This is a handy at-a-glance guide to the top 20¹ most popular new SPF50+ PA++++ Japanese sunscreen releases of 2021. You can find all the sunscreens released this year (including ones with lower SPF and PA ratings) here.
Looking for older releases? Check out 2020’s Japanese sunscreen guide and 2019’s Japanese sunscreen guide. Please note that numerous products featured there have already been discontinued due to the relatively short product life cycle in Japan.
¹ Based on this website’s statistics.
MILK TYPE
Ultra-fluid, milk-like texture — characterised by their long-wearing, stay-put formula. Remember to shake well before use.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT | ANESSA Perfect UV Mild Milk (2021) » | Saborino Morning All in One Milk UV » | SEKKISEI Clear Wellness UV Defense Milk » | SUNCUT PRODEFENSE Multi Block UV Milk » | SUNCUT PRODEFENSE Non Chemical UV Milk » |
| PRICE / SIZE | ¥1,200 / 20ml; ¥3,000 / 60ml | ¥1,500 / 300ml | ¥2,200 / 50ml | ¥2,200 / 60ml | ¥2,000 / 60ml |
| UV FILTERS | Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S & Uvinul T 150. | Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus & Tinosorb S. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus & Tinosorb S. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate & Uvinul A Plus. | Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide. |
| USAGE | |||||
| WATER RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SWEAT RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| OIL RESISTANT | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ⸺ | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ⸺ |
ESSENCE TYPE
Characterised by their essence (aka serum)-like texture. They are the most moisturising in a sunscreen line-up (unless a cream formula is also available).
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT | Biore UV Aqua Rich Light Up Essence » | MENTURM the SUN Tone Up UV Essence » | NIVEA UV DEEP PROTECT & Care Essence » | SKIN AQUA UV Super Moisture Essence GOLD » | SUNCUT PRODEFENSE Whitening UV Essence » |
| PRICE / SIZE | ¥830 / 70g | ¥650 / 80g | ¥980 / 50g | ¥1,000 / 80g | ¥2,000 / 80g |
| UV FILTERS | Octinoxate, Titanium Dioxide, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T 150 & Uvinul A Plus. | Octinoxate, Uvinul T 150 & Uvinul A Plus. | Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T 150 & Parsol SLX. | Octinoxate, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus & Tinosorb M. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Tinosorb S & Uvinul A Plus. |
| USAGE | |||||
| WATER RESISTANT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SWEAT RESISTANT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| OIL RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol | ‣ Alcohol |
GEL TYPE
Easy-on, easy-off refreshing watery gel texture.
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT | ALLIE Color Tuning UV » | Club MiMiTURE Tone Me Up! UV Gel » | NIVEA UV DEEP PROTECT & Care Gel » | Parasola WHITE Brightening UV » | SEKKISEI Clear Wellness UV Defense Gel » |
| PRICE / SIZE | ¥1,800 / 40g | ¥1,500 / 80g | ¥980 / 80g | ¥1,300 / 30g | ¥2,000 / 70g |
| UV FILTERS | Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Uvinul T 150, Parsol SLX, Tinosorb S & Uvinul A Plus. | Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus, Zinc Oxide & Tinosorb S. | Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T 150 & Parsol SLX. | Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Tinosorb S & Uvinul A Plus. |
| USAGE | |||||
| WATER RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SWEAT RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| OIL RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ⸺ | ‣ Alcohol |
MULTITASKERS
Products with SPF50+ PA++++ that aren’t dedicated sunscreens.
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRODUCT | ANESSA All-In-One Beauty Pact » | MAQuillAGE Dramatic Skin Sensor Base EX UV+ » | MEN’s Biore ONE BB & UV Cream » | PRIVACY UV Face Mist 50 (2021) » | PRIVACY UV Face Powder 50 (2021) » |
| PRICE / SIZE | ¥3,000 / 10g | ¥2,600 / 25ml | ¥1,100 / 30g | ¥1,200 / 40ml | ¥1,400 /3.5g |
| UV FILTERS | Titanium Dioxide, Octinoxate, Octocrylene & Zinc Oxide. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Titanium Dioxide, Tinsorb S & Uvinul A Plus. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Titanium Dioxide, Tinosorb S & Uvinul A Plus. | Octinoxate, Avobenzone, Ensulizole & Tinosorb S. | Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Uvinul A Plus & Tinosorb M. |
| WATER RESISTANT | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| SWEAT RESISTANT | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| OIL RESISTANT | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ‣ Alcohol | ‣ Alcohol | ‣ Alcohol ‣ Fragrance | ⸺ |
Copyright: © 2021 RatzillaCosme
Do you apply body sunscreen before or after wearing clothes?
After to avoid sunscreen rubbing off onto my clothes.
Hello! Do you have a review for physical sunscreens
I just wanna say thank you for the updates. Been always checking ratzillacosme since i was a teenager 🙂
Thanks so much for your continued support! We grew older together!
Do you think you could add a “Include Discontinued” on/off toggle the search bar? That would help a lot when filtering through products.
Yes, it’s actually something I’ve been trying to implement for a while but without much success.
What I want to know is what on this list is least likely to break me out. I’m just so clog-prone and so many sunscreens break me out to the point where I’m afraid to ever go outside… I can’t really wear anything heavy and have dry dehydrated sensitive skin.
Check the ingredient list of previous sunscreens you have used against inci or cosdna websites to see what could be the culprit compared to products you have used that have not caused a reaction.
Do any of them have a matte finish?
The finish is rarely a factor that is advertised for Japanese products that are strictly a sunscreen. It’s incredibly subjective for sunscreens since it highly depends on how much you’ve applied, your skin type, and the climate you’re in. A sunscreen that someone with dry skin finds to be matte, for example, will not necessarily be the case when used on oily skin.
Sometimes I find milk types seem to be a dryer finish, compared to essences or gels.
Have you tried the Anessa SPF lip balm? What are thr filters used?
Yes, it’s nice. Too bad it isn’t sold separately.
They’re Parsol SLX, Octinoxate, Avobenzone & Oxybenzone.
How do you protect your lips from the sun when wearing lip products? Would you apply SPF lip balm first and then layer lipstick on top? How would you re-apply?
I’m not really a lipstick wearer. I use tinted lip products with SPF.
Do any of them have a matte finish?
Thanks for the roundup, as always!
No problem!
Should we expect the range of Allie sunscreens to be updated in 2021? I thought most of them were reformulated yearly.
No, sunscreen releases are completely done in Japan and Allie launched everything back in February. The only sunscreens that haven’t been released are the limited edition ones with cooling effects for the summer.
Thank you so much for the new guide. Please what does oil resistant mean? Thank you
It’s formulated so that the sebum skin produces will not remove or displace the protective sunscreen film — very important for those with oily skin.
Thank you so much. Will be looking out for sebum resistant sunscreen from now onwards
The link for Saborino Milk is incorrect. It redirects to an Allie Milk sunscreen.
Thanks! It has been corrected.
Thank you so much for posting these guides! I look forward to the new releases each spring.