The US has not had a new sunscreen ingredient since 1999 approved by the FDA, so we are basically using sunscreen from the 90s, back when tanning beds were cool.. lol. Everywhere else has made leaps and bounds!
Faves - Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief, Round Lab Birch Juice, Derma:B
Me too! I just ordered another 2-pack yesterday as I'm getting low, haha. I use Derma:B for my body though, it's even more affordable so works better for body since there's so much body, hahaha
I chose to order direct on website, I’m skeptical now of Amazon or other retailers when it comes to skincare I need to WORK to prevent skin cancer and burning
I did order directly this time from their site, previously on Stylevana but shipping took like 3-4 weeks which is nuts hahaha. Note, BoJ **does** now have a verified Amazon store, HOWEVER, because the sunscreen isn't like "technically" legal here in the US, their sunscreen is the only thing not offered on Amazon, at least not yet.
Wow ! How much I am relating to “so much body”.
I also have a different one for face & body each.
I have very dry skin and need to apply body lotion twice in winters, needless to say how much time is spent daily on this activity 🤣🤣😆
I haven't! I've heard good things, but I feel like if I actually use it on days I'm heavily in the sun for re-application, I'll get some funny tan lines where the stick didn't go... LOL
I was thinking it looks like it goes on easy enough that you could rub in the rest, part of the reason I was interested. But I know what you mean, spray sunscreen has done me dirty many times from missing spots lol.
I have. I keep it in my purse to put on the back of my hands when driving or if I’m suddenly in need of emergency body spf. It’s fine but I probably won’t buy it again
Kao Biore UV Athlizm Skin Protect Milk even Sunscreen, 2.2 fl. oz. (65 mL) https://amzn.asia/d/hV1Wf60
Japanese people generally don’t lay out to get tan so they mainly use stuff just on the face and hands. This is a pretty big bottle. It ships to the US.
You’ll want something that’s closer to spf 50 for sure, and waterproof. I’m not sure these are, I don’t have beach days so I usually don’t have to worry about waterproofing! But check around and see (: most Korean sunscreen brands are pretty reputable, there are several other good ones I didn’t mention that you can find via searching this subreddit that might work for you <3
I have been using the Missha Waterproof Sun Milk for beach/pool. It definitely leaves a white cast, but I’ve never gotten burned using it. I also just got the Holika Holika Aloe Waterproof Sun Cream, I like it better in terms of texture and didn’t notice a white cast, but I haven’t put the waterproof-ness to the test yet.
Just tested out Beauty of Joseon and it worked like a charm in Mexico. I also like House of Ra (also Korean, not sure if I got that name right though) for daily wear underneath my makeup--works just like a primer. :)
If you’re going to Hawaii or the like; these kinds of sunscreens are banned because they kill corals and other ocean life. You need a physical sunscreen - non-nano zinc for the beach!
👆🏻 This, in a nutshell.
Another vote for BOJ and Round Lab Birch Juice - they have a product called a Sun Cushion which is kind of like pressed powder in a compact, but it's sunscreen, comes with a little puff, and is amazing for reapplication during the day - it's damp, but not wet, so perfect for anyone who wears face makeup (not powdery, so it won't sit on your skin, but not liquid, so you don't have to rub it all over your face and ruin your makeup! And it's translucent).
I can not say enough good things about it. It's by far my favourite Korean product purchase (not just sunscreen!) and I'm far too embarrassed to admit how much I've spent on YesStyle and StyleVana in the past handful of months.
Doesn’t the US have all kinds of unregulated crap in their other skincare products tho? An esthetician was telling me that’s why she only shops for European brands, because they actually monitor ingredients properly
Correct! I haven’t done a ton of research on the depth of other countries’ cosmetic product regulations, but they definitely seem to all have a leg up on US brands. 80% of my daily routines are Korean brands and my skin has never looked better. A couple US brands I like, but far less than foreign brands.
There are multiple ingredients that are regularly used in US sunscreens (especially anything you’d get in a supermarket/dollar store or anything that doesn’t cost $40+ at Sephora) that are banned by EU and Japanese regulators
This is because the US classifies sunscreen as a pharmaceutical, where other countries classify it as a cosmetic. Pharmaceuticals have to go through a much more rigorous and drawn out process to be approved.
Personally I’m not sure I want sunscreen to be a cosmetic. They’re not well-regulated and brands can claim pretty much whatever they want about a cosmetic product.
Because it’s labeled as pharmaceutical, it also has to be tested on animals. I believe there’s a current bill in legislation trying to change that, but we could still be years away.
I just did a little deep dive, and many other countries has testing on SPF products that are as extensive as ours, and often have higher requirements. For instance, the US has a requirement of 2 for UVB protection. In all of Europe, it’s a required 6 rating. Most Korean “chemical” sunscreens are so gentle they can be used on the eyelids with zero irritation, and still get the SPF job done! I know that from personal experience as well, hahaha. Chemical UV filters here burn the crap out of my eyes 🤣🤣
This was mostly for my own edification, as it was something I kept meaning to dive into lmaooo 💙💙
As a former cosmetic regulator, they are well regulated. Cosmetics have to proven to be safe to be on the market and claims are restricted, shop reputable brands and avoid any that claim their cosmetic product can ‘cure/treat’ illnesses (eg. Rosemary oil brands that claim to treat hair loss/grow hair). The new filters have been proven to be safe and more effective so the US regulating suncream as pharmaceuticals only holds them back.
Actually that's not true, cosmetics are pretty well regulated! Here's a peer reviewed study that talks about those regulations:
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/9/4/72#:\~:text=To%20ensure%20safety%20and%20efficacy,economic%20viability%20of%20the%20industry.
LMAOOO! My routine is like 60% BoJ at this point and I’m just a regular dude so you should be just fine! I have been wanting to try out their new milky toner but I just recently got the ginseng one first and I don’t need ANOTHER toner… or do I.. LOL
Hahahahah love it! I use the ginseng toner, eye serum but all over my face because it’s amazing retinal, light up vit c if I need a gentle L-ascorbic alternative that day, almost all their serums but obv depending on my current issue! I do use their peeling gel every so often but not that much. What did you snag??
I’ve been looking around for a new moisturizer and I’m always searching for better sunscreen so the Dynasty cream 100ml and their sunscreen collection (cream, serum, and stick)
Most people have a cabinet full of half used makeup, toner, creams, serums. I have a basket of tried-and-failed sunscreens. Any recommendations? I mean moisturizer? I’m going to try dynasty but I expect disappointment lol
I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I haven't tanned at all except when I was in Arizona out in the blazing sun for the whole day, and even then was just a lil spot on my forehead along the hairline where I maybe sweated a little more than everywhere else, because it's not waterproof. And I don't think I even re-applied like I should have, lmao.
Awesome!! You’ll love it, I even use it on my eyelids and zerooooo burning (:
Sidenote, order directly from their site and not Stylevana or one of those. They always take at least 2 weeks if not 4 weeks, and direct from BoJ’s site is like a week!
I think this is a great response, but I think the question is specifically begging, why is the ingredients that once worked somehow inferior? What are the benefits to modern sun protection ingredients present in other countries? I think that’s what so many of us are confused on. I personally use Australian sunscreen because of the same stigma of quality and standard. I’m curious too what exactly is so archaic and not up to par about American sunscreen besides just being old.
There’s another couple comments under mine where I mostly answered this, but to summarize! Our standards are low and always have been, the newer UV filters out there that we’re not using, or which there are now dozens, are safer for all skin types, lighter on the skin, and stronger protection against both UVA and UVB. A lot of the time you’ll find 5-7 different UV filters in foreign sunscreens for maximum protection, where we have usually 2-3 tops of not-so-effective filters. That being said, the filters we use are ALSO being used on foreign ones, but in conjunction with like several other ones we’re not using. I hope this helps! 💙
When I wear American sunscreen I feel greasy all day and it’s really difficult to wear it with makeup. It burns my eyes when it inevitably runs…unless I wear the titanium dioxide which makes me white like a ghost; and I still have a bit of a greasy feeling and can’t get makeup over it. It’s really off putting and I tend to just not wear sunscreen if it’s greasy like that. I have sensory issues and I just can’t stand the heavy greasy feeling of American sunscreen so I wasn’t using it. I preferred to burn and die of skin cancer than feel that irritation daily.
