Let’s address the controversy around the Purple Protector Sunscreen that Cassandra made with Isntree. There have been many questions like: Does it sting the eyes? Why did she use onions? Is it invisible on all skin tones? Why is it purple? 

We're going to talk about all of this, and Cassandra wanted to take a moment to answer some of these questions.

Is it Cassandra’s sunscreen?

Isntree - Onion Newpair Sunscreen SPF40 PA+++

Cassandra collaborated with Isntree, and originally, she got inspired by Instree’s Hyaluronic Watery Sunscreen. It was one of Cassandra's favorite sunscreens, but it wasn't perfect for Cassandra's oily and acne-prone skin. From there, Cassandra was constantly thinking of a K beauty sunscreen that would work for her oily and acne-prone skin but simultaneously give her that K beauty dewy glow. So, she decided to work with Isntree to create the Onion Newpair Sunscreen which contains muan red onion extract.

Isntree Hyaluronic Water Sunscreen

Does it smell like onions?

This sunscreen contains silica which gives the sunscreen a silky finish. And in turn, this might give the sunscreen a little bit of a powdery smell. But overall, this is fragrance-free. Cassandra wanted it to be good for more sensitive skin types, especially since this is already a chemical sunscreen. Sometimes chemical sunscreens are very irritating to the skin and eyes. But even though this is a chemical sunscreen, Cassandra and Isntree tried to come up with a sunscreen that was very potent but did not cause burning, irritation, and stinging. Is it foolproof? Not necessarily. But, for Cassandra and many others, it is okay to use and non-stingy around the eyes. Don't get it in the eyes though It's not optometrist tested or recommended. But, if applied on the eyes or even around the eyelids, it's very safe and efficacious.

Is it SPF 40 or SPF 50?

This is an SPF 40. However, it is PA+++ which means high UV protection. Cassandra truly wanted this to be an SPF 50, and she tried so hard to make it one. When the sunscreen was tested, it actually ranged from an SPF 40 – 52. But, they can only safely claim for sure that, at minimum, it's an SPF 40.

Why isn't it a mineral sunscreen?

Physical sunscreens protect the skin from both UVA rays which cause aging and UVB which cause burning. So originally, Cassandra wanted it to be a hybrid sunscreen, but the formula ended up being chemical. When they were formulating this, it was nearly impossible to create a completely mineral sunscreen that blended in sheer. It was difficult because Cassandra wanted this to work on every single skin tone, and mineral sunscreens have a tendency to be ashy, gray, or even purplish. And when combining the muan onion and purple pigment into a mineral sunscreen, it looked awful, and it wouldn't rub in. So, they made it completely chemical. That way, it blends in invisibly and works for oily acne-prone skin. You can even use it for dry skin if you put it over a moisturizer.

Why is it purple?

Sometimes when you're applying sunscreen, you can't see where you've applied it, and you don't know if you've rubbed it in enough. Plus, a lot of people don't rub their sunscreens in enough even upon using the correct amounts. As for the purple color, it comes from the muan red onion extract and ultramarine, a pigment. When this rubs in enough, it gives you a K-beauty glow because of the B vitamins and the onion extract.

Why is there an onion?

A lot of people don't realize that onion is already in products like Maderma scar cream, and it's included in this sunscreen to support blemish-prone skin. Onion does not cure acne, and it doesn't fix acne. But, some studies show onion to be beneficial for blemish-prone skin and for acne scars. While there's no definitive research that shows onion will cure scar cream, it is used in things like Maderma scar cream, and it's been shown to help things like inflammation, redness, blemishes, and scar support. A lot of the antioxidants and trace minerals in onions are used to support the skin.

Does this help with acne?

The B vitamin in this product does help with oil control, and the SPF was made with blemish-prone skin in mind. However, this is not considered an acne treatment product due to US Drug Administration standards. There are ingredients like vitamin K, E, and B vitamins to support the skin. But in America, to be considered an acne treatment product, it has to have one or more of these ingredients (benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, resorcinol monoacetate, salicylic acid, and sulfur) at a specific amount tested. It also has to be regulated by the FDA to show how it treats acne. The Purple Protector does not contain any of these ingredients, but it does work well with them.

Why isn't this sunscreen sold on the shelves in the US?

While this sunscreen has filters that the US and EU have approved, all of the filters are approved in the US. The US only has a few filters that have been approved since the 90s.

Overall, find a sunscreen that works best for you and supoorts your skin. If you are looking for a sunscreen that caters to blemish-prone, sensitive skin and has no flashback, this might work for you!