Hej Organic and Sundance DM Sunscreens: Why I Was Disappointed

La version française ici

1. Finding the Perfect Sunscreen: A Challenge for Me!
2. My Sunscreen Criteria: What I Look For
3. Hej Organic – Cactus The Protector SPF30 Face Cream
   1. Key ingredients
   2. My experience
   3. In summary
   4. Final verdict?
4. SUNdance SPF50 Mattifying Face & Décolleté Sunscreen
   1. My experience
   2. In the summary
   3. Final Verdict?
5. Final Thoughts: The Search Continues…

A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Düsseldorf, Germany, to switch things up a bit, explore a new city, and enjoy a change of scenery.

Even though I’ve visited Germany multiple times (Berlin, Cologne, and so on), I had never been to Düsseldorf before. And I must say, it’s a charming city! Not overly touristy, but perfect for strolling around, checking out brunch spots, and just soaking in the atmosphere.

Now, if you’re into skincare like I am, Düsseldorf has some great spots to explore. One of my favorite areas was the Japanese district, where you can find plenty of Korean and Japanese skincare stores (I could have spent hours browsing!).

Another must-visit is DM, a popular drugstore that sells everything from skincare and makeup to food and home essentials,… all at much lower prices than in Belgium!

I did a little haul while I was there (you can check it out here), picking up essentials like hand cream, lip balm, and face wash. But I also wanted to test out some new products, including two sunscreens, one mineral and one mattifying. If you’ve been following my blog, you know I love mattifying sunscreens, so I was curious to see if these affordable finds could replace my all-time favorite: Eucerin Oil Control.

Spoiler alert: I was very, very disappointed! But before I get into that, let me break down each product.

Finding the Perfect Sunscreen: A Challenge for Me!

Before diving into the reviews, I want to talk about why sunscreen shopping is such a struggle because I know I’m not the only one dealing with this!

The real challenge? Finding the perfect sunscreen without being able to test it first! In my town, samples are super rare, and most stores don’t offer testers. So, I often end up buying blindly, only to feel disappointed once I try it at home. Packaging and promises can be misleading, and you don’t truly know if a sunscreen works for you until you’ve worn it all day.

The same thing happened in Düsseldorf: I couldn’t try out the sunscreens before purchasing, so it was a bit of a gamble.

And even when a friend recommends a sunscreen, our standards aren’t always the same, what works for them might not work for me. The only exception? Eucerin Oil Control SPF50! I’ve recommended it to so many people, and everyone loved it! It even became their all-time favorite!

I’ve tested quite a few:
• Eucerin Oil Control SPF50 → My all-time favorite (light, truly mattifying, no breakouts).
• Bioderma Nude Touch SPF50 → A great mineral sunscreen but tinted, so I don’t apply the recommended amount. (That’s why I’m looking for a non-tinted one!)
• Vichy Sun Blur SPF50 → I didn’t like it! (Full review here.)

👉If you’re unsure about SPF, PA ratings, and how to choose the right sunscreen for your skin, I wrote an article breaking it all down: “SPF, PA, UVs Rays, and Protection: Everything You Need to Know“ It covers how different sunscreens protect you and how to pick the right one for your needs.

My Sunscreen Criteria: What I Look For

When it comes to sunscreen, my criteria are pretty simple (or at least, I’d like to think so!). But finding one that actually meets them? Not so easy.

For chemical sunscreens, I need: 

✔️ UVA & UVB protection (broad-spectrum is a must!)
✔️ Non-comedogenic (no breakouts, please)
✔️ Mattifying (I don’t like to shine!)
✔️ Lightweight & very blendable (it should disappear into the skin)
✔️ No white cast! Better yet, fully transparent!
✔️ Comfortable enough for daily wear
✔️ Non-sticky & feels like nothing on the skin
✔️ Fragrance-free (or very subtle)
✔️ Doesn’t sting my eyes (don’t like tears)

For mineral sunscreens, I know they’re harder to perfect, so I’m a bit more flexible. However, my non-negotiables are:

✔️ UVA & UVB protection (broad-spectrum is a must!)
✔️ 100% mineral ingredients (no chemical filters)
✔️ Absolutely NO white cast, even though I don’t mind a thicker texture (the biggest struggle with mineral SPF)
✔️ Doesn’t sting my eyes (again, crucial!)
✔️ Matte or at least not overly shiny
✔️ I don’t mind the scent (since mineral sunscreens often have a natural smell)

With these standards in mind, let’s see how the sunscreens I bought in Düsseldorf performed!

👉If you’re still debating between mineral and chemical sunscreens, I have a full comparison where I explain their differences, what dermatologists recommend, and my personal favorites in both categories: “Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen: Difference & My Preferences?“

Hej Organic – Cactus The Protector SPF30 Face Cream

Hej Organic is a natural skincare brand that prides itself on being 100% vegan and using sustainable packaging. Their sunscreen comes in a fully recyclable aluminum tube and claims to leave zero product waste.

