs instantly and has no "sunscreen feel." Personally, I felt that it did have a bit of a sunscreen feel to it. It definitely does not absorb as instantly as other facial moisturizers I have used, but I did not find this to be a problem. My skin did not feel greasy after I rubbed it in, but it is a bit thicker and takes a little more rubbing in than other products I have tried. I was willing to accept this, hoping it meant the product would stay in place and do its job all day. Which brings me to my next point.
• As stated on the bottle, SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream is water and sweat resistant. I swam and worked out with it, and while it did stay in place, kept my skin hydrated, and protected me from the sun, I would strongly suggest to not apply it too close to your eyes. The bottle advises to "keep out of eyes", but I found that after sweating and swimming, some got in my eyes and boy did it burn. This is typical of many sunscreens, and I suppose I was not as careful as I should have been since it is made for faces and billed as water and sweat resistant. It may be - but it still hurts if it runs into your eyes!

My verdict is that I like SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream with SPF 45 and will continue to use it to protect my face this summer, while being extra careful to not apply it anywhere near my eyes. If you would like more information about this product, or other SmartShield sunscreen products, please visit their website at www.SmartShield.com.

I would like to thank the folks at SmartShield for providing me with a complimentary product to sample and review.