Beauty review: the new Sun Milk Drops by RAAIE

Whenever I’ve asked beauty experts – be they dermatologists, makeup artists or cosmetic surgeons – for their pick when it comes to anti-ageing skincare, they all agree that the most important thing you can do to keep your skin looking good well into old age is wear a sunscreen. Daily. No arguments, no forgetting on a cloudy day, no saying, “my olive complexion is a sunblock in itself”! Most last twelve months max after being opened too, so if you’re still got some sitting around in your beach bag or glove box from this time last year then chuck it - ASAP!
Okay, rant over, but I did want to alert you to a new suncare product that is so luxe you’ll can’t help but want to use it – the new Sun Milk Drops by RAAIE. A new, tinted SPF50+ sunscreen by the award-winning New Zealand brand, it definitely takes things up a few notches when it comes to desirability, and its high performing to boot. A big difference is that Sun Milk Drops is 100 percent mineral, but unlike other environmentally-friendly brands, has the sheer, silky feel of a chemical sunscreen that we all know and love.

I have been super impressed by the brand since the get go – their products look sublime on the bathroom shelf, and their serums - Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir and Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum – are a joy to use. The latter most definitely performs beautifully when placed against some of the skincare world’s best Vitamin C serums, and is a non-negotiable in my morning routine.
So it comes as no surprise that the Sun Milk Drops are similar to a serum in that the formula is ultra-lightweight with a ‘barely-there’ feel, playing well with makeup and most definitely bringing the sun protection when and where it’s needed most.
Founder, Katey Mandy, who has spent three years developing the formula, says choosing the right sunscreen can be a real challenge.
“Chemical sunscreens can feel great on the skin, but are linked to negative impacts on our environment and our bodies. Until now, the alternative was thick mineral sunscreens that often leave an oily white cast on the skin.”
“Sun Milk Drops are better for the planet, and safer for you. Chemical-based sunscreens are absorbed into the body and can be detected in your bloodstream after just one use. Whereas mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin, acting as a shield to protect the skin from UV rays,” says Katey.
“Additionally, we now know that many chemical sunscreen ingredients are dangerous to coral reefs, and the scale is shocking, with an estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen deposited into the ocean annually.”

I also love that when it comes to protection, Sun Milk Drops works immediately after application, unlike chemical sunscreens which require you to wait 15-20 minutes before going outside. The formula has also been carefully crafted to eliminate the risk of a white cast with non-nano zinc oxide, and application gives a soft peachy tint to the skin, working as a colour-corrector and evening out all skin tones. The glow is subtle but it’s there, and I love it.
Like RAAIE’s previous two offerings, Sun Milk Drops is housed in a sculptural ceramic looking bottle, that is also available for refill with free collection.
RAAIE Sun Milk Drops RRP $110 can be purchased online at www.raaie.co.nz and come highly recommended.