During the summer months, wearing heavy makeup is a no for me. I learned that the hard way, growing up in Palm Springs and spending my teenage years attempting to cover up acne in 120-degree heat for it to only melt off an hour later. And of course, I never included sunscreen in the mix. Now, I’m a little older, and you won’t catch me in anything other than sheer coverage and a healthy amount of SPF. That being said, finding the perfect do-it-all product that provides a touch of coverage and a generous amount of SPF is trickier to find than you might think.
But Drunk Elephant just made it a little easier with the re-launch of its beloved SPF, the Umbra Sheer Mineral Cream, which now comes in three adaptable shades and has a new-and-improved formula. Ahead, everything you need to know about the update, plus team Byrdie’s honest reviews.
The Formula
The OG Umbra Cream was one of six original products launched by the brand in 2013, and has remained a fan-favorite ever since. The new tweaks make the formula even better for sensitive skin, and adds a new deep shade, Umbra Cocoa to the lineup. The updated sunscreens have a 100% mineral formula that includes 20% zinc oxide. The brand has been working on this reformulation since 2018 to ensure that the high level of zinc coverage still blends seamlessly.
The SPF has a PA+++ rating to help block UVA rays and UVB rays. It also boasts a handful of antioxidants such as astaxanthin, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a.k.a vitamin C), and ubiquinone to help fight free radicals and pollutants. Lastly, plant oil ingredients from jojoba oil to green tea extract help to soothe and nourish the skin.
Many mineral formulas can be tricky to blend and pill under makeup, but this isn’t the case for the new Umbra line. It claims to be non-pilling and ultra-blendable for everyday wear, so you won’t even feel like you’re wearing SPF.
The Shades
As of June 5, the Umbra Cream line now includes three shades. There are the two pre-existing shades: Umbra Sheer, a sheer formula with a light pink tint to eliminate any white cast; and Umbra Tinte, a sheer formula with a golden-medium tint. Joining the two OG’s in Umbra Cocoa, a sheer formula with a warm bronze tint (think if Umbra Sheer met the brand’s ultra-viral bronzer drops).
The shades can be worn alone—Cocoa was formulated with deeper skin in mind—but can also be mixed and matched depending on your desired effect. For example, mix a little bit of Sheer with a little bit of Coacoa for a sun-kissed effect perfect for summer.
The Reviews
Umbra Sheer
"As a runner, there are a few attributes I look for when deciding if a new sunscreen deserves a spot in my rotation. First, it needs to have a non streaky application. Second, it needs to stay in place no matter how much I sweat. Third, it needs to provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Because of the first two factors, I tend to reach for chemical sunscreens the most. But Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer pleasantly surprised me. While most zinc oxide-based formulas leave a white cast that leave me looking even more pale, this sunscreen is truly invisible to the naked eye. The formula didn’t budge, despite a celebratory face splash of water at the end of my most recent run. Add in the extra boost of moisture I get from the formula’s raspberry seed and marula oils, and I’m already reaching for a restock." —Abby Dupes, associate editor
Umbra Tinte
"Drunk Elephant's Umbra Tinte is one of my go-to mineral sunscreens, offering comfortable protection and a subtle blurring effect. The tint here is minimal—on my skin tone, it more so cancels out any dramatic white cast from the mineral formula as opposed to adding color to my skin. I use it in place of foundation in the summertime, increasing the bronzy effects by mixing in a little of the brand's D-Bronzi Drops (but only after applying a full base layer of just SPF, otherwise you dilute the protection)."
Umbra Cocoa
"Drunk Elephant’s new tinted sunscreen piqued my interest. Upon application, I noticed that the texture is very lightweight and soothing on my skin. Though the brand recommends applying generously, I proceeded with caution because the formula is pretty pigmented and bronzy. The amount I applied instantly gave me a more radiant, bronzed complexion (no chalky, white cast here). While I don’t see this being my everyday, bare-face sunscreen, I can see myself using this when I want to achieve an incredibly glowy base under my makeup." —Olivia Hancock, editor
Product Picks
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