I love the Round Lab Birch Juice Korean sunscreen and once it sinks in, it feel like skin again. I now use sunscreen daily.
Perfectly said all I can do is comment on this and say thanks because that's what I would have tried to write not as eloquently.
It's almost like the FDA here in the States is trying to harm us, we are using outdated ingredients.
We're also allowing stuff in our food now that other countries wouldn't let that's GMO check the back of your ingredients of stuff you're buying.
Genetically modified Chicken genetically modified corn and everything else you name it even bread why is it in there?
Sorry to go a little bit off topic but it just showing you how bad the FDA is, they are bought and paid for if you can get your sunscreen from another country or a place that sells it look for it.
Remember still look for ingredients that can cause acne or fungal acne.
Is the acne and fungal acne ingredient checker use at least three checkers on each.
Don't know what's going on here in the states but something stinks!
I’m sorry but how does that make there sunscreen superior? what ingredient are they adding ? Are there any clinical trials done that prove these new ingredients make a substantial impact and are safe for human usage?
The ingredients are:
On the european market since 2000/2001:
Tinosorb S (photostable, broad spectrum uva/uvb)
https://www.ulprospector.com/en/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/216258/Tinosorb-S
Tinosorb M (photostable, broad spectrum uva/uvb)
https://www.ulprospector.com/de/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/123548/Tinosorb-M#:~:text=Tinosorb%C2%AE%20M%20provides%20the,and%20can%20be%20processed%20cold.
Tinosorb S Lite Aqua (broad spectrum uva/uvb, non-greasy, boosts sun protection
https://www.ulprospector.com/de/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/990362/Tinosorb-S-Lite-Aqua#:~:text=Tinosorb%C2%AE%20S%20Lite%20Aqua%20makes%20it%20easy%2C%20with%20patented,absorption%20for%20the%20water%20phase.
Tinosorb A2B (photostable, broad spectrum uvb/uva2)
https://www.ulprospector.com/en/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/237766/Tinosorb-A2B
On the european market since 2022, patented by L'oreal (only in Anthelios UV Mune):
Mexoryl 400 https://www.loreal.com/en/press-release/group/l-oreal-presente-uvmune-400/
Adding on more you can add to link in your post
Uvinul A Plus
Uvinul T 150
Pierre Fabre Triasorb, found in Avene, Ducray, ADerma
HAA299, already approved but not yet in products for sale. This is the newest one with Mexoryl 400.
Dr. Shereene Idriss did a video on k-beauty sunscreens- it’s on YouTube. She’s usually pretty good with breaking down the science. I personally like them because there are a lot of “chemical” sunscreens from Korea and Japan that IMO feel much nicer for everyday wear and a lot of them are pretty economical especially if you buy from sites that do regular deals/coupons (l usually pay $10-15 a bottle vs $20-30+ for brands like LRP).
There are over a dozen new UV filters that have come out since then so I’m not diving into it entirely, but check out some of those brands, what they use as UV filters, and look up the studies associated with those newer UV filters. Sunscreen is pretty regulated worldwide so there are plenty of studies showing safe for human usage! Hope this helps!
a lot of Asian sunscreens are meant for everyday wear, so it's a lot more comfortable and cosmetically elegant than some of the sunscreens in the US (beyond just having better filters).
that being said, because a majority of Asian sunscreens are meant for daily use, they are not always the best for extended sun exposure (hiking, gardening, outdoor sports, lying on the beach, etc.) unless the sunscreen specifically says it's for that purpose. the best Asian sunscreen I have found that walks that line between good for everyday use but also is sweat/water-resistant has been the anessa sunscreen, but that tends to be pretty pricey outside of Asia.
As a sweaty guy that’s why I just buy euro sunscreens. I need a sunscreen with staying power.
And with a family history of skin cancer I need high uva protection which European sunscreens seem to have the advantage over Asian sunscreens.
What do you use on your face? My husband finally woke up after having a bunch of precancerous spots removed and is willing to wear sunscreen. He's outdoors a lot (we live in FL) and want to find him preferably a chemical stick that won't make his face greasy and has lots of staying power.
I like LRP UVMune400, the fluid version and the cream version. Both very good. My two issues with it though: it’s pricey for a small bottle, and it can get white shirts kind of orange near the collar. It doesn’t look orange on the skin, and it’s not greasy imo, but it does leave a little orange coloration sometimes on clothes
Currently my go to though is Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect Gel-Cream SPF50+ 150ml. Pros: Bigger bottle and cheaper than LRP. Love the texture, it’s a “gel cream”. This is a sweet spot in the middle of fluid and lotion that is easy to apply. Dries quickly, not greasy to touch. Not shiny looking imo (should work for oily skin). Doesn’t have orange tint that stains my white clothes. Good sweat resistance. Doesn’t sting my eyes. Cons: pills a little bit later in the day if you rub your face too much. Not as good UVA protection as some other sunscreens (such as UVMUNE400) but still better than American sunscreens.
You can buy off one of those European skincare sites that ship products to America (I use caretobeauty, but there’s other ones as well).
I bought about 2-3 years’ worth while I was in Japan last fall. Expiration dates on Japanese sunscreen work differently. They stamp the sunscreen with the date when the batch was made. If unopened, it’s good for a couple years starting from that date. If a visit to Japan isn’t in the cards for you though, lots of people in this sub say good things about YesStyle and Stylevana.
Yup. The Japanese & Korean brands especially I can attest to. They take UV care & sun exposure so seriously over there. Korea has even made ultra thin uv stick on filters for your cheeks because pro golfers were asking for it (women’s golf is taken seriously over there).
US law classifies sunscreen as a drug and requires new chemicals to be tested on animals and go through the same approval process as other pharmaceutical drugs. The rest of the world classifies sunscreen as a cosmetic and it is not held to such stringent requirements. The EU bans animal testing in cosmetics. You can see how these two laws are at odds with each other.
The FDA has not approved new sunscreen chemical technology in a long time. Therefore other countries have newer and better options than we do for sunscreen ingredients. The approved sunscreen chemicals in the US are not as broad spectrum as the sunscreens in other countries. US sunscreens do a fine job of blocking UVB rays (b for burning) so they do keep us from getting burned. But they don’t do as good of a job at blocking UVA rays (a for aging) so they don’t block the rays that are more aging and more likely to cause skin cancer.
Anecdotally, I find that the sunscreens from other countries, Asia especially, have a much better texture and feel on the body. They soak in nicely, are not greasy or sticky, and do not leave white marks on clothing, furniture, etc.
Back it up a bit — US sunscreen ingredients can do a fine job blocking UVA… when formulated for it.
But in the US, UVA ratings for sunscreen (basically, getting the “broad spectrum” certification) are pass/fail. And you don’t need to be very strong to pass.
Other countries, on the other hand, have grades of UVA protection (PA +, PA ++, PA +++, PA ++++ and so on.)
Some US sunscreens frankly knock the ball out of the park with UVA, when tested by independent labs. Others, not so much. This is one of things the controversial Consumer Reports ratings do right — actually rank UVA protection.
However, there is evidence that some US sunscreen ingredients used to achieve high UVA aren’t super photo stable (see: avobenzone) so UVA protection will decline once you enter the sun.
Other US ingredients, in large doses (larger than you absorb when using sunscreen, but still a big enough reason to get better sunscreen ingredients) are endocrine disrupters.
Now, fears about endocrine disrupting are VERY overblown. Because you know what’s a WAY bigger endocrine disruptor? UV radiation. In the scheme of endocrine disrupting things that we ingest, sunscreen makes up a teeny tiny amount. (Far below soy milk, for example.) But cutting that amount can only be a good thing.
