Index / Then I Met You / Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50
Then I Met You

Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50.

Then I Met You Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50
Sunscreen

About this product

A lightweight sunscreen formulated to hydrate and protect skin while providing a dewy finish, designed to work as both sunscreen and moisturizer.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

68%

Mixed

5 experts · Moderate agreement
5Gurus
3Yay
1Mixed
1Nay

What they liked

  • Light texture feels pleasant on skin
  • Blends in without white cast
  • Gripping texture works well under makeup

What they flagged

  • Pricey for the formula

What the gurus are saying

The gurus split on this one. One found it layers beautifully under makeup with a hydrating, non-greasy feel and no white cast, making it work across skin types and tones without feeling heavy on reapplication. However, the other felt the texture (while primer-like and foundation-friendly) didn't justify the price tag for what they saw as older-style filters at a premium cost. Those drawn to a more moisturizing sunscreen may appreciate the cocoon-like hydration, but anyone prioritizing lightweight coverage may want to consider the investment first.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take July 2026

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"I also have Then I Met You's Essence Light sunscreen. As the name suggests, it's something light that just feels really really nice on the skin."
~Yay
"This is the Then I Met You Essence Light Sunscreen. I've used this one on my face several times. It starts out white, but it blends in very nicely."
~Mixed
"This one is a chemical sunscreen but it uses US-based filters and it's got four of them. Honestly not my favorite for very sunny, strong or hot weather, but in the winter and fall when there's not as much sun I'm okay with using a US-based chemical sunscreen. But to be honest, because it's US-based filters it can't compete very well with some of these other chemical filtered sunscreens that use all the best and newest filters. So keep that in mind. It's 36 bucks but what I like about it is it's pretty invisible and it has a nice kind of creamy texture, it's a little bit thicker than some of the other ones. The one drawback of this one being fragrance and alcohol free, it smells like a US sunscreen, you know what I mean, just that chemical smell. It smells, it dissipates and it goes away. I actually really do like it but yeah, so we've got those filters, the US-based filter, we also got camid sacris ferment, ginseng and panthenol in here. Very nice creamy texture to it and soaks in nicely and still feels moisturizing but not greasy."
All 5 takes from No BS Beauty
Then I Met You New! 🌞 Essence Light Sunscreen SPF 50 Review & Short Rant On Filters At The End!
"I think during the winter this will be a good one for me just because of how elegant it feels. It really feels nice on skin at the end of the day, skin still looks great, it doesn't accentuate dry spots or dry patches and it doesn't end up looking too greasy or feeling heavy. It's just skin feels nice at the end of day after wearing this one. But for the super sunniest days when I'm gonna be out the most, I'm just not picking this one, mainly because it's not sweat resistant and then mainly because of the UVA filters. If it's super hot, super sunny, around a lot, I'm going with something with the strongest UVA protection I can get. But this one is a great one, I'll certainly finish this, I'll use it up. It feels nice and light and a lot of chemical US-based filters can tend to irritate my eyes and things, I didn't have that at all with this one, so that's nice. This is expensive and especially when sunscreen is something you need to apply liberally, it gets to be expensive fast. If you're applying this liberally, the amount you need is probably about like this, it might last you a couple weeks, so it ends up being how much do you need to spend or how much you want to spend. But if you're just using it during the winter, not on days when you need to reapply because you're not out that much, then that's a different thing."
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"I really enjoy this. I really do like the formula, I like the finish, it feels nice on skin. I wish they would have been able to use more exciting filters because they really marketed this towards the US where all their filters are US-based. If they probably would have made this for the K Beauty Market or Asian beauty Market or anywhere other than in the US they probably would have been able to use some more exciting filters. But overall, for a day-to-day sunscreen, if you're not going to be out a ton, this one's a nice one. Super light, feels nice on skin, no fragrance, no alcohol, it's hydrating, and not greasy or anything like that."
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"This one's made in the US, it's fragrance free, and it uses US-based filters, but it's still a really nice sunscreen that I really do enjoy. But you know what, we know especially if you're in the US that US filters aren't great, especially when it comes to UVA rays, which are the ones that would age you. So yeah, take it or lose it."
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"This one is a chemical sunscreen but it uses US-based filters and it's got four of them. Honestly not my favorite for very sunny, strong or hot weather, but in the winter and fall when there's not as much sun I'm okay with using a US-based chemical sunscreen. But to be honest, because it's US-based filters it can't compete very well with some of these other chemical filtered sunscreens that use all the best and newest filters. So keep that in mind. It's 36 bucks but what I like about it is it's pretty invisible and it has a nice kind of creamy texture, it's a little bit thicker than some of the other ones. The one drawback of this one being fragrance and alcohol free, it smells like a US sunscreen, you know what I mean, just that chemical smell. It smells, it dissipates and it goes away. I actually really do like it but yeah, so we've got those filters, the US-based filter, we also got camid sacris ferment, ginseng and panthenol in here. Very nice creamy texture to it and soaks in nicely and still feels moisturizing but not greasy."
Best Winter Sunscreens 😎 SPF's that are Hydrating Enough for Cold Weather & Dry Skin
"For US-based chemical sunscreens, the Then I Met You sunscreen essence is really nice. It has Avobenzone, homosalate, octilate, and octocrylene. This is probably one of my favorite ones. It's just really nice, lightweight, hydrating. It has no noticeable scent to it, and it applies clear. If you're very sensitive to certain chemicals that sting your eyes, I typically attribute that a lot of the times to Avobenzone, but it may depend on the person."
~Nay
"The Then I Met You one is a bit like a primer and like the best under makeup. It definitely from the appearances of people trying it on has a nice gripping texture, so great if you want to put foundation over the top of it. However, I think those old style filters for $36, that's too much. That is way, way, way too much."
~Yay
"It's a perfect sunscreen and moisturizer in one. In the daytime you could even skip your moisturizer and go straight into the essence light sunscreen for all skin types all skin tones and it just makes your skin so glowy. It's my version of the Korean sunscreen, it's not as like the lightweight ones that like drip on your skin but I like hydration. I like for my sunscreen to feel like it's cocoon your skin and it doesn't leave a white cast and it just makes your skin glowy. You do it on, half reapply it's not like greasy, it's not like a greasy glow so if you're out you can replay every 2 hours and you're not going to feel like bogged down. It also layers really well under makeup it doesn't pill. It's my favorite sunscreen."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Then I Met You Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50?

A lightweight sunscreen formulated to hydrate and protect skin while providing a dewy finish, designed to work as both sunscreen and moisturizer.

Is Then I Met You Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50 worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 68%.

What is Then I Met You Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50's Guru Score?

Then I Met You Light Essence Broad Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50 holds a Guru Score of 68%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.

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