This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous.

This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous.

      At this moment, I believe we can conclude that international sunscreens are simply superior. The UV filters are more advanced, the textures are significantly creamier, and the overall experience is greatly enhanced. There's a reason beauty editors stockpile bottles whenever they venture abroad! So, whenever I hear about an overseas sunscreen preparing for a U.S. release, I am eager to try it on my skin. And when that release is from one of the most esteemed plastic surgeons in the field? I’d travel great distances to add it to my collection.

      This was exactly the case when I traveled to Wymara, Turks and Caicos, to meet Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS, the founding expert behind the London-based skincare brand 111Skin. The brand's Repair Sunscreen SPF 50 is a must-have in Europe—even featured on the set of Emily in Paris Season 4—due to its ability to layer flawlessly under makeup. Although I was curious how the U.S. version of this celebrity-favorite formula would perform, after testing it under the intense Caribbean sun, I can confidently say: this might be the only sunscreen I actually prefer over its international version.

      Below, learn everything you need to know about the newly launched SPF, including its innovative technology, ingredients, and application (which will surprise you, I guarantee!).

      The Formula: A Powerful Blend of Serum-Quality Actives

      While the UK variant utilizes chemical UV filters, The Sunscreen SPF 50 is made entirely of mineral ingredients, relying on broad-spectrum zinc oxide for maximum protection. (We’ll discuss how this impacts the user experience shortly.) The key ingredients largely remain the same: polyglutamic acid, which helps reduce water loss from the skin during sun exposure; botanical extracts to alleviate signs of inflammation; white mulberry root to combat oxidative stress and prevent hyperpigmentation; and NAC Y², the brand's patented trio of super antioxidants that stimulate collagen production and tackle skin aging at the cellular level.

      If those ingredients seem more suitable for a high-tech serum than for a sunscreen, you wouldn’t be mistaken. 111Skin incorporates NAC Y² into several of their signature products, including serums, eye creams, and cleansers, but it was especially important for Alexandrides to feature it in his sunscreen. "[Sunscreen] is probably the most important [skincare] product," he shares as we sit on a crisp white couch at Wymara's Villas + Beach Club, a private luxury retreat just a short distance from the resort's main property. (Pro tip: 111Skin has recently collaborated with the resort, so you can indulge in their products across various luxurious spa treatments.) "Protecting your skin from the sun is truly the most crucial step you can take to safeguard your skin from aging, pigmentation, and other issues stemming from photoaging... We aimed to create a product that would combine various synergies, not just launch [sunscreen] for the sake of it."

      In essence, if Alexandrides was going to introduce a sunscreen, he wanted it to do more than just provide protection—he wanted it to also aid in repairing past damage. "Even the best SPF won't offer 100% protection from the sun. Some rays will still penetrate and be absorbed through your skin; we’re merely reducing the amount that gets absorbed," Alexandrides clarifies. "So, it's about filtering the sun while simultaneously reversing the damage as it occurs." The formulation of such a sunscreen involved highly complex chemistry, taking five years for the UK version and an additional 12 months for its U.S. introduction.

      Given the advanced and effective actives, this sunscreen is on the higher end of the price spectrum, priced at $130. (After all, 111Skin is a luxury skincare brand!) However, a sunscreen with this level of potent actives serves multiple functions. Ideally, one would use a dedicated skin-repairing serum, followed by a nourishing face cream, and finish with SPF. "But for many people, this is neither feasible nor motivating," Alexandrides notes. "We want to provide them with maximum protection through a single product." Consider it as three skin-rejuvenating products bundled into one, making the price tag feel a bit less imposing. The radiant results it delivers are also invaluable—but more on that later.

      The Application: Milky, Lightweight, and Incredibly Glowy

      Have you ever tried a sunscreen milk? Picture the lightweight, watery consistency of a milky toner or essence, amplified with SPF 50—that's exactly what 111Skin’s mineral formula offers. Honestly, the first time I used this thin, airy sunscreen, I thought I must not have shaken it enough. (I quickly realized it didn’t require shaking at all.) The UK version is an ultra-creamy face lotion—so plush that Eva Alexandridis, Yannis’s wife and co-founder of 111Skin, once mistook it for

This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous. This SPF consistently sells out in London and Paris—I promise its new version in the U.S. is even more luminous.

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