I‘m knee-deep in some proper sunscreen testing. I’ve tested budget ones and ones that require a bank loan; moisturising ones, matte ones, and ones that are perfect for afternoon top-up.
You might be asking how can I possibly try that many sunscreens and remember what the first one was like? How can I possibly tell one from another? You see, there’s a method to this. I do a split test. I cover half my face or one of my arms with a control sunscreen and then the other half tests the new stuff. It helps me to rule out isolated conditions that might affect the outcome. If I don’t wear a familiar sunscreen alongside the new one, I find it quite difficult to make objective observations about it and draw comparisons with the other products I’ve tested.
The sunscreen that I’m the most familiar is the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50 PA++++ from Shiseido. This is a lightweight, silky smooth-finish sunscreen fluid, and it’s virtually bulletproof. The gold-bottled Anessa has a long-standing reputation in Japan as the gold standard of sunscreens for outdoorsy activities, even after multiple reformulations over the years. I prefer it to other products in Anessa line because it sits the most smoothly and invisibly beneath makeup.
It does speak volumes that I’ve repurchased this sunscreen (and its predecessors) countless times, almost as my “default” sunscreen. This is the one I always rely on to protect my skin (that tans easily but rarely burns) if prolonged direct sun exposure is going to be unavoidable. It has reliable protection with great durability that sets quickly into a satin finish (no matter what I have on underneath) and is reasonably priced, which is why I tend to reach for this sunscreen over other options, especially when I’m testing. I use it on both my face and body — lightweight and with no sticky or greasy residue. It is a bit OTT for just sitting in the office, but if you have combination/oily skin that is more sensitive to the sun then it’s a dream. The no-frills, flat bottle is also perfect portable packaging.
If you’re in Japan, Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50 PA++++ is readily available in drugstores. RRP for 60ml is ¥3,000 and it’s always 20–30% off at one place or other. If you’re lucky, you might even find the limited edition 90ml size for the same price. Outside of Japan, you can find it online at Amazon USA or eBay starting from $26.50+ — but be very wary of fakes. This is one Japanese drugstore product with a lot of Chinese counterfeits!
| Ease of Application | |
| Speed of Absorption | |
| Cosmetic Elegance | |
| Transfer Resistance | |
| Performance to Claims | |
| SUMMARY | 4.4 |
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Thank you for your in depth reviews! Do you have a top 5 of “sport” sunscreens (I assume Anessa is at the top of the list)? My use case is surfing in the tropics, and I’m finding myself tanning despite multiple layers of physical sunscreen (retinoids for acne make my skin photo sensitive). Mostly looking for (1) strong UVA + UVB protection of course (2) very strong water resistance as I’m out in the water for 2+ hours at a time (3) does not sting eyes when it runs — find that oxybenzone and avobenzone sting terribly (4) prefer lack… Read more »
I’m not an outdoorsy person and I don’t take up sports as a hobby but hypothetically, if I were to partake in something like that, the Anessa milk in the gold bottle (so the current formula of this) would be what I’d be using. I don’t have a top 5. A sunscreen’s overall formula (and how it feels on the skin) matters just as much as the UVA/UVB rating. It’s a moot point whether it has superior UV protection or not if the sunscreen is heavy, greasy, and/or unpleasant. Sunscreen needs to be applied generously but it should never be… Read more »
Thank you! Appreciate the advice — just purchased the new formulation from a seemingly trustworthy Amazon seller. I’ll likely layer some zinc oxide on top to be extra careful when surfing. Excited to use it for just strolling around as well. Happy holidays!
You mention that there are many Chinese counterfeits of Anessa sunscreens – is this the same case for Kanebo Allie sunscreens as well?
Also, you mentioned below that there’s no 100% guarantee of getting a real Anessa sunscreen unless you purchase from Amazon Japan. Unfortunately Amazon Japan doesn’t ship Anessa to my country. Would you consider it safe to buy from an Amazon seller that ships *directly* from Japan? (I realize there’s no 100% certainty, but I’m weighing my odds and would appreciate your opinion)
I’d say it’s nowhere as prevalent simply due to the huge gap in popularity between the 2 brands.