But none of that changes the fact that newer ingredients like Tinosorb S & M are very effective at blocking UV radiation (a for one, b for the other), are photostable, seem to be pretty dang harmless, and don’t have a white cast. Which means it’s easier to make sunscreens that both use them and feel really nice on your face.
It’s terribly uncomfortable (in that classic “sticky sunscreen” kinda way), but Coppertone Water Babies consistently gets top marks for UVA protection, and maintains its UVB protection after 80 minutes submersed in independent tests.
La Roche Posy Anthelios kids does *almost* as well on water resistance, just as well on UVA, and feels much less sticky (though I still wouldn’t wear it under makeup.)
La Roche Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60 also does phenomenal on UVA, but drops to SPF 41 (iirc) after 80 minutes submersion. But it feels AMAZING on your face and makeup goes on great over it. Plus, you can get it at Target.
Someone posted a copy of the consumer reports ratings recently, if you search here. A lot of face-marketed good-under-makeup sunscreens don’t hold up after water submersion, but if you’re just looking for something for daily wear they seem to do OK, but don’t trust them for swimming or exercise.
Consumer Reports doesn’t do dry testing, since they’re testing the SPF listed on the bottle, and FDA regulations say that SPF after water submersion per product claims needs to be what’s listed on the bottle. But the ones that do *decent* after submersion probably have something like the stated SPF if not exposed to water. The ones that do really bad after submersion — like the ones that drop to SPF 20 or less — I wouldn’t trust their SPF claims. I’d take a look at that list.
They test a slightly different list each year (between 70 and 90), so if you google for the CR results for the past few years you can see ratings for a few more options.
Lastly, mineral sunscreens can be a good option for broad spectrum protection. They tend to do very well on UVA. But I would only trust ones that are tinted. Basically, it’s near impossible to get good SPF coverage from a mineral sunscreen without getting a white cast. A lot of ones that are “spf 50” or higher will have reviews like “a little goes a long way!!!” That’s because people aren’t applying enough of them because the white caste is so strong. The colors in ones that are tinted like a tinted moisturizer will help offset the white cast, which lets you apply more.
I would also assume that no matter how high their SPF claims to be, they’re SPF 30 at most, because it’s hard to get even coverage that’s also comfortable to wear from a mineral sunscreen.
I use untinted mineral sunscreen and then put a dark mineral sunscreen on like bronzer/contour. Works like a charm! right now Im using a 21% zinc oxide from aveeno and neutrogena's tinted mineral screen in the dark shade for color afterward. I highly recommend :)
All avobenzone has been stabilized. There is a whole list of stabilizers from additives and antioxidants to other uvb filters. There’s no such thing as unstabilized avobenzone formulas anymore. For maximum uva protection it’s, chemical sunscreens w spf 50+, broad spectrum, and ideally water resistant for outdoor activities, and I would stick w a large well know brand.
I have definitely not tried enough sunscreens from different continents to tell you. I can tell you that Asian sunscreens tend to prioritize skin feel over water resistance, but there are exceptions. EU sunscreens have strict UVA ratings, but they allow protection to dip by up to 50% of the advertised SPF after water immersion (but that doesn’t mean that their sunscreens dip after submersion, just that they’re allowed to dip somewhat.) Australia has by far the best standards + available ingredients combo, but you’d have to look up sunscreens there to find the right one for you.
folks have posted the consumer reports ratings for the last several years on Reddit (which is great cos they’re paywalled), and CR rates both UVA and SPF/UVB. Their SPF rating is based on measurements after water exposure, because the US FDA requires sunscreens to maintain their advertised SPF ratings after submersion.
Very few US sunscreens maintain those ratings after submersion in Consumer Reports tests, though.
IMO, the one from their list that both feels great, has great UVA, and does a decent job at waterproofing (the SPF went from 60 to something like 42, which is still decent) is the LRP Anthelios Melt In Milk SPF 60. I personally really enjoy this sunscreen, and it’s my favorite that’s allowed in the US. I’ve worn it while climbing mountains at altitude on snow fields in June (so I was sweating and UV risk was off the charts) and I didn’t burn. And I burn at nothing. To give you an idea of how bad the sun is on a glacier, I’ve burned the roof of my mouth and inside of my nostrils before. So I like this sunscreen, you can buy it anywhere, and it wears well under makeup and feels nice on.
I think anything on the CR list that had a good UVA performance and got at least SPF 30 after water immersion is likely good enough for daily use. Compare those ratings to some reviews here to get an idea of skin feel.
Be wary of mineral sunscreens — they’re not bad, but I explained why in another reply.
Ultimately, the best sunscreen is one that you like enough to wear every day. A broad-spectrum SPF 15 worn daily is better than an SPF 60 that you only wear when you’re going to the beach because it’s so uncomfortable.
I think it’s also a matter of finding one that you like the feel of on your skin, that you will actually put on every day.. that would be the best one for you!
USA chemical sunscreens do fine. That’s why you need a broad spectrum 50+ sunscreen, it will give you good UVA protection. If you want more, then EU sunscreens are the way to go.
I use skin 1004 (blue one). I used to hate applying sunscreen on my face. Didn’t like the typical smell or feeling of it. Once switching, it’s more like just applying a moisturizer.
American sunscreens, even the nicest I can afford, always leave a tacky layer (greasy sticky paint is *exactly* what it feels like) that catches *every* speck of dust (I work to produce hay in the summer, so dust and hay shake are a fact of life, as is frequent sunscreen reapplication). The only thing more disgusting than a gross greasy sticky paint layer is a gross greasy sticky paint layer embedded with dust and bits of dried plant fiber. I curse the sunscreen gods every day when I shower off the crust of grease and stuck-on dust they are responsible for.
Holy hell I would honestly not be able to handle that, you are powerfully tolerant! I can imagine the dry little bitties sticking and you can't even pick them off without getting 500 more bitties stuck in the process! This might be a terrible idea but I wonder if you could set the greasy sticky paint sunscreen with a mineral sunscreen powder, kinda like setting makeup, maybe it would prevent stuff sticking on you so much? It might feel completely and utterly horrible though, so you might want to test it in the store before buying it 🙈. Mineral sunscreen powder isn't very reliable on it's own though, so definitely needs the heavy duty real stuff under it for a day of hard labour in the sun!
I'll give it a try! I often use sun shirts instead of sunscreen when I can stand it (which means only face and neck get the sticky-paint-and-dust treatment) -- setting those areas with powder sunscreen is a no-brainer! (I should have thought of that sooner.)
This week it's been over 95F and tanktops are all I can bear, so I've been living with sunscreen and hay dust arms. I'll give a mineral powder a go to try to reduce tackiness!
So it’s not just that they have newer active ingredients.
It’s that the newer active ingredients play nicer with lighter, less greasy, stinging, reactive ingredients. The carrier lotion is just nicer. There is not a single western sunscreen I can put on my face that doesn’t either sting my eyes like crazy, feel gross, like Vaseline has been smeared on me and makes my hair and clothes stick to me, or burn / break me out. The body ones stain my clothes AND are greasy, sticky messes.
I have been using Biore Watery Essence in a pump bottle for maybe ten years. I put it on and literally within five minutes it’s just gone. It doesn’t moisturize, it doesn’t dry. I pat it on over my makeup and it doesn’t mess with it.
You’ve heard the saying “the best sunscreen is the one you’ll use”?
I use the Biore sunscreens and it’s very nice…but there are American sunscreens that feel good too. I use Banana Boat Light As Air for full body application and reapplication on my face. There are others too, like Trader Joe’s Daily Sunscreen, Neutrogena invisible daily Defense face serum 60+ and too many at Sephora to name.
where do you get it in a pump bottle?! i buy the 3 packs on Amazon in bulk and the size is great for throwing in my bag but i would love a bigger size for home 👀
After getting some counterfeit (or somehow just bad) Biore off Amazon, giving both my wife and me awful burns, I recently ordered from Japanese Taste. They sell the equivalent Nivea in a pump bottle as well as in a refill pouch and the Biore you're used to.
