IItโs time for my 7thย annual Japanese sunscreens ranking.ย Iโve chosen a variety of formulas for all budgets that I think suit a wide audience in this yearโs run-down of my top five newly released SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreens of 2017.
Having normal (and very resilient) skin allows me to test a large variety of sunscreens, however what suits my skin/lifestyle/personal preference might be terrible for yours so please be sensible when following recommendations.
Details of each ofย the Japanese sunscreens are linked below.ย If you missed last yearโs top picks, you can check it outย here.ย So check out my picks below (in no particular order).
1)ย Parasola Illumi Skin UV Essence
Warm weather is hereย and if you hunting for products that will get your legs into presentable condition lightning fast, then this colour-correcting sunscreen should be on the to-try list.ย I dub this โK-pop idol legsโ in a tube. Itโs loaded with good-for-skin ingredients (3 types of vitamin C, Jobโs tears, ceramide, and hyaluronic acid just to name a few!) to make sureย skin is fully moisturised and healthy looking.ย Its blue-lavender tint and luminisingย effect really do noticeably brighten up skin tone and createย the illusion of slimmerย legs. (You can use this sunscreen on the faceย โย I havenโt done soย โ but itโsย really intended for your limbs.)
2)ย NIVEA SUN Creme Care UV Cream
Think of this as aย rich, nourishing,ย dry-skin moisturiser cream with added sun protection. It makesย your skin all plump and supple, andย gives it aย gentleย youthful sheen that sits beautifully underneath makeup. The superb UVย protection is the icing on the cake! If you hate Nivea Cremeโs signature scent, this isnโt for youย โ this smells exactly it.
3) Sports Beauty UVWear Super Smooth
A sunscreen milk that gives superbย long-lasting UV protection that is suitable for everyday wearย and the outdoors. True to its claim, itย absorbs super quickly,ย feels unexpectedly lightweight, and leaves a reallyย silky-smooth finishย yet it doesnโt feel drying on the skin.
4)ย ACSEINE Super Sunshield Bright Veil
Acseineย makes brilliant alcohol/chemical-free sunscreens for drier, sensitive skin,ย but since I only pick from new launches for my annual top list, it sadly, until now, never had any qualifying contenders. This is the same as Japanโs cult favourite Super Sunshieldย EX โ very lightweight, non-sticky, non-greasy, waterproof โย butย with an amped up instant skin-perfecting effect. Its soft-focus pigmentsย blursย the surface and givesย that โlit from withinโ effect.ย (Hover over image below for ingredients.)
5) Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Milk
This has an invisible finish and aย to-the-point formulaย that ideally suited for drier skin. Itโs not as lightweight as theย Sports Beauty sunscreen mentioned above, but it does have a more hydrating feel. If you have no problem with dryness,ย you may find that you can skip moisturiser altogether.
Hello, I live in the USA and would like to purchase the Acsceine sunscreen you recommended but the page is in Japanese when I try to find stockists. can you help?
Can you please recommend for me a moisturizer with built in sun screen for oily and sensitive skin?
Hi there,
Do you prefer Acseine Bright Veil over EX ? Which one is better in your opinion and why ? Are there any differences in shade? Iโd love to hear your opinion.
I prefer the Bright Veil simply because for its skin perfecting effect. If you have fairly good skin, you can get away with using it on its own. Sunshield EX feels more or less the same but without the instant beautifying effect. Itโs tinted as well but it doesnโt make a difference.
Hi, love your blog! Is the Acesine sweat and sebum proof? I didnโt see a proper review on your site. On the Japanese site, it says that it is waterproof. Is this the equivalent of sweat and sebum proof? Thanks and keep up the good work!
No, water, sweat, and sebum all have different compositions. Theyโre not the same. The Acesine is targeted at dry, sensitive skin โ it doesnโt claim to be resistant to sweat or sebum.
Hey, Ratzilla! Love your sunscreen reviews- thanks so much for creating this site! Iโve found some favorites thanks to you!
Do you know much about the Japanese formulation of the Shiseido wetforce sunscreens? I am currently using up my bottle now of the US version, but have heard the Japanese formula contains different filters that arenโt available here and has less of a whitecast.
Shiseido International โWetForceโ suncare line is marketed and sold as an imported brand in Japan (just like Dior and Lancome). Itโs more expensive in Japan than the US. It isnโt really that popular, probably because of that price. Itโs hard to justify paying nearly 5,000 JPY for a 60ml bottle when Anessa (Shiseidoโs drugstore suncare brand) use the same techologies and have very similar formulas for significantly less.
Yes, the filters used are different.
When purchasing Japanese sunscreens, what is a good way to determine weather they are intended for daily wear vs outdoor use? I live in Florida and have very fair skin, so I feel that, for the most part, daily wear or โincidental exposureโ sunscreens arenโt enough protection. I know that the Anessa line is supposed to be very good for use outdoors, especially when it comes to water activities, however Iโve also heard that it wears very heavily. I am looking for something I can wear every day, sometimes under makeup, that falls somewhere between an incidental exposure and a full-on water sport sunscreen. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them.
