Here’s some crucial context you should know: These products are designed for daily facial sun protection. They might not withstand a hot bowl of laksa, intense park workouts, or passionate rap sessions…
Doubling up on your protection is always a good idea. More layers of cheese mean fewer chances for rays to slip through. Sunscreen might not be the most foolproof form of sun defense, which is why solely depending on it may not be wise. This information is derived from my publication, The Beauty of Science. This selection is subjective. What works for my skin might not work for yours, as we all have unique preferences and skin types. It’s always best to seek advice from individuals who share a similar skin type to yours.
My skin tends to be oily to normal, and it’s susceptible to blocked pores, particularly with sunscreens. It also easily gets dehydrated and is prone to hyperpigmentation. Genetics are a significant factor in this.
Here are the qualities I look for in sunscreens:
Lightweight: With my oily skin and the typically hot and humid climate I live in, I need lightweight protection. I tend to sweat as I am a fast walker.
Good under makeup: It should not pill, bunch up, or shift over time. I usually dust a translucent powder (Jurlique Rose Silk Finish Powder) over my makeup to control oil and shine, so shine and stickiness are not dealbreakers for me.
Eye sting is something I avoid, but this can vary significantly among individuals.
This year’s selection excludes mineral and hybrid sunscreens, sticks, and sprays, as getting a sufficient amount on your face can be challenging.
The sunscreens featured here are not approved for sale in Australia – they were bought for me in Japan. SPF 50+
PA ++++
80 min WR (JP)
Filters: Octisalate, DHHB, Bemotrizinol (BEMT), Octyl Triazone, Polysilicone-15
Nivea UV Deep Protect & Care Essence is a new addition to my list, courtesy of my husband who brought it back from Japan for me!
It boasts a gel-like consistency and a mild floral scent. There’s a cool sensation upon application, likely due to the alcohol content, which is high on the ingredient list. However, I didn’t detect the smell of alcohol during application, nor did I experience any irritation.
This is how 0.8 grams (the quantity required for my face size and one finger) appears when applied on my face. It spreads smoothly and dries swiftly, but it can become slightly sticky and harder to spread in areas where it has already dried. The dried layer is thin and comfortable. It appears clear and a bit glossy, but not oily. It can be easily mattified with a small amount of powder. It feels very lightweight and has a pore-minimizing effect, even though it’s water-resistant. The packaging suggests it’s suitable for sports, pool, and beach – I assume this is considering Japanese sun intensity and activity levels.
Note: Standard water resistance labels have been introduced to Japanese and Korean sunscreens. The standard follows the European water resistance protocol: the SPF is permitted to decrease by up to 50% after the stated immersion time. Therefore, theoretically, the protection offered by this sunscreen could drop to as low as SPF 25 after 80 minutes.
Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ is very similar to the Nivea sunscreen – a good friend brought this back from Japan for me. Both are produced by the same parent company, Kao (Nivea Japan is a joint venture between Nivea and Kao), they share the same ratings, and they contain similar filters.
Like all versions of this sunscreen I’ve reviewed over the past ten years (I think there are 4?), this latest version of the Biore sunscreen is superb. It’s affordable and suitable for most people – a fantastic introduction to Asian sunscreens.
Both the Biore and Nivea sunscreens are extremely lightweight and have the same SPF, PA, and water resistance ratings. Both seem to employ very similar film-forming technology.
However, there are a few subjective differences!
I noticed that Biore has a slightly stronger alcohol scent during application, but it didn’t bother me, and my skin didn’t react negatively.
Biore doesn’t dry as quickly as Nivea.
Biore is a tad oilier, while Nivea has a more matte finish. This was the key difference for me – given my oily skin, I prefer Nivea.
If I rub my face a lot after the sunscreens have dried, I can make the Biore pill slightly, but not the Nivea. I’ve never had a problem with either pilling under makeup, so this is probably only worth noting if everything pills on you!
There are also some differences in packaging. Biore comes in a larger package (70 g) with a flip-top lid, while Nivea is smaller (50 g) and has a twist-top lid.