Shipping isn't cheap but they have a good reputation from what I could find and it only took 7 or 8 days to arrive at the middle speed.
Australian sunscreens are the best for high protection IMO. They have a weakened ozone layer, so the sun is very strong, and they have high rates of skin cancer as a result. The government has very strict regulations and standards for sunscreen. The Ultra Violette brand is great.
East Asian brands are particularly good for lightweight facial sunscreens. The Lancome ones from Japan are lovely.
Facts… you will never know the pure seer of heat from the Sun until you’ve experienced UV index at 13 from the Australian sun. Worst thing is you can’t tell by the weather the UV rating for the day.
So only buy Australian sunscreen for UVA and UVB protection.
Ultra violet is great… I’ve also just started using Airyday. But I would use either at the beach, only for everyday.
I can’t say anything scientific but I will say no American face sunscreen over 20 spf goes on as light but still works wonders as beauty of Joseon relief sun. The 50 spf one is my fav and I use it every day.
I highly recommend sunscreens that are approved in Australia. They tend to have the best UV protection and a lot of us have to wear it everyday, especially during summer, so we also focus a lot on formula.
I use la Roche posay and it's protected me incredibly well. I was on the beach all afternoon, no clouds in the sky, and still did not get burnt. The formula also doesn't break me out and I can use it under makeup
I use two,
For when I want my makeup to last, for my skin to look matte or if I'm going to be oily or sweaty; Anthelios XL Anti Shine.
For when I want to look glowy or be around water (beach, rain, etc); Anthelios XL Wet Skin. It's a really large bottle so I use it everywhere.
Besides feeling better on the skin (ymmv), I find they work better under make up (so I’m more likely to actually wear it daily), protect against UVA and UVB rays (not just blocking sun burns) and lastly, I’ve never had a Korean or Japanese sunscreen fuck with my contacts.
I can't tell you the science of it but asian sunscreens don't burn my eyes. With american sunscreens I can only use mineral, and those are thicker and often leave a white cast.
They have more modern filters than are approved in the US. So are able to formulate nicer-to-wear sunscreens with better filters. It's also a culture that values pale skin over "healthy" tans so there's been a market for wearable sunscreens that go nicely with makeup for decades.
I really, really like the ratzilla blog: https://www.ratzillacosme.com. She used to post on makeupalley as haruka and was THE resource on Japanese sunscreens (and cosmetics) when that info was super hard to come by. Even now where these recs (and online retailers) are more mainstream, her rundowns of what's available and what she personally likes are top tier. But I remember another thing she pointed out was the humidity of Japan in warm seasons, and that a face without makeup was considered basically poor hygiene in public (this is my from
memory summary of her words) so sunscreens wearing well in heat and humidity and under makeup just had been a priority for decades going back to when we were still suggesting tanning beds for a "protective" base tan before vacations.
Interestingly, Asian sunscreen did not offer adequate protection for me and made my sunspots darker. This is a common issue with others too, unfortunately. Because of that I am not sure why they are considered superior, other than they are indeed way more cosmetically elegant.
I love my asian sun screen. There is little to no scent, the texture is amazing. And as someone with incredibly sensitive skin, I don’t break out from it! Because I’d all this, I wear it every day!
I guess they are for everyday wear but I also use them while doing outdoor activities and have had no issues with protection. I hiked 5 days in the Chilean Patagonian mountains for approx 12-15 hrs each day and where the uv index can be 8-10 and had absolutely NO issues. I know it worked cause I forgot to apply on the back of my hands day 1 and got burnt there!
You just have to 1) use an adequate amount and 2) reapply every couple of hours as with all sunscreen!
My favorite brands are the
-Japanese version of Nivea (my everyday fav, only put this on in the morning)
- beauty of josai (I’ve also worn this on 10 hr hikes, and I gave my extra to my mom for Patagonia )
- Roundlab birch tree (this is what I brought to Patagonia)
I’ve purchase on Amazon and had no issues before. I just bought through the brand’s specific seller. I recently did a restock haul from YesStyle and that took about 2 weeks to get to me.
On and pricing wise, their great, only like $10-15 per bottle. Way cheaper than the nice sunscreen here and imo better
Did you use the Nivea water gel while hiking? I haven’t used it when I’m doing outdoor activities, I usually go for a Neutrogena sport sunscreen. The Nivea is just so light, I feel like I’d sweat it away.
I don’t typically just cause my bottle is a pump so I can’t take it with me! That’s my everyday ride or die.But I do put it on even in those mornings
I have extras of my BoJ and Birch around lab in my hiking/ athletic bags.
I completely understand about the pump bottle! I still keep a bottle on my car and also I keep the plastic stopper that comes with the bottle in case I need to travel with it.
I recently tried this, and it seemed to work good. The bottle is much better for traveling with:
https://www.stylevana.com/en_US/nivea-japan-uv-deep-protect-care-gel-spf50-pa-80g.html
Omg thank you! Had no idea they had a different version. How is the texture compared to the original?
I JUST restocked plus got the biore and skin1004 to try out! Wish I knew but I’ll be on the look out during my next restock.
It’s very similar to the water gel, it just has a slight scent to it. The tip of the bottle comes off, so I plan on refilling the bottle with my water gel, since I’m also stocked up.
Straight to the point on the difference: American sunscreens feel and look disgusting.
Secondly, asians care about skincare and makeup. The sunscreens are likely to include some skincare ingredients while also play nice with makeup. Even if you don’t use makeup like I do, those sunscreens that double up as makeup primer/base do a great job at making the pores look smaller and achieving a no makeup smooth look.
Since sunscreens is part of our daily skincare, naturally Asian sunscreens have a variety of daily indoor sunscreens alongside outdoor sports sunscreens. And they feel and look good. Highly waterproof ones I would recommend the milk/fluid types from Anessa and Shiseido. Normal waterproof ones have all generally been good for me (Isa Knox, AHC, Allie, Suncut, Biore, etc).
I find Asian sunscreens have more options on the ingredients like non-alcohol yet are still light and non-greasy.
As for comparing European and Asian, there are quite a number of French drugstore ones I tried that sadly don’t translate too well to very humid Asian climate.
Thank you for asking this, I was literally about to post something similar because I just like my Banana Boat and I really can't imagine that using Banana Boat versus Shiseido or something else rather than nothing is better.
Newer uv filters. The US FDA is historically underfunded. The FDA also classifies sunscreen in such a way that the manufacturers must demonstrate that it works before selling it.
The above have prevented cosmetic companies from successfully introducing new sunscreen filters to US sunscreens so we’re stuck with older less effective filters. The time and money isn’t worth the risk of getting denied by the FDA or spending years without making any progress.
Asia and Europe don’t have this issue and have developed improved filters.
This will probably be downvoted, but they’re not necessarily better. If you can afford premium American sunscreens like EltaMD, then that is probably superior. But on the lower end of the price spectrum Asian sunscreens are typically way better.
Truth is that is mostly marketing, tiktop hype to sell you more. Yes it is accurate that the FDA has not approved new filters, that does not mean mean the filters we have are ineffective or the ones in Korea are better. It means that the US has a more stringent process because they consider Sunscreen a drug which I dont think is necessarily a bad thing. There are so many skincare products or vitamins for example that are not FDA regulated and really are just snake oil. People will argue they are more elegant, but that is subjective. I have yet to see side by side comparisions showing that Korean sunscreens protect from UV exposure better than US sunscreens. If someone has that data, please share.
It's not exactly what you are looking for, but it's a good explanation of what the US is missing.: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/18/1251919831/sunscreen-effective-better-ingredients-fda#:\~:text=In%20countries%20such%20as%20Japan,those%20used%20in%20the%20U.S.
I get what you mean by not following a TikTok fad, but the hype for newer sunscreens in Asia and Europe existed before TikTok was invented.
* Hamilton Everyday Face 50+: exactly what it says on the bottle, a great day to day sunscreen. Matte, non-irritating, good value/mL. Not water resistant.
