My apologies to those of you who are bored of the seemingly endless sunscreens posts. I know Iโve banged on about this โ thereโre 340 (and counting) sunscreens listed on RatzillaCosme (thatโs 27% of the site!) โ but I get asked about sunscreens the most, so I do feel I should keep up with the popular demand! I do also want to document some of the ones Iโve been trying while theyโre still available (Japanese companies discontinue or reformulate their sunscreens so frequently that by the time I want to write about them, theyโre often already off the market!).
Youโll know, if youโre a regular reader, that I absolutely do not mind alcohol in my beauty products even though I donโt have oily skinย โ in fact, I prefer my Japanese sunscreens with alcohol. I tend to find alcohol-free formulas feel too heavy and take much longer to dry on the skin, and they feel absolutely terrible in stifling humidity. I much rather use more moisturising products to compensate for alcoholโs (potential) drying effect than to deal with the mess of alcohol-free formulas.
PA++++ (thatโs PPD 16+) sunscreen formulas in Japan have been getting progressively more comfortable to wearย โ and finally, so have alcohol-free sunscreens. Menturmโs Sun Bears Strong Super Plus and Sun Bears Strong Cool Plus are both newly-released, and theyโre very excellent for the price (under 300ย JPY!). Both are the same, except the Cool version has menthol added to give your skin a โ youโve guessed itย โ cooling sensation. Itโs so light and seems to simply disappear a few seconds after application. The finish is absolutely bone dry. It has the same quick-to-dry formula and invisible, matte finish that I like, but without the alcohol. If your skin is on the dry side then you will most definitely want to moisturise well before using (it still feels dry, despite its lack of alcohol).
While theyโre not my all-time favourites, I quite like them for the price! I have been using them for a few weeks now, mainly on my hands, arms, and dรฉcolletรฉ area. I especially like Cool Plus โ its cooling effect upon application is particularly welcoming on hot days. They come in such compact bottles that theyโre small enough to fit in my pocket.
Do these leave a white cast?
I personally didnโt notice one on my fairly light skin. If your skin tone is darker, there is a chance.
Thank you! Iโm pretty dark-skinned. I went out and bought one, and I havenโt had any issues with white cast so far. Thanks for your reply!
I donโt know why I put off trying this for so long. I know itโs not a favorite for face use for a lot of people but hada labo UV creamy, biore watery essence, and sheisido senka mineral water essence all break me out, and Iโm realizing they all have butylene glycol high in the ingredients list and other products with butylene glycol high in the ingredients list have broken me out. Boooo. I switched to the super plus, which I bought for body use and never actually used, and so far, so good! And still much more cosmetically elegant than my previous favorite sunscreen (topix replenix sheer physical spray). Iโm on the hunt for other asian sunscreens without butylene glycol in the first half of ingredients list, just in case in a week or so all hell breaks loose, but Iโm hopeful!
Iโd love to get my hands on the 2015 version of this. Do you have a Rakuten link or any link in general for that? I canโt tell the difference just by looking.
So I have oily skin and generally find sunscreens just sit on top of my skin, even the ones that claim to sink in fast. Unfortunately this one wasnโt any different โ it gave me a strong white cast and left a thick, slick layer (which was especially bad when I have to slather on the 1/4 tsp). Just putting this out there for all you fellow oily-skinned folks! Iโm gonna use the rest of my bottle for my body and Iโm more hopeful on that end.
I recently tried this sunscreen, and I must stay, Ratz is totally on point in everything. It is very light, dries down completely to a matte finish and it is so cheap! I use it on my neck and arms and the Cool version provided a refreshing cooling sensation upon application. Thank you so much again for another great sunscreen recommendation!
So glad you like this too!
This sounds like a great, inexpensive sunscreen for the body! Would you recommend this for the beach/swimming? Or, do you have some other recommendations for resistant sunscreens for the beach (for body)? Thank you!
You definitely could use this for the beach or swimming, although I have never done so so I canโt attest to how well itโll fare. (Iโm not a beach goer and I really donโt like swimming.)
For a day out in the sun though, Iโve always turned to Allie sunscreens from Kanebo https://www.ratzillacosme.com/brand/kallie/
Hi, Iโm definitely picking one of these up, and I was wondering which one you preferred, and if both have the same matte finish?
Thanks! ๐
Everything is indentical except the Cool Plus has menthol added. I personally quite like the cooling sensation as it feels very welcoming on hot days so I prefer Cool Plus. I use neither on my face though,
I like this sunscreen too (the red one), I think I bought it on sale 2 for ~320 yen. Cheap! However, thereโs a mild scent and I doubted how so cheap sunscreen would on my face. I was in a pinch, and tried, and it did break me out. But for body, I quite enjoy this and will buy more!
Iโm sure we have no problem with you turning this site into a Japanese sunscreen guide! The wealth of knowledge you have with sunscreen is just unbeatable!
I have another sunscreen question. What do you use around your eye area? Do you use the same sunscreen you do on your face? Or do you dedicate a sunscreen that is perhaps alcohol free for the eye area only? Iโve always use my facial sunscreen all over (either Biore Perfect Face Milk pink bottle or Kanebo Allie Mineral Moist), but lately, the alcohol content is starting to irritate my eyes a littleโฆwhich is weird, because like you, I actually prefer alcohol in my sunscreens. Thanks in advance!
I donโt apply sunscreens very close to the eyes, just the undereye area. Right now since itโs the middle of summer, I generally use whatever I find too rich for all over face underneath the eyes. I personally rather just wear a good pair of sunglasses when Iโm outside than to fuss with sunscreens near the eyes.
I love your Sunscreen posts and it acts as my Sunscreen Bible, so please keep reviewing! ๐
BTW, I just came back from Hongkong & was looking for Biore UV Milk SPF50 PA++++ but the stores are still carrying the PA+++ so I ended up playing with the sunscreen testers and actually discovered a new LOVE, it was Skin Aqua SaraFit UV Essence SPF50 PA++++
http://www.rohto.jp/skinaqua/sp/sarafituv/essence.html
It actually kinda reminds me of BIORE UV Watery Essence (which sadly only has PA+++). Have you actually tested the Skin Aqua SaraFit UV Essence, Haru? Would love to read your review on it ๐
Iโve written an expository post on it http://wp.me/p1UarE-ceX โ I might do a review on it, but at this rate, I might as well just call this site a Japanese sunscreen guide!
I love to read sunscreen posts!! I am searching and trying all kinds of sunscreen all the time! I thanks
Please donโt apologise for โbanging onโ about sunscreens! Iโm always interested in reading your take on them. In fact, thanks to your careful reviews and some of the expository posts here, Iโve revised my views on alcohol in sunscreens and am happily โ if carefully โ using some of the lighter formulas. I live in HOPE (yes, caps!) that there may one day be a very light, basic sunscreen with all-physical filters that you like and will willingly recommend.
Thanks Nick โ I do actually! ORBISโs UV Cut Sunscreen On Face Beauty (a cream) and the On Face Beauty Light (a milk), both are tinted and have SPF34 PA+++.
How did I miss that? Thank you! Iโll go look at your newest post at once. One thing more for which I would like to thank you โ the links to Rakuten stores selling the items! They are really helpful!