It’s about the same as eBay. Beware if the price is the same or cheaper than the suggested retail price in Japan.
Hi Ratzilla I want to ask if water resistant and sebum resistant are regulated words in Japanese sunscreens. Do they have to follow some sort of water immersion test for 20 or 40 minutes that the EU and US sunscreens have to go through to be labeled as ‘water resistant’. Also do they run any tests for the sebum resistant claim or is it an unregulated word that doesn’t need any tests backing it. I’m also quite curious about the UVA protection of Japanese sunscreens. Sometimes I wonder how some sunscreens like the Skin Aqua Sarafit gets a PA++++ rating… Read more »
Japan requires mandatory in-vivo ISO 24444:2010 (UVB) & ISO 24442:2011 (UVA) tests for all sunscreens. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s currently the only region in the world that requires in vivo test for UVA protection. (Other countries recommend and do use the ISO test methods, but companies aren’t legally required to follow them.) So the SPF and PA printed on Japanese sunscreens are, in fact, the real value! Every spring and summer, I see newspapers, blogs, and news segments in Taiwan and Hong Kong using BASF sunscreen simulator to test and find sunscreens supposed “true” UV protection… Read more »
Do you know what’s the difference between Aqua Booster EX Technology and Aqua Booster Technology? What’s the EX for? According to Anessa’s website, this gold bottle is the only one with EX Technology. The other Anessa sunscreens just has Aqua Booster Technology.
Have you read the product’s info post? It has more details on it https://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/anessa-perfect-uv-sunscreen-skincare-milk/
This is sold on YesStyle. Is that reputable enough?
How can I be sure that I am using a reputable Amazon seller, I am scared of purchasing a fake product.
Honestly, you can’t, not unless it’s sold and shipped by Amazon Japan itself.
How much do you apply this SPF?
Anessa advises to apply 2 layers (1 yen coin-sized amount each time) for the face, and that’s about how I much I use as well.
This is by far the best sunscreen in the current Anessa lineup. The mild SPF50 is far too oily and doesn’t really set if you apply enough to get the stated spf. I wonder why the mild spf 50 can’t just be an alcohol and fragrance free version of the Perfect Skincare milk, perhaps because alcohol acts as a solvent and stabiliser or marketing decision?
The Mild SPF50+ is first and foremost intended for kids and babies (and this would most likely be applied on them over bare skin). Expectation needs to be very tapered if you’re using it on yourself, especially if you don’t have very sensitive skin.
They have completely different formulas, so simply taking out the alcohol and fragrance wouldn’t automatically make it suitable for little kids. It’s actually quite a popular sunscreen for outdoorsy activities amongst mums with young kids.
Thank you very much for the review. Does this leave any
white cast? How is its finish compared to the Skin Aqua UV super moisture milk?
Having dimethicone as the first ingredient, it makes me feel like it will be
similar to the mild version which I have tried that never really sets and remains
silicone-y all day long sliding around and transferring to whatever touches my
face.
Yeah that product feels like spreading facial oil over skin that never really sets. The Perfect Skincare milk feels a lot nicer as it sets to a slightly shiny transfer resistant primer like finish. If you don’t like the feel of dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane I think the Allie gels are better. They have similar UV filters and feel more like moisturising cream that sets to a transfer proof semi matte finish.
There’s no white cast, at least not that I can tell on my fairly light skin. Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Milk is nice for the price, but for me, it’s a no-go when it’s hot and humid.
The Mild version is first and foremost intended for kids and babies. I think expectation needs to be very tapered if you’re using it on yourself, especially if you don’t have very sensitive skin. I don’t care for it for my face, but it’s also not formulated to suit my needs or skin type either.
Thank you!
Did
This sunscreen stop
You from tanning?
Yes, I wouldn’t use it if it didn’t.