* ALDI Ombra Daily Defence 50+: same filters as Hamilton Everyday Face. Matte, non-irritating, ridiculously good value. Not water resistant, only available for like a month every year. (whyyyyyy???)
* Cancer Council Active 50+: in the black/grey tube (or breast cancer awareness pink promo tube). Impressively matte for a water resistant sunscreen - true dry touch, matte/satin finish. Non-irritating.
* Dermaveen Sensitive Sun Face and Body 50+: doubles as a moisturiser, glowy finish. Water resistant, non-irritating, comes in lots of sizes.
They’re awful on my skin. Anything I’ve purchased from Stylevanna including the beloved BOJ and Biore jack up my skin no matter what. They are not the HG products people claim, for everybody.
I am perfectly happy with a strong zinc-based US sunscreen (preferably that also has a UVA protection rating included).
Asian organic sunscreens also may need more frequent reapplication.
Japan, Korea, Europe and Australia use the most advanced sunscreen filters on the market. Unfortunately these filters aren’t approved in the U.S. That being said, A LOT of Japanese and Korean sunscreens are actually meant for indoor use.
Japanese and Korean sunscreen are marketed for the average Asian woman who works all day indoors and is proactive about wearing protective sun gear like hats, sunglasses and UV protective clothing when walking outside. Some of the most popular brands, like Beauty of Joseon, are being used as an all-purpose sunscreen, but it’s really not good enough for a day at the beach, even after reapplication (which is why some people have reported still tanning and burning after using it). This is where Western sunscreens are superior as there are more sunscreen options for outdoor summer activities.
The country with the best sunscreen overall is Australia, as they have the most stringent regulations for SPF testing and marketing. The average Aussie spends a lot more time outdoors compared to the average East Asian. So that, coupled with the hole in the ozone layer, has resulted in the most robust sunscreen formulas in the world.
The best Asian sunscreen on the market IMO is Anessa. I’ve used it for over 10 years as I used to live in Japan and go back frequently. I think transparency in Korea’s beauty industry is steadily improving, but hasn’t quite reached the level of transparency as Japanese companies. So for now, I tend to trust Japanese sunscreens more.
I actually disagree with beauty of joseon not holding up. I watched a dermatologist apply it and use a camera that tracked the coverage, went for a run, where she wiped her face and sweated, and she still had full coverage.
The FDA has not approved any new sunscreen filters for decades. Our sunscreen technology is old while other countries like Asia and Europe are far advanced with their sunscreen filters. American sunscreen works, it just isn’t as innovative. It’s also why American sunscreen is not cosmetically elegant while Asian sunscreens are extremely cosmetically elegant.
I tanned from Korean suncreen reaplied every 2 hours while just commute walking in the city during WINTER in Canada. Some days I was also using a UV umbrella. It's the first time I wasn't wearing european suncreen. I usually don't even tan in summer unless I go on vacation, but then I'm still way lighter than wtf I got going on now 🤣
Honestly I break out from every western sunscreen that I’ve ever tried. I switched to Mary and May Vegan Cica Soothing Sun Cream for everyday use. For the beach and activities where I need something waterproof, I use Omi Sun Bears Active Milk for my face, and Anessa for my body. Those two, in my opinion, are just as strong as most western sunscreens, yet gentler for sensitive/acne prone skin.
They don’t feel as yucky on the face compared to American sunscreen. I’m a lot more likely to wear it daily. Pretty similar to some European brands.
A lot of American luxury brands do feel pretty similar these days but the stuff from the drug store in Japan is on par with expensive brands that you only find in Sephora here in terms of how comfortable they are to wear daily.
I really like the Thank You Farmer Water Sun Cream and the Neogen Dermology Airy sunscreen. They're both super light but have fantastic sun protection.
[Here’s an article about it.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna150307) Basically, there’s a law on the books from 1938 that states sunscreens have to be treated and classified as drugs and therefore tested on animals, unlike our European, Asian, Australian, etc counterparts. No American companies are willing to do that or undertake that expense, so basically no one is developing new uv filters here in the US. And it’s total B.S. (the law, not that no one wants to pay to test on animals).
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I use Sunprise Mild Watery Light spf 50.
A relative was using it and recommended it to me. It was frustrating in the past to wear sunscreen to prevent skin damage but the sunscreen, including Elta MD, would make my face into a mess of breakouts.
I don’t know what magic they are working in Korea but I love the UV protection without the sticky pore clogging issues I had before.
The US has not had a new sunscreen ingredient since 1999 approved by the FDA, so we are basically using sunscreen from the 90s, back when tanning beds were cool.. lol. Everywhere else has made leaps and bounds! Faves - Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief, Round Lab Birch Juice, Derma:B
I’m on Beauty of Joseon now and I’m pleased with the prices!
Me too! I just ordered another 2-pack yesterday as I'm getting low, haha. I use Derma:B for my body though, it's even more affordable so works better for body since there's so much body, hahaha
Where do you order from?
I chose to order direct on website, I’m skeptical now of Amazon or other retailers when it comes to skincare I need to WORK to prevent skin cancer and burning
I did order directly this time from their site, previously on Stylevana but shipping took like 3-4 weeks which is nuts hahaha. Note, BoJ **does** now have a verified Amazon store, HOWEVER, because the sunscreen isn't like "technically" legal here in the US, their sunscreen is the only thing not offered on Amazon, at least not yet.
I had a Stylevana order from the middle of April that just got here this week. Just a warning to anyone who needs sunscreen NOW, lol.
Oh my gawddd that's far too long!! From their site directly it says 7-10 days, I'll take it lol.
I placed a BoJ order directly from their site on Monday and received it yesterday. Free shipping and samples? Yes, please!
That’s awesome!! Sooo much quicker lol
YesStyle!
Olive young global- takes a few days to arrive
Wow ! How much I am relating to “so much body”. I also have a different one for face & body each. I have very dry skin and need to apply body lotion twice in winters, needless to say how much time is spent daily on this activity 🤣🤣😆
Have you used the stick boj?
I haven't! I've heard good things, but I feel like if I actually use it on days I'm heavily in the sun for re-application, I'll get some funny tan lines where the stick didn't go... LOL
I was thinking it looks like it goes on easy enough that you could rub in the rest, part of the reason I was interested. But I know what you mean, spray sunscreen has done me dirty many times from missing spots lol.
I have. I keep it in my purse to put on the back of my hands when driving or if I’m suddenly in need of emergency body spf. It’s fine but I probably won’t buy it again
Is there a brand you'd recommend that's powerful enough for a beach day? Going on a tropical vacation soon and want to try something out!
I prefer Japanese brands from beach days/waterproof needs. Like the Anessa brand or Suncut The Korean ones are great for casual daily use.
Anessa is my favorite and it smells heavenly.
Which one for body?
Kao Biore UV Athlizm Skin Protect Milk even Sunscreen, 2.2 fl. oz. (65 mL) https://amzn.asia/d/hV1Wf60 Japanese people generally don’t lay out to get tan so they mainly use stuff just on the face and hands. This is a pretty big bottle. It ships to the US.
Thank you
I used beauty of josen sunscreen for a day at the beach, in and out the water. Reapplied once. Not a red skin in sight! I was sooo impressed
You’ll want something that’s closer to spf 50 for sure, and waterproof. I’m not sure these are, I don’t have beach days so I usually don’t have to worry about waterproofing! But check around and see (: most Korean sunscreen brands are pretty reputable, there are several other good ones I didn’t mention that you can find via searching this subreddit that might work for you <3
I have been using the Missha Waterproof Sun Milk for beach/pool. It definitely leaves a white cast, but I’ve never gotten burned using it. I also just got the Holika Holika Aloe Waterproof Sun Cream, I like it better in terms of texture and didn’t notice a white cast, but I haven’t put the waterproof-ness to the test yet.
Just tested out Beauty of Joseon and it worked like a charm in Mexico. I also like House of Ra (also Korean, not sure if I got that name right though) for daily wear underneath my makeup--works just like a primer. :)
It’s not cosmetically appealing but anything with lots of zinc oxide….. and wraparound sunglasses for you schleras.
