Theย newly revamped Bioreย UV Aqua Rich Watery Gelย isย simple and cost-effective if you just want a daily use sunscreen that gets straight to the point. Should you wish to slather it over your arms/legsย on a regular basis like I do, it wonโt require a second mortgage; each 90ml bottle costs less thanย ยฅ700 (which is about US$6).
Iโm indifferent to the cult favourite Watery Essence (both the new and previous formulas). Itโs perfectly decent for itsย very low price-point, but wearing it on my face or body just doesnโt quite hit the spot. It alwaysย leaves me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I wish that it would be more lightweight or more moisturising, has aย smoother finish, and come in a bigger tube.
The Watery Gel comes in a bigger bottle โ 90ml versus 50g. I slather itย on myย arms like thereโs no tomorrow, so thatย extra 40ml (for the same price) makes all the difference. Obviously it is a slightly different formula, but it is one that I actually prefer. I find the gel a smidgeย lighter, fresher and feels slightly softer and smoother on the skin. It sets well and it doesnโt stain or transfer to clothes.ย Some beauty bloggers say it leaves a white cast, butย I donโt find that to be true โ though my skintone is fairly light to begin with so I might not notice.
Do bear in mind that (as Iโve mentioned many times before) the gel isย primarily intendedย for those who apply their sunscreenย in the morning and spend large portion of the day indoors. In other words, this wouldnโt be at all suitable for you if youโreย going to get lots of sun exposure.ย Iโm sure that by now Iโm stating the obvious almost to the point of hilarity. I mean itโs all veryย โDanger! Donโt hold the wrong end of aย chainsaw.โ But every now and then, I stumble upon accounts ofย people complaining that Watery Essence has notย adequately protected their skin when they used it for hiking or aย day at the theme park.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Wateryย Gel SPF50+ PA++++ isย very economical andย basicย โ it protects the skin from sporadic sunย exposure and doesnโt do much else โ it isnโt moisturising, mattifying, or soothing. But itโs lovely option for thoseย who doesnโt need or want all theย bells-and-whistles. Quick to apply, pleasant to use, cheap as chips.ย You can find it online atย Amazon.comย HEREย forย US$9.07+ orย Amazonย Japanย HEREย forย ยฅ808.
Please explain to me why this water/sweat resistant sunscreen is only to be used indoors with limited sunscreen exposure. Is there some ingredient found in โoutdoorโ sunscreens that is not found in this one?
You can be indoors with air conditioning technically on and still sweat buckets during hot, humid summer months in Japan, so anything that is water and/or sweat-resistant is very welcomed (if not essential) โ it isnโt an indication that is formulated for the outdoors.
Japanese sunscreens that are formulated for the outdoors and sports are always explicitly stated by the manufacturer. If it doesnโt say so, itโs not ideally suited. Simple as that. Aside from a very tenacious formula, the UV filters used are often different from ones that are just for normal everyday activities with the same SPF/PA rating.
I always recommend people to heed manufacturerโs advice. Using a Japanese sunscreen formulated for everyday wear (ie. incidental sun exposure) for a day outside in the summer sun is just a terrible idea! You, at best, go through the tiny amount of product even faster by having to constantly reapply, and at worst, get sunburn and/or hyperpigmentation.
Hi Ratzilla,
I am looking for a sunscreen with mainly physical filters and also moisturizing (or at least not drying). Which one would you recommend?
Thanks <3
Honestly, it took me a few days of trying this to warm up to it. I think I got caught up in the months of hype everyone was giving it online, but I agree with everything you said, it definitely grows on you. I do find it moisturizing enough for me though, itโs been hot and sticky down here in Carolina so the light texture is much appreciated.