Japanese sunscreens formulated for sports/outdoors activities are always labelled as such by the manufacturer (in Japanese, of course)โ if it doesnโt say so, itโs not suitable. Thereโs no guess work or analysing ingredients/formula involved. My site generally includes this info.
Thanks for this list! I always enjoy reading about what new sunscreens are available and Iโm looking forward to trying out some of these. Especially the sports beauty as Iโve been looking for something to wear when I will be outside for some time.
Iโve been using Japanese sunscreens for a number of years now and typically go through them fairly quickly so I never worry about โexpiration dates.โ But I just found a tube of sunscreen stashed in the back of my cupboard so I looked up the manufacturing date. Itโs a couple of years old and Iโm questioning whether or not I should still rely on it. Iโve heard that 3 years is the standard time that sunscreen are supposed to be good for, but not sure if this is reliable information? Do you know where I can find some official information regarding the length of time after manufacture that sunscreens are expected to be effective for? Thank you so much! ๐
Standard shelf life for cosmetics is generally 3 years from the time it was manufactured unless noted by the company. Once opened, it should be finished within 6 months-1 year unless stated otherwise. Fancl, for example, state their sunscreens have a shelf life of 2 years (and 90 days onced opened).
Hi there!
What is the best product for everyday sun protectionโฆ and then also when Iโm on vacay or doing summer outdoor activities, a stronger formulation?
I have very light skin with dark melasma patches for over 10 years now, and despite my zinc wearing obsession, (best Iโve found is eltamd) my skin has still darkened in splotchy patches anytime Iโm in the sun and in winter they do lighten a tad but never go away!
Iโve tried HQ and a myriad of products and even BBL laser, ACV and lemon, and nothing really gets rid of these spots!
I need something that is really going to block those UVA rays & so I need PPD protection!
Also,
Is there anything that can truly fade my melasma and whiten/bleach those splotches & help brighten my skin?
What is the best mandelic products?
{I have slightly dry skin prone to acne as wellโฆ)
Please helpโฆ.
CC
That is really individual and hard to answer, especially since I donโt have the same skin as you. The best sunscreen is the one that youโll actually use correctly and generously โ whatever that may be. Perhaps take a look at one of the sunscreens featured above or from previous years. Iโve also written about some sunscreens that I personally like (as well as ones I feel neutral about or donโt care for) in past reviews.
Thanks, Iโll review the ones above. Iโm just looking for one with a high PA rating that is not thick as I apply foundation over the topโฆ. As far as skin lightening, are there any products you could recommend?
Majority sunscreens that Iโve written detailed reviews or featured in my annual top sunscreen lists have the maximum SPF and PA ratings.
elta md does not have enough zinc in it to help honestly the only cure for melisma is staying out of the sun completely or a physical cover like a hat with face flaps look on coolibar for that also you need something like 20% or more zinc like shiseido babies and children I avoid the sun like the plague and this is the only one that does give me some protection
Thank you for your great reviews, Iโm always glad to have a vague guideline for buying new sunscreens. That being said I saw you talking about the recommended amount of sunscreen you apply doesnโt need to be a quarter teaspoon.
This makes me curious, how much do you normally use for your face? I know that the 1/4 โruleโ is a bit tricky since everyoneโs skin surface differs in size but I always thought better safe than sorry and slapped it all on my face. Could it be that you donโt need to apply that much when it comes to Japanese sunscreens?
The correct amount to get the UV protection indicated is 2.0 mg/cm2, but despite popular belief, this doesnโt equate to 1/4 tsp on the face. What that actual works out to completely depends on the consistency of the product and the face size. You may actually need significantly more (or less).
Iโve commented in depth about this topic before in other comment threads in the site, so Iโll link to them instead. Do read through this http://disq.us/p/xl9st2 and http://disq.us/p/1ecph6q
Thank you!
Hi! Love the ranking, as usual (the SportsBeauty is definitely going on my wishlist). I was wondering though if you could recommend a sunscreen similar to the now-discontinued Shiseido Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen?
Hi there,
Would you be able to post a list with the top physical only sunscreens? Or is there already such a post on here?
Thanks for your reply in advance!
There isnโt a list of my top physical only sunscreens. Currently, I donโt have plans in doing one simply because ones I truly like using are few and far between.
The Acseine is as good as it gets for alcohol-free, phsyical-only sunscreens. There isnโt really comparable or similar alternative, unfortunately.
Do you have any top picks that are chemical only (and preferably sweat/sebum resistant) ? I noticed these all contain at least one physical blocking ingredient, which i find tends to leave a white cast on my skin.
