New Physicians Formula Makeup with SPF, Blue Light & Pollution Protection

Sponsored by Physicians Formula. All opinions my own.

Spring officially starts this week, and we’re finally seeing warmer weather to show for it. I even spotted kids swimming in our community pool last week! Lately, and especially for spring, I’ve been leaning toward lighter and fresher makeup. With that said, I still need long lasting coverage and prefer my makeup to offer protection as well. Sounds like a lot of boxes to check, right? Not for Physicians Formula! Their new Natural Defense line helps protect against three major skin concerns: UV exposure with SPF, blue light with RPF (Radiation Protection Filter) and pollution with PPF (Pollution Protection Filter).

That’s right, it’s not just the sun you have to be worried about when it comes to skin damage. “Studies indicate that blue light can induce prolonged pigmentation in some skin types,” says dermatologist and Physicians Coalition member Dr. Rachael Cayce, MD. Pollution and other environmental stressors also play a part in our skin’s health. Now is the time of year most of us start spending more time outdoors, which means all of this should be on your mind during your skin care and makeup routine. I’m a huge advocate for using makeup with protective benefits, so this new makeup collection is right up my alley.

Let’s dive into the collection. Watch the video at the top of the page to see the products in action, and how they wear throughout the day.

First up, we have the Natural Defense Protect Your Prime Oil with SPF 15. I was incredibly hesitant to try this, because frankly, oils scare me. I have acne-prone skin that doesn’t play well with heavy oils. Plus, I stopped priming under my makeup in 2018. However, I am all for prepping the skin as well as layering up protection, so I gave it a shot. This oil is incredibly thin, so it sinks into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy residue. It added a nice boost of moisture and glow under my makeup. Pro tip: being an oily product, be sure to let it completely dry before starting the rest of your face makeup for best results.

The product in this collection that surprised me the most was the Natural Defense Sheer Line of Defense Foundation with SPF 30. It’s labeled as a lightweight sheer-to-light coverage foundation which didn’t sound appealing to me at first. I struggle with acne and hyper-pigmentation, so I usually look for at least medium coverage to help even everything out. Surprisingly enough, even stubborn red spots looked considerably blurred and less noticeable with one layer of the foundation on. Obviously not completely covered, but enough for me to feel more comfortable in my skin. It’s incredibly lightweight with a natural skin finish that looks fresh. The best part: even though the coverage is light, it lasts! Actually… scratch that. The best part is that the brand included twelve shades in this launch, from fair to deep. I’m so happy that they’ve listened to our feedback about needing more shades for darker skin tones!

I am absolutely loving the Natural Defense Total Coverage Concealer with SPF 30. It’s creamy but lightweight, and covers discoloration thoroughly. I love using it paired with the foundation to spot-correct and wear less product over all (versus wearing a full face of full coverage makeup). This concealer features a built-in blender, which I use to apply the concealer but usually blend out with my fingers for best results. The coverage lasts all day, with hardly any fading over the course of 8 hours.

One of my most-used products come summer, besides sunscreen itself, is SPF powder. It’s the best way to reapply protection on top of your makeup, because we all know that one application in the morning isn’t enough! The Natural Defense Setting the Tone Finishing Powder with SPF 20 not only features the same protective properties as the rest of the line, but also adds an extra veil of coverage that will blur and smooth the appearance of your skin. These powders are slightly tinted and come in four shades.

Finally, you can complete a fresh-faced and natural look using the Natural Defense Triple Defense Multicolor Stick with SPF 20. It’s an all-over color stick that can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. I use it as a cream blush most of the time, dabbing on and blending out with the fingers for a really quick and convenient flush of color. I don’t find it to last very long on the eyes (but my lids are really oily). The shade shown is Warm Coral, both freshly swatched and blended, which is a perfect pop of color for spring. There are four shades in total.

Now that I’m spending more time outside, I love using these products together to feel good about my routine and know that it’s working to protect me. Especially for days where I just want a tiny bit of complexion correction, these products help me get that no-makeup makeup look with extra benefits. Check out the full collection on the brand’s website.

Do you use makeup with SPF and other protective properties on a regular basis?