Why You Need To Try Japanese Sunscreens
I struggled to find a sunscreen for my acne-prone and oily skin, which didn’t cause breakouts, until I stumbled upon Japanese sunscreens…and, well, I haven’t looked back.
Table of Contents
Japanese Sunscreens Are Regulated Differently
Japanese sunscreens are regulated and formulated as cosmetic products, which basically this means there is a lot more flexibility and opportunity for innovation like adding skincare benefits and experimenting with formulas from watery essences to thicker creams.
Sunscreens in the US are considered over-the-counter drugs and are subject to much stricter FDA regulations, so there isn’t much variety in formulas and added skincare benefits — they all tend to look and feel more or less the same.
Lightweight Formulas, Added Skincare Benefits And No White Cast
In Japan sunscreen is considered a skincare product, so this means sunscreens are formulated to be as gentle as possible while delivering additional skincare benefits. You will find sunscreens with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, collagen, and plant extracts. Japanese sunscreens are more sophisticated and offer gentle formulas, which blend seamlessly into the skin and have no white cast. It’s really a winning combo!
Japanese Sunscreens Offer Higher Protection Against UVA AND UVB Rays
There are two types of UV rays that skin is exposed to every day:
- UVA Rays (Ultraviolet A): linked with skin aging such as fine lines and sun spots
- UVB Rays (Ultraviolet B): linked with skin burning and skin cancer
So, we need adequate protection from both UVA and UVB rays. In Japanese sunscreens, there is a PA rating to indication UVA protection and SPF to show UVB protection.
In contrast to sunscreens in the US, which generally say “broad spectrum” to indicate UVA protection, but it doesn’t specify exactly how much — it could be a little or a lot.
PA Ratings
PA stands for protection Grade for UVA and it is an indication protection against UVA rays (which cause fine lines, ageing and surface-level damage). The rating scale was developed in Japan to give an exact indication of how much UVA protection each sunscreen provides. On Japanese sunscreens along with the SPF rating, there is also the PA rating, which looks like this: PA +++ or PA ++++. The more pluses the better.
Higher SPF Protection
SPF (or Sun Protection Factor) is the metric to measure protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburns, sun damage, and skin cancer. In Japan (and other countries), face sunscreens can have SPF values as high as 50 compared to the US where the limit is lower and ranges from 15 to 30SPF.
Japanese Sunscreens To Try (These Work On Acne-Prone Skin Too!)
Try out one or more of the Japanese sunscreens listed below. They’re great for daily use; suit all skin types including acne-prone skin; and work well under makeup.
Banana Boat Aqua Daily Moisture UV Protection Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+/PA ++++
Price: $11 for 50ml
Banana Boat Aqua Daily Moisture UV Protection Sunscreen Lotion has a pleasant lightweight milky lotion texture. It applies beautifully on the skin and absorbs within a few seconds, leaving no white cast, heavy or greasy feeling. The skin feels hydrated and velvet-soft on application. It is specifically designed to worn as a daily sunscreen under makeup and it does the job extremely well. Added bonus is the high SPF factor and PA ++++ rating ensuring maximum protection against sun damage. There is a mild fragrance, but it is subtle and causes no issues on the skin. In the same product line, there is the Banana Boat Aqua Long Wearing Moisture Moisture UV Protection Sunscreen Lotion, which is designed for being outdoors or active for long periods of time.
Anessa Moisture UV Sunscreen Mild Gel SPF35/PA+++
PRICE: USD $19 for 90ML
Don’t be confused by the word “gel”. The Anessa Moisture UV Sunscreen Mild Gel SPF35 PA+++ has a very similar lightweight milky formula to the Banana Boat Aqua Daily Moisture UV Protection Sunscreen, so it blends into the skin seamlessly and doesn’t feel heavy at all on application. This particular sunscreen is milder and designed for sensitive skin (product claims even babies (not newborns though) can use it); it contains no alcohol, preservatives, parabens, mineral oil, or fragrance. It works very well as a makeup primer too. One thing to note that it has a lower PA rating and SPF. If you don’t have sensitive skin and are looking for higher PA rating and SPF, then try the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Gel SPF50+ PA++++ or Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50+ PA++++. Both are from the same product line and have similar formulas.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+/PA++++
Price: $20 for 85ml
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is a very hydrating sunscreen. The texture is ‘watery’ as the the name suggests and the skin feels and looks wet on application. The key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, Royal Jelly extract and butylene glycol — all designed for maximum hydration. With its high SPF of 50 and PA ++++ rating, this sunscreen gives extremely good protection against UVA and UVB rays. It is also extremely water-resistant and long-wearing, so the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is a great sunscreen for the outdoors and for no makeup days (it is a little too wet-feeling under makeup). On application, it has a mild cooling effect, which is very refreshing.
Related:
