Am I cheating by grouping several sunscreens from a line into one post? Maybe once I start running out of things to review, I’ll come back and write a separate Worst Pick review for each product.
While I am at it, I might as well add this — I can’t stand any Shiseido sunscreens. This includes the Shiseido international sunscreen line (the one in the blue and orange packaging). Many seem to adore Shiseido sunscreens but I don’t understand why. I have literally tried them all — sample packets, mini bottles, full sized bottles — and, the way I feel about them is the same. Shiseido sunscreens and I just don’t seem get along.
They all feel incredibly heavy and film-y. Some are way too matte and drying yet they still leave an undesired greasy finish, others feel and look down right greasy. Either way, they all look and feel like I was wearing sunscreen and in my book, that’s a complete deal breaker considering the many options available. They function terribly as a makeup base too. They have an amazing way of making any foundation (powder or liquid) I’m wearing look horrendous — all cakey, greasy, and splotchy.
The Anessa line supposedly has a much higher UVA protection due it using all all chemical filters — including Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S — but if I want high UVA protection and I’m not too terribly concerned about the feel and finish, I would just get European sunscreens (which are available in Japan). They cost about the same but you get a lot more product for your money and they have superior UVA protection with published PPD.
I don’t get why they bother to reformulate the entire Annesa line yearly. I receive a good supply of their new releases every year around Spring and they feel similar enough year after year — heavy, shiny, and film-y.