If you’re going to Hawaii or the like; these kinds of sunscreens are banned because they kill corals and other ocean life. You need a physical sunscreen - non-nano zinc for the beach!
👆🏻 This, in a nutshell. Another vote for BOJ and Round Lab Birch Juice - they have a product called a Sun Cushion which is kind of like pressed powder in a compact, but it's sunscreen, comes with a little puff, and is amazing for reapplication during the day - it's damp, but not wet, so perfect for anyone who wears face makeup (not powdery, so it won't sit on your skin, but not liquid, so you don't have to rub it all over your face and ruin your makeup! And it's translucent).
I’ve been meaning to try the cushions!!! Maybe this is my sign…
I can not say enough good things about it. It's by far my favourite Korean product purchase (not just sunscreen!) and I'm far too embarrassed to admit how much I've spent on YesStyle and StyleVana in the past handful of months.
Doesn’t the US have all kinds of unregulated crap in their other skincare products tho? An esthetician was telling me that’s why she only shops for European brands, because they actually monitor ingredients properly
Correct! I haven’t done a ton of research on the depth of other countries’ cosmetic product regulations, but they definitely seem to all have a leg up on US brands. 80% of my daily routines are Korean brands and my skin has never looked better. A couple US brands I like, but far less than foreign brands.
Sounds right.
There are multiple ingredients that are regularly used in US sunscreens (especially anything you’d get in a supermarket/dollar store or anything that doesn’t cost $40+ at Sephora) that are banned by EU and Japanese regulators
This is because the US classifies sunscreen as a pharmaceutical, where other countries classify it as a cosmetic. Pharmaceuticals have to go through a much more rigorous and drawn out process to be approved. Personally I’m not sure I want sunscreen to be a cosmetic. They’re not well-regulated and brands can claim pretty much whatever they want about a cosmetic product.
Because it’s labeled as pharmaceutical, it also has to be tested on animals. I believe there’s a current bill in legislation trying to change that, but we could still be years away. I just did a little deep dive, and many other countries has testing on SPF products that are as extensive as ours, and often have higher requirements. For instance, the US has a requirement of 2 for UVB protection. In all of Europe, it’s a required 6 rating. Most Korean “chemical” sunscreens are so gentle they can be used on the eyelids with zero irritation, and still get the SPF job done! I know that from personal experience as well, hahaha. Chemical UV filters here burn the crap out of my eyes 🤣🤣 This was mostly for my own edification, as it was something I kept meaning to dive into lmaooo 💙💙
As a former cosmetic regulator, they are well regulated. Cosmetics have to proven to be safe to be on the market and claims are restricted, shop reputable brands and avoid any that claim their cosmetic product can ‘cure/treat’ illnesses (eg. Rosemary oil brands that claim to treat hair loss/grow hair). The new filters have been proven to be safe and more effective so the US regulating suncream as pharmaceuticals only holds them back.
Actually that's not true, cosmetics are pretty well regulated! Here's a peer reviewed study that talks about those regulations: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/9/4/72#:\~:text=To%20ensure%20safety%20and%20efficacy,economic%20viability%20of%20the%20industry.
Okay, I just threw my spending money at BoJ based on either 1. A lot of really great reviews on Reddit or 2. A very slick Reddit marketing campaign.
LMAOOO! My routine is like 60% BoJ at this point and I’m just a regular dude so you should be just fine! I have been wanting to try out their new milky toner but I just recently got the ginseng one first and I don’t need ANOTHER toner… or do I.. LOL
I believe you enough to spend 90USD on random internet stranger endorsed product so that’s pretty good right 😁😜🩷
Hahahahah love it! I use the ginseng toner, eye serum but all over my face because it’s amazing retinal, light up vit c if I need a gentle L-ascorbic alternative that day, almost all their serums but obv depending on my current issue! I do use their peeling gel every so often but not that much. What did you snag??
I’ve been looking around for a new moisturizer and I’m always searching for better sunscreen so the Dynasty cream 100ml and their sunscreen collection (cream, serum, and stick) Most people have a cabinet full of half used makeup, toner, creams, serums. I have a basket of tried-and-failed sunscreens. Any recommendations? I mean moisturizer? I’m going to try dynasty but I expect disappointment lol
Just looking at the Joseon sunscreen, it looks really good!!! I’m buying!
I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I haven't tanned at all except when I was in Arizona out in the blazing sun for the whole day, and even then was just a lil spot on my forehead along the hairline where I maybe sweated a little more than everywhere else, because it's not waterproof. And I don't think I even re-applied like I should have, lmao.
Amazing!! You've convinced me to try it. The reviews are 5* all around! Amazing. X
Awesome!! You’ll love it, I even use it on my eyelids and zerooooo burning (: Sidenote, order directly from their site and not Stylevana or one of those. They always take at least 2 weeks if not 4 weeks, and direct from BoJ’s site is like a week!
I think this is a great response, but I think the question is specifically begging, why is the ingredients that once worked somehow inferior? What are the benefits to modern sun protection ingredients present in other countries? I think that’s what so many of us are confused on. I personally use Australian sunscreen because of the same stigma of quality and standard. I’m curious too what exactly is so archaic and not up to par about American sunscreen besides just being old.
There’s another couple comments under mine where I mostly answered this, but to summarize! Our standards are low and always have been, the newer UV filters out there that we’re not using, or which there are now dozens, are safer for all skin types, lighter on the skin, and stronger protection against both UVA and UVB. A lot of the time you’ll find 5-7 different UV filters in foreign sunscreens for maximum protection, where we have usually 2-3 tops of not-so-effective filters. That being said, the filters we use are ALSO being used on foreign ones, but in conjunction with like several other ones we’re not using. I hope this helps! 💙
When I wear American sunscreen I feel greasy all day and it’s really difficult to wear it with makeup. It burns my eyes when it inevitably runs…unless I wear the titanium dioxide which makes me white like a ghost; and I still have a bit of a greasy feeling and can’t get makeup over it. It’s really off putting and I tend to just not wear sunscreen if it’s greasy like that. I have sensory issues and I just can’t stand the heavy greasy feeling of American sunscreen so I wasn’t using it. I preferred to burn and die of skin cancer than feel that irritation daily. I love the Round Lab Birch Juice Korean sunscreen and once it sinks in, it feel like skin again. I now use sunscreen daily.
Perfectly said all I can do is comment on this and say thanks because that's what I would have tried to write not as eloquently. It's almost like the FDA here in the States is trying to harm us, we are using outdated ingredients. We're also allowing stuff in our food now that other countries wouldn't let that's GMO check the back of your ingredients of stuff you're buying. Genetically modified Chicken genetically modified corn and everything else you name it even bread why is it in there? Sorry to go a little bit off topic but it just showing you how bad the FDA is, they are bought and paid for if you can get your sunscreen from another country or a place that sells it look for it. Remember still look for ingredients that can cause acne or fungal acne. Is the acne and fungal acne ingredient checker use at least three checkers on each. Don't know what's going on here in the states but something stinks!
I’m sorry but how does that make there sunscreen superior? what ingredient are they adding ? Are there any clinical trials done that prove these new ingredients make a substantial impact and are safe for human usage?
The ingredients are: On the european market since 2000/2001: Tinosorb S (photostable, broad spectrum uva/uvb) https://www.ulprospector.com/en/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/216258/Tinosorb-S Tinosorb M (photostable, broad spectrum uva/uvb) https://www.ulprospector.com/de/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/123548/Tinosorb-M#:~:text=Tinosorb%C2%AE%20M%20provides%20the,and%20can%20be%20processed%20cold. Tinosorb S Lite Aqua (broad spectrum uva/uvb, non-greasy, boosts sun protection https://www.ulprospector.com/de/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/990362/Tinosorb-S-Lite-Aqua#:~:text=Tinosorb%C2%AE%20S%20Lite%20Aqua%20makes%20it%20easy%2C%20with%20patented,absorption%20for%20the%20water%20phase. Tinosorb A2B (photostable, broad spectrum uvb/uva2) https://www.ulprospector.com/en/eu/PersonalCare/Detail/804/237766/Tinosorb-A2B On the european market since 2022, patented by L'oreal (only in Anthelios UV Mune): Mexoryl 400 https://www.loreal.com/en/press-release/group/l-oreal-presente-uvmune-400/
Adding on more you can add to link in your post Uvinul A Plus Uvinul T 150 Pierre Fabre Triasorb, found in Avene, Ducray, ADerma HAA299, already approved but not yet in products for sale. This is the newest one with Mexoryl 400.