Top picks? Honestly, no, otherwise it would have been featured here. The immensely popular Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is all chemical and the new 2017 formula is sweat-resistant โ I wrote a review on it recently. The Suncut Ultra UV Protect Gel (Water Splash) is sweat/sebum-resistant and it feels and looks the same on my skin as the Biore just mentioned.
Iโm a bit confused about photostability.. Itโs my understanding that avobezone Is photostable for 2 hours. How many hours are the tinsorbs
and unival photostable? It would be nice to put it on in the morning and go, similar to what I do with zinc oxide. Thanks for your help.
That isnโt exactly true and it isnโt that simple. Avobenzone on its own isnโt stable and it degrades even quicker when combined with certain ingredients (e.g. Octinoxate, uncoated minerals). According to Dermatologic Therapy, โControl degradation studies have shown that one hour of sunlight exposure reduces avobenzone absorbance by 36%โ and when combined with Octinoxate โthe absorption capacity of avobenzone was reduced by 36%, 15 minutes after UV exposure.โ The degradation starts as soon as it is exposed and it is gradual. Stabilised avobenzone can maintain its UV absorbance even after 4 hours of exposure according to a 2010 Pubmed study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20806994).
thank you for the response. how about the tinsorbs and unival. How many hours are they photostable?
Newer generations filters like Tinosorb M degrade very minimally, but thatโs in lab tests only. Nothing lasts all day without broken down by whatever is on the skin, being absorbed by UV, or simply physically wearing off. It doesnโt matter if a filter (or combination) remains stable for years, it doesnโt stay on the skin for extended periods of time and certaintly not in the amount needed for UV protection.
If youโre apply it following the 2mg per square cm rule (despite popular belief, that doesnโt equal 1/4 tsp on the face), a sunscreen will last 2 hours guaranteed. With advanced filters and under ideal conditions, maybe 4 hours. 6-8 hours is science fiction.
thanks!!
I enjoy reading your reviews and I have to admit that I once the first quarter of the year has past, I keep an eagleโs eye for your Top Sunscreens of the Year list! Canโt wait to try a couple of these.
Let me know how you get on โ and thank you!
Iโm so glad to see the Skin Aqua on this yearโs list because it really is a great sunscreen! The former formulation was also my HG and now that theyโve bumped up the PA rating I love it even more. Funnily though I donโt find this sunscreen greasy at all and I have oily skin.Thank you for putting this list out every year!
Thank you for your suggestions. I will find it in store ๐
I love Nivea Cremeโs signature scentโฆ but I find this newly launched Nivea Sun Creme Care UV Cream smells more likeโฆ Nivea Men?
Hmm.. Iโve no clue what Nivea Men smells like but I have the Japanese formula of the classic Nivea Creme and this smells like it to me.
Can you please suggest the best sunblock that is good for oily/combo skin?
Thanks for these recs! I wonder if youโd be willing to give your opinion on this. You have noted before that sunscreen formulated for โeveryday useโ is not suitable for spending a significant amount of time outside โ in my case, 3-5 hours a day for my job. I do not sweat except in the dead of summer, and I always apply at least 1/4 teaspoon of sunscreen and reapply at least once every 2 hours (plus I wear a hat and sunglasses and UV-protective clothing; I need to use my hands so umbrella isnโt an option); but do you think thatโs still not going to work compared to a sunscreen formulated for outdoor activities?
It really depends on your skin and your own comfort level. Sunscreens formulated for everyday wear are intended for incidental sun exposure only โ you shouldnโt be in the sun long enough to develop to tan if youโre using one. Personally, I wouldnโt use a daily use sunscreen on myself if Iโm going to be spending 3-5 hours outside. That being said, I donโt reapply and I donโt use measuring spoons. I suggest doing what you feel works best for your skin and lifestyle, whatever that may be.
Thanks for taking the time to respond and responding so fast! I donโt measure out the sunscreen either, but at this point I can eyeball if itโs more than 1/4 tsp. I havenโt gotten a tan since I became really diligent about sunscreen, but I still may switch to outdoors-formulated sunscreens for greater peace of mind.
By the way, Iโm not boasting about not sweating โ when I lived in Japan I sweat like a pig for months every year, indoors and outdoors! The struggle is real there! I grew up in a tropical country and I swear it is more humid in Japan.
I always wait for your annual recommendation every year. But this year, my sunscreen ran out very soon and wanted to try the new lunches. And I tried skin aqua uv milk and then I like it so much. And I guess it would be on your annual list this year. Now, Iโm right. I found that your recommendation is always suitable for me. Thanks!
Yes! I always your annual sunscreen recommendations. Iโve had a lot of fun trying a variety of brands thanks to your posts. My only concern this year is the ban that Japan has on shipping sunscreens to other countries. Itโs a real bummer that this happened!
Yes! Glad to see two alcohol-free ones made the list. Iโll have to look into them more. Thanks!