The Best 5 Japanese Drugstore Sunscreens
Sunscreen is something that was on my 'must-buy' list when I first went to Japan. I'll never forget walking into a Don Quixote and being amazed at all the product merchandised all over the store. It was overwhelming at first, but I quickly felt like a kid in a candy store.
Japanese sunscreens are much beloved due to their amazingly light formulas that offer great protection against the sun. Almost every Japanese sunscreen I've encountered is a minimum of SPF 50+ with a PA++++ following right after. Asian countries take sunscreen seriously due a centuries-long obsession with light and fair complexions. And Japan is no exception.
Asian sunscreens typically have more superior formulas than American sunscreens due to different government regulations. Ingredients are quicker to be approved in Asian countries for use in cosmetics and the R&D is much further ahead than the US.
In the US, sunscreen is regulated as an over the counter drug, so the FDA has to approve new ingredients for use in sunscreen. In order to approve a new ingredient, the FDA has to extensively test new ingredients and surprise, surprise, like all other American public agencies, it can be pretty inefficient. The extensive testing and clinical trials done could take up to a decade.
I know there is massive debate within the community on chemical vs physical sunscreen in addition to the safety of new ingredients that aren't approved in the US yet. This topic could actually be a separate blog post on its own (and may be!). With anything else in life, I caution you to please do your own research, make sure you are getting facts from scientists, and be cautious when any group or individual (not affiliated with a government or university) makes claims (ask yourself: can they benefit monetarily in some way from this?).
Anyways, honestly, all these sunscreens are great and offer superb protection (they are all SPF 50+ PA++++). The worst sunscreen on this list will still be a far better choice than Neutrogena. To narrow down to once choice for yourself, it will really just depend on your skin tone and product preferences.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++
This one is a classic and probably the one that put Japanese sunscreens on the map and earned the coveted "Holy Grail" status among many. It has a light, transparent gel texture that absorbs into the skin nicely with no stickiness AND a transparent finish - no white cast here!
This is a chemical sunscreen with the following filters used in this suncreen are: Octinoxate, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, and Uvinul T 150.
For the Biore UV Aqua Rich, I find myself liking this better as a body sunscreen, rather than a face sunscreen, due to the alcohols in the formula. For me, alcohols generally dry out my skin so I avoid skincare and makeup products with too much alcohol. There is also a faint scent of citrus and alcohol but quickly goes away post application. Personally, I notice that when I wear foundation or a color product over this sunscreen, my dry patches are significantly more noticeable.
However, if your skin isn't sensitive to alcohol or anything else on the ingredients list, I think it's worth checking out this sunscreen as it's worked terrifically for so many.
Note that this product does have fragrance, BHT, and alcohols.
Available at Amazon.com.
INGREDIENTS: Water, ethanol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl triazone, isopropyl palmitate, (lauryl methacrylate / Na methacrylate) crosspolymer, diethylaminohydroxybenzoylhexylbenzoate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, bisethylhexyl oxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, palmitic acid Dextrin, BG, xylitol, (acrylate / alkyl acrylate (C10-30)) crosspolymer, dimethicone, alkyl benzoate (C12-15), glycerin, glyceryl stearate, propanediol, glyceryl behenate, (vinyl dimethicone / methicone Silsesquioxane) crosspolymer, cetanol, agar, sorbitan distearate, isoceteth-20, polyvinyl alcohol, (dimethicone / Vinyl dimethicone) crosspolymer, stearoyl glutamate, arginine, hydroxylated K, sodium hydroxide, royal jelly extract, sodium hyaluronate, phenoxyethanol, EDTA-2Na, BHT, perfume.
Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Milk SPF 50+ PA++++
Shiseido's Anessa sunscreen has been a top rated sun protection product in Japan for decades. This sunscreen has both physical (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) and chemical (Octocrylene) UV protection. What's unique about this sunscreen is that 50% of the formula is dedicated to ingredients that are actually supposed to help hydrate your skin, like hyaluronic acid.
I don't necessarily need the traditional "skincare ingredients" in my sunscreen, but I don't mind them as I find they enhance the overall formula.
The texture is very runny, almost sort of like a milk. It's resistant to water, sweat, and sebum for up to 80 minutes. I like the hydrated but not too dewy finish it gives and I find it sits well underneath my makeup.
This one is probably my favorite sunscreen out of the group due to its hydrating benefits and strong UV protection.
Available at GlowieCo.com.