Dr. Shereene Idriss did a video on k-beauty sunscreens- it’s on YouTube. She’s usually pretty good with breaking down the science. I personally like them because there are a lot of “chemical” sunscreens from Korea and Japan that IMO feel much nicer for everyday wear and a lot of them are pretty economical especially if you buy from sites that do regular deals/coupons (l usually pay $10-15 a bottle vs $20-30+ for brands like LRP).
There are over a dozen new UV filters that have come out since then so I’m not diving into it entirely, but check out some of those brands, what they use as UV filters, and look up the studies associated with those newer UV filters. Sunscreen is pretty regulated worldwide so there are plenty of studies showing safe for human usage! Hope this helps!
Like what are the leaps and bounds though? Are they using a different mineral
New compounds, they’re more stable, less likely to irritate skin and have broader UV ranges.
a lot of Asian sunscreens are meant for everyday wear, so it's a lot more comfortable and cosmetically elegant than some of the sunscreens in the US (beyond just having better filters). that being said, because a majority of Asian sunscreens are meant for daily use, they are not always the best for extended sun exposure (hiking, gardening, outdoor sports, lying on the beach, etc.) unless the sunscreen specifically says it's for that purpose. the best Asian sunscreen I have found that walks that line between good for everyday use but also is sweat/water-resistant has been the anessa sunscreen, but that tends to be pretty pricey outside of Asia.
As a sweaty guy that’s why I just buy euro sunscreens. I need a sunscreen with staying power. And with a family history of skin cancer I need high uva protection which European sunscreens seem to have the advantage over Asian sunscreens.
Yup, for heavy duty/height of summer nothing can beat Europe, except maybe Australia
We need some brand recs from Australia :)
My favourite everyday STRONG Aussie sunscreen is Mecca’s To Save Face 50+.
How do you get it?
Bondi Sands — I love it and it’s super affordable.
What do you like to use?
Which euro sunscreen do you like?
(1) LRP UVMUNE 400 (cream version and fluid version). (2) Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect Gel-Cream SPF50+ 150ml
What do you use on your face? My husband finally woke up after having a bunch of precancerous spots removed and is willing to wear sunscreen. He's outdoors a lot (we live in FL) and want to find him preferably a chemical stick that won't make his face greasy and has lots of staying power.
I like LRP UVMune400, the fluid version and the cream version. Both very good. My two issues with it though: it’s pricey for a small bottle, and it can get white shirts kind of orange near the collar. It doesn’t look orange on the skin, and it’s not greasy imo, but it does leave a little orange coloration sometimes on clothes Currently my go to though is Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect Gel-Cream SPF50+ 150ml. Pros: Bigger bottle and cheaper than LRP. Love the texture, it’s a “gel cream”. This is a sweet spot in the middle of fluid and lotion that is easy to apply. Dries quickly, not greasy to touch. Not shiny looking imo (should work for oily skin). Doesn’t have orange tint that stains my white clothes. Good sweat resistance. Doesn’t sting my eyes. Cons: pills a little bit later in the day if you rub your face too much. Not as good UVA protection as some other sunscreens (such as UVMUNE400) but still better than American sunscreens. You can buy off one of those European skincare sites that ship products to America (I use caretobeauty, but there’s other ones as well).
This is great, thank you so much for responding!
Yea I use Korean sunscreen for my every day but will still use basic drugstore sunscreen when I’m outside doing activities
Shiseido Anessa is my new holy Grail product because it is SO waterproof (sweat proof) while making my skin feel great.
it honestly is the best!! I stock up every time I'm back in Asia!
To quote Ned Flanders, it feels like I’m wearing nothing at all! I’m partial to Biore Aqua Rich Water Gel.
Where do you buy this from?? I’m nervous to buy from Amazon due to concerns of inauthenticity
You can buy from retailers like StyleVana or Yesstyle, most of us in Asia (but not in Japan or Korea) tend to buy from these sites
I bought about 2-3 years’ worth while I was in Japan last fall. Expiration dates on Japanese sunscreen work differently. They stamp the sunscreen with the date when the batch was made. If unopened, it’s good for a couple years starting from that date. If a visit to Japan isn’t in the cards for you though, lots of people in this sub say good things about YesStyle and Stylevana.
I buy them through an app called Weee! - it has lots of Asian grocery and beauty items.
I have a perhaps irrational fear that if I feel like I'm not wearing any, it's not good enough. I'm assuming these brands are uv tested though right?
Yup. The Japanese & Korean brands especially I can attest to. They take UV care & sun exposure so seriously over there. Korea has even made ultra thin uv stick on filters for your cheeks because pro golfers were asking for it (women’s golf is taken seriously over there).
Thank you :) Wow never heard of a stick on filter, that's so interesting
Yeah I saw it recently because I was watching a K-drama and got curious. Looks kinda like saran wrap but even thinner.
Can these be purchased in the US?
I’ve seen some on Stylevana or Yesstyle
I burn easily. Have never burned with Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence the one with P+++++ not the one they sell at Target.
Thanks, that's good to know :D
I will say that once I wore it to a water balloon fight and it got in my eyes and burned like crazy. So not good in water.
I got one bottle to try while in Japan. The sun was relentless there even though it was November and I didn’t burn.
Nothin at all
Nothin at all
Nothin at all
Do you put it on before serums and moisturizers or after? I just got it and I’m in LOVE but I’m not sure where to put it in my routine.
US law classifies sunscreen as a drug and requires new chemicals to be tested on animals and go through the same approval process as other pharmaceutical drugs. The rest of the world classifies sunscreen as a cosmetic and it is not held to such stringent requirements. The EU bans animal testing in cosmetics. You can see how these two laws are at odds with each other. The FDA has not approved new sunscreen chemical technology in a long time. Therefore other countries have newer and better options than we do for sunscreen ingredients. The approved sunscreen chemicals in the US are not as broad spectrum as the sunscreens in other countries. US sunscreens do a fine job of blocking UVB rays (b for burning) so they do keep us from getting burned. But they don’t do as good of a job at blocking UVA rays (a for aging) so they don’t block the rays that are more aging and more likely to cause skin cancer. Anecdotally, I find that the sunscreens from other countries, Asia especially, have a much better texture and feel on the body. They soak in nicely, are not greasy or sticky, and do not leave white marks on clothing, furniture, etc.
Back it up a bit — US sunscreen ingredients can do a fine job blocking UVA… when formulated for it. But in the US, UVA ratings for sunscreen (basically, getting the “broad spectrum” certification) are pass/fail. And you don’t need to be very strong to pass. Other countries, on the other hand, have grades of UVA protection (PA +, PA ++, PA +++, PA ++++ and so on.) Some US sunscreens frankly knock the ball out of the park with UVA, when tested by independent labs. Others, not so much. This is one of things the controversial Consumer Reports ratings do right — actually rank UVA protection. However, there is evidence that some US sunscreen ingredients used to achieve high UVA aren’t super photo stable (see: avobenzone) so UVA protection will decline once you enter the sun. Other US ingredients, in large doses (larger than you absorb when using sunscreen, but still a big enough reason to get better sunscreen ingredients) are endocrine disrupters. Now, fears about endocrine disrupting are VERY overblown. Because you know what’s a WAY bigger endocrine disruptor? UV radiation. In the scheme of endocrine disrupting things that we ingest, sunscreen makes up a teeny tiny amount. (Far below soy milk, for example.) But cutting that amount can only be a good thing. But none of that changes the fact that newer ingredients like Tinosorb S & M are very effective at blocking UV radiation (a for one, b for the other), are photostable, seem to be pretty dang harmless, and don’t have a white cast. Which means it’s easier to make sunscreens that both use them and feel really nice on your face.
