After spending the better part of a decade testing products as a beauty editor, I've tried every form of sunscreen that there is. Or at least I thought I had, until Ultra Violette slipped me a sample of the new Future Fluid™ SPF 50+ Superlight Zinc SKINSCREEN™.
I’ve never been particularly fussed about whether my SPF is zinc-based or chemical; I’m usually most preoccupied with the feel and the finish of the formula, rather than its composition. I have oily-combo skin, so I look for something that feels nice, doesn’t add extra weight to my skin and doesn’t mess with my makeup.
On all counts, I’ve found myself disappointed by a lot of mineral sunscreens in the past. Done badly, zinc sunscreen can be suffocating as f*ck, leave a weird white cast and cause my base to ball up on the skin. So when Ultra Violette promised me that not only would Future Fluid™ be the lightest zinc SPF I’d ever try, it’d also be the best primer for makeup, I was intrigued.
I’ve been using Future Fluid™ daily under makeup for about six months (!!) now, so here’s my findings on how the formula performs as a primer for makeup.
The texture test
As predicted, this texture is unlike any mineral SPF I've ever tried. It's incredibly lightweight, almost like a serum, and it disappears into the skin instantly – no awkward pilling, or heavy feeling. This alone made it a game-changer for under makeup for me, as it felt like I was wearing nothing at all while it protected my skin – and that’s exactly what we want in an SPF.
Getting a grip
Admittedly, what surprised me most was how well Future Fluid™ grips makeup. The formula creates this undetectable yet super smooth canvas that my foundations and skin tints just glide over. I've found that my makeup lasts a lot longer, and I'm getting less separation in the oilier patches around my forehead, nose and chin.
The finishing touch
While many primers make promises to blur or mattify, Future Fluid™ creates what I'd dub to be a 'real skin' finish. It's not matte, it’s not dewy, it’s like a soft-focus, naturally-diffused filter. I also find that some zinc formulas leave a strange semi-metallic film on the skin (you’ll know it if you’ve felt it) but there’s none of that with Future Fluid™. We love to see it!
Obviously, Future Fluid™ also does way more than just prime the skin. There’s the very important part of protection, which it does with SPF 50+ Zinc from Japan, but it also has nourishing ingredients like squalane that bring the hydration for a softer, smoother base and a supported skin barrier.
All of the above adds up to an innovative formula that solves a multitude of pain points in a single, sexy little bottle. I’ve been waiting for Future Fluid™ to finally launch so that I can start stockpiling it, and I’m so glad that everyone now gets the chance to try it too.