Key ingredients

• Prickly Pear Oil – Helps regenerate skin cells and maintain a youthful glow
• Hyaluronic Acid – Keeps skin hydrated and firm
• Vitamin C – A natural antioxidant for skin protection
• Titanium Dioxide & Zinc Oxide – Mineral filters to shield skin from UV rays
• Botanical oils & extracts – Sourced from certified organic agriculture
• Natural fragrance – Includes essential oils like citral and citronellol

My experience

At first glance, this sunscreen sounded amazing. A mineral formula that promises to be non-whitening? That’s exactly what I look for in an everyday sunscreen!

But did it live up to the claims? Absolutely not.

When I opened the tube, I immediately noticed the thick, white texture. Even before applying it, I had a feeling it wouldn’t blend well. The scent is very herbal, kind of like walking into an organic store. Not unpleasant, but definitely noticeable.

I applied two fingers’ worth (as recommended by dermatologists), and… disaster. It would not blend. My face was left with an obvious white cast that just wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I rubbed it in.

On top of that, the formula felt heavy on my skin and very sticky. I could feel the sunscreen sitting on my face, which is something I really dislike.

And unfortunately, this sunscreen also stings my eyes, which is a big downside for me.

In the photo, you can see that after trying to blend the cream, it’s still visible. You might say that it’s not too noticeable in the photo, but you can clearly see the grayish tone due to the white marks left by the cream. And don’t forget, when you apply the cream to your face, you have to consider the eyebrows, hairline, etc., because the cream naturally settles there, unlike my hand where there are no obstacles. This makes it even more bothersome, as the white marks are very noticeable, and in real life, it’s much more evident than in the photo.

If it leaves a white cast on my super pale skin, I can only imagine how it would look on darker skin tones. Brands, please test your products thoroughly before claiming they’re non-whitening!

In summary

🚨 The White Cast is REAL. 

🚨 Heavy, Sticky & Greasy Feel. 

🚨 Strong Herbal Scent. 

🚨 Does sting my eyes 

Final verdict?

Unfortunately, this sunscreen is a big no for me. I’ll only be using it at the beach, where I don’t mind looking like a ghost!

SUNdance SPF50 Mattifying Face & Décolleté Sunscreen

Since I love mattifying sunscreens, I was excited to try this one. It’s labeled as non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and free of octocrylene* (a controversial sunscreen ingredient that degrades into benzophenone, which some studies suggest could be harmful ^{1 2}).

*octocrylene = primarily used as a UVB filter in sunscreens, meaning it helps protect the skin from UVB radiation (which is responsible for sunburn). It does offer some protection against UVA rays as well, but it is not as effective as other filters like avobenzone or zinc oxide in providing broad-spectrum UVA protection. It helps stabilize other sunscreen ingredients and is often used in formulations to improve product stability and texture.

My experience

At first, things seemed promising. The sunscreen comes in a squeeze tube and has a classic sunscreen scent. You know, that nostalgic smell from childhood summers? That’s exactly what it reminded me of!

The texture is light, more fluid than the mineral sunscreen, and blends into the skin much more easily. It also has a pale-yellow tint rather than stark white, which is a plus. The cream is very invisible on the skin and a little bit sticky (you can feel it a bit on the face).

But here’s the problem: It is NOT mattifying at all.

The moment I applied it, my face became super shiny, and that shine never went away. I tested it while going for walks in the park, and the sunlight made my skin look even shinier (as you can see in the 3rd picture below). If it looks this shiny in a photo, imagine how it looks in real life!

And to make things worse, it stings my eyes really badly, way more than I expected!

On the bright side, it didn’t break me out, so I’ll give it credit for being non-comedogenic. But the lack of a mattifying effect and the eye stinging? A dealbreaker for me!

I have combination to dry skin (thanks Roaccutane!), and if it’s already shiny on me, I can’t even imagine how it would be on oily skin! Once again, brands, please be transparent on your packaging!

In the summary

🚨 Not Mattifying AT ALL. 

🚨 Strong Sunscreen Scent. 

🚨 Lightweight & very Blendable but a bit Sticky. 

🚨 Doesn’t Break Me Out. 

🚨 Does sting my eyes 

Final Verdict?

Nope. I’ll save this for beach days or when I’ll do my walks at the park, but for daily wear? Big no. 

Final Thoughts: The Search Continues…

Sadly, neither of these sunscreens will be replacing my Eucerin Oil Control or even my Bioderma Nude Touch.

The Hej Organic was way too white and thick, and the SUNdance was way too shiny and stinging my eyes a lot.

So, my quest for the perfect non-tinted mineral sunscreen continues… If you have recommendations, please drop them in the comments! I’d love to hear what sunscreens you swear by.

In the meantime, I’ll stick to my favorites.

See you soon! Beautifully Moi!

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1. (FR) Source: “Un filtre présent dans de nombreuses crèmes solaires se transforme en un composé cancérigène“; Sorbonne University ↩︎
2. Source: “Benzophenone Accumulates over Time from the Degradation of Octocrylene in Commercial Sunscreen Products” ↩︎