INGREDIENTS: Dimethicone, water, zinc oxide, ethanol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, talc, isopropyl myristate, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, cyclopentasiloxane, isododecane, octocrylene, titanium oxide, PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl benzoate Hexyl acid, glycerin, diisopropyl sebacate, (vinyl dimethicone / methicone silsesquioxane) crosspolymer, silica, dextrin palmitate, xylitol, trimethylsiloxysilicic acid, bisethylhexyl oxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, PEG / PPG-14 / 7 Dimethyl ether, Na chloride, tea extract, cherry leaf extract, caninabara fruit extract, acetyl hyaluronic acid N , Torumenthera root extract, Aloe vera leaf extract, water soluble collagen, PPG-17, triethoxycaprylylsilane, isostearic acid, distearyldimonium chloride, disteardimonium hectorite, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum, stearic acid, EDTA-3Na, BHT, tocopherol, isopropanol, BG, sodium pyrosulfite, phenoxyethanol, perfume.
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF50+ PA++++
Love the packaging of the Skin Aqua sunscreen, the blue/pink gradient of the tube immediately caught my eye as I love gradients. This one is interesting as the purple texture of the sunscreen is supposed to help cancel out any yellow or sallowness in the skin.
This is a sunscreen with both chemical and physical filters used: Octinoxate, Titanium Dioxide, Uvinul A Plus, and Tinosorb S.
There is fragrance with this one as well as a bit of a white cast, so I wouldn't recommend it to my darker skin tone friends out there. This would be great for a light skin tone that needs some additional brightening.
INGREDIENTS: Water, ethanol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, BG, diphenylsiloxyphenyl trimethicone, titanium oxide, hexyl diethylaminohydroxybenzoylbenzoate, sodium hyaluronate, ascorbyl phosphate Mg, Kudamonotesosifolium fruit extract, prunes decomposition product, Izayoi roseki, bis PEG-18 methyl ether dimethylsilane, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer , glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer, bisethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, acrylates copolymer, polysorbate 60, (acrylates / alkyl acrylate (C10-30) crosspolymer, TEA, (acryloyldimethyltaurine ammonium / VP) copolymer, silica, PEG - 12 dimethicone, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, EDTA - 2 Na, Santangamu, alumina, BHT, triisostearate polyglyceryl-2, synthetic phlogopite, tin oxide, red 226, blue 1, perfume.
Allie Extra UV Gel SPF 50+ PA++++
Per Ratzilla Cosme, this sunscreen is discontinued as of February 2020 :(
Allie's Extra UV Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ is another Japanese sunscreen that has both physical and chemical protection. Its formula includes Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Uvinul T 150, and Tinosorb S.
It's marketed as a "gel", but I feel like the texture is closer to a light cream. This one does give more of a dewier finish. I didn't notice a white cast, but there are physical filters in here, so it may not work for darker skintones. It also doesn't have any added fragrance!
INGREDIENTS: Water, zinc oxide, ethanol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, triethylhexanoin, isononyl isononanoate, BG, glycerin, dimethicone, ethylhexyl triazone, bisethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, (Na acrylate / acryloyl dimethyl taurine Na) copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, isohexadecane, polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, EDTA-2Na, BHT, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed collagen.
Suncut UV Protect Gel SPF 50+ PA++++
Suncut's UV Protect Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ is very similar to the Allie in texture, but it's a tad runnier than Allie. Suncut's sunscreen is another sunscreen with both physical and chemical properties. Filters used are: Octinoxate, Parsol SLX, Uvinul A Plus, and Tinosorb S.
What's unique about the Suncut is that it claims to be fragrance free, a rarity in Asian sunscreen and generally, skincare, but we are seeing a lot more fragrance free options now. There is a light sunscreen-alcohol-ish scent, but it fades away after rubbing it in. Typically, I don't mind scents, but I find that fragrance can irritate and break out my skin, so if there's a fragrance free option, I'm always going to try that first.
The finish is also much less dewy than the previous mentioned sunscreens, so I'd recommend it for oilier and combination skin types.
After the Anessa, the Suncut is probably my second favorite out of this list. It's light, non-greasy, and no strong smell!
INGREDIENTS: Water(Aqua), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (7.48%), Alcohol, Isododecane, Polysilicone-15 (3%), Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (2.31%), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine (1.5%), Silica, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Silica Dimethyl Silicate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Clematis Vitalba Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hedera Helix (Ivy) Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, BHT, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol.
What sunscreen should I try?
Regardless of what sunscreen you pick, make sure that it is at least SPF 50+ with PA++++ and ideally has both physical and chemical protection if you want to be covered on all bases in terms of UV protection.
You wouldn't go wrong with any of the previously listed sunscreens or even any sunscreen that's made in Japan. Have you tried any Japanese sunscreens?