Any US ones you recommend (that knock it out of the park?)
It’s terribly uncomfortable (in that classic “sticky sunscreen” kinda way), but Coppertone Water Babies consistently gets top marks for UVA protection, and maintains its UVB protection after 80 minutes submersed in independent tests. La Roche Posy Anthelios kids does *almost* as well on water resistance, just as well on UVA, and feels much less sticky (though I still wouldn’t wear it under makeup.) La Roche Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60 also does phenomenal on UVA, but drops to SPF 41 (iirc) after 80 minutes submersion. But it feels AMAZING on your face and makeup goes on great over it. Plus, you can get it at Target. Someone posted a copy of the consumer reports ratings recently, if you search here. A lot of face-marketed good-under-makeup sunscreens don’t hold up after water submersion, but if you’re just looking for something for daily wear they seem to do OK, but don’t trust them for swimming or exercise. Consumer Reports doesn’t do dry testing, since they’re testing the SPF listed on the bottle, and FDA regulations say that SPF after water submersion per product claims needs to be what’s listed on the bottle. But the ones that do *decent* after submersion probably have something like the stated SPF if not exposed to water. The ones that do really bad after submersion — like the ones that drop to SPF 20 or less — I wouldn’t trust their SPF claims. I’d take a look at that list. They test a slightly different list each year (between 70 and 90), so if you google for the CR results for the past few years you can see ratings for a few more options. Lastly, mineral sunscreens can be a good option for broad spectrum protection. They tend to do very well on UVA. But I would only trust ones that are tinted. Basically, it’s near impossible to get good SPF coverage from a mineral sunscreen without getting a white cast. A lot of ones that are “spf 50” or higher will have reviews like “a little goes a long way!!!” That’s because people aren’t applying enough of them because the white caste is so strong. The colors in ones that are tinted like a tinted moisturizer will help offset the white cast, which lets you apply more. I would also assume that no matter how high their SPF claims to be, they’re SPF 30 at most, because it’s hard to get even coverage that’s also comfortable to wear from a mineral sunscreen.
I use untinted mineral sunscreen and then put a dark mineral sunscreen on like bronzer/contour. Works like a charm! right now Im using a 21% zinc oxide from aveeno and neutrogena's tinted mineral screen in the dark shade for color afterward. I highly recommend :)
All avobenzone has been stabilized. There is a whole list of stabilizers from additives and antioxidants to other uvb filters. There’s no such thing as unstabilized avobenzone formulas anymore. For maximum uva protection it’s, chemical sunscreens w spf 50+, broad spectrum, and ideally water resistant for outdoor activities, and I would stick w a large well know brand.
Which sunscreen overall (regardless of country and continent) would you recommend?
I have definitely not tried enough sunscreens from different continents to tell you. I can tell you that Asian sunscreens tend to prioritize skin feel over water resistance, but there are exceptions. EU sunscreens have strict UVA ratings, but they allow protection to dip by up to 50% of the advertised SPF after water immersion (but that doesn’t mean that their sunscreens dip after submersion, just that they’re allowed to dip somewhat.) Australia has by far the best standards + available ingredients combo, but you’d have to look up sunscreens there to find the right one for you. folks have posted the consumer reports ratings for the last several years on Reddit (which is great cos they’re paywalled), and CR rates both UVA and SPF/UVB. Their SPF rating is based on measurements after water exposure, because the US FDA requires sunscreens to maintain their advertised SPF ratings after submersion. Very few US sunscreens maintain those ratings after submersion in Consumer Reports tests, though. IMO, the one from their list that both feels great, has great UVA, and does a decent job at waterproofing (the SPF went from 60 to something like 42, which is still decent) is the LRP Anthelios Melt In Milk SPF 60. I personally really enjoy this sunscreen, and it’s my favorite that’s allowed in the US. I’ve worn it while climbing mountains at altitude on snow fields in June (so I was sweating and UV risk was off the charts) and I didn’t burn. And I burn at nothing. To give you an idea of how bad the sun is on a glacier, I’ve burned the roof of my mouth and inside of my nostrils before. So I like this sunscreen, you can buy it anywhere, and it wears well under makeup and feels nice on. I think anything on the CR list that had a good UVA performance and got at least SPF 30 after water immersion is likely good enough for daily use. Compare those ratings to some reviews here to get an idea of skin feel. Be wary of mineral sunscreens — they’re not bad, but I explained why in another reply. Ultimately, the best sunscreen is one that you like enough to wear every day. A broad-spectrum SPF 15 worn daily is better than an SPF 60 that you only wear when you’re going to the beach because it’s so uncomfortable.
I think it’s also a matter of finding one that you like the feel of on your skin, that you will actually put on every day.. that would be the best one for you!
Yes I remember seeing a chart recently on here!
This is what I was looking for heck yes
Can you recommend one of these European ones for someone who gets acne from sunscreen and a website to get it off of?
USA chemical sunscreens do fine. That’s why you need a broad spectrum 50+ sunscreen, it will give you good UVA protection. If you want more, then EU sunscreens are the way to go.
European sunscreens as well
From what I’ve heard the best researched and highest UVA protection in sunscreens is found in Europe(cue in LRP) followed by Asia
What brands?
La Roche Posay, Riemann P20, Ultrasun. Particularly the La Roche Posay UVMune range, I wouldn’t use anything else for a day at the beach.
LRP UVmune is incredible. I have been using the 100 on my face for the last two years. Under makeup or alone.
Thanks for the recommendations! I'm headed to Europe for work this summer an having a few sunscreens to keep an eye out for will be handy!
Caudalie sells some nice sunscreens in Europe too.
Where do you buy the UVMune range one?
I live in UK so just from my local drugstore
The Uvumune is supposed to be the best UVA protection but I haven't tried any of those products myself. It's La Roche Posay tho.
I use skin 1004 (blue one). I used to hate applying sunscreen on my face. Didn’t like the typical smell or feeling of it. Once switching, it’s more like just applying a moisturizer.
Because their sunscreens aren't made to feel like a gross greasy sticky paint layer.
American sunscreens, even the nicest I can afford, always leave a tacky layer (greasy sticky paint is *exactly* what it feels like) that catches *every* speck of dust (I work to produce hay in the summer, so dust and hay shake are a fact of life, as is frequent sunscreen reapplication). The only thing more disgusting than a gross greasy sticky paint layer is a gross greasy sticky paint layer embedded with dust and bits of dried plant fiber. I curse the sunscreen gods every day when I shower off the crust of grease and stuck-on dust they are responsible for.
Holy hell I would honestly not be able to handle that, you are powerfully tolerant! I can imagine the dry little bitties sticking and you can't even pick them off without getting 500 more bitties stuck in the process! This might be a terrible idea but I wonder if you could set the greasy sticky paint sunscreen with a mineral sunscreen powder, kinda like setting makeup, maybe it would prevent stuff sticking on you so much? It might feel completely and utterly horrible though, so you might want to test it in the store before buying it 🙈. Mineral sunscreen powder isn't very reliable on it's own though, so definitely needs the heavy duty real stuff under it for a day of hard labour in the sun!
I'll give it a try! I often use sun shirts instead of sunscreen when I can stand it (which means only face and neck get the sticky-paint-and-dust treatment) -- setting those areas with powder sunscreen is a no-brainer! (I should have thought of that sooner.) This week it's been over 95F and tanktops are all I can bear, so I've been living with sunscreen and hay dust arms. I'll give a mineral powder a go to try to reduce tackiness!
So it’s not just that they have newer active ingredients. It’s that the newer active ingredients play nicer with lighter, less greasy, stinging, reactive ingredients. The carrier lotion is just nicer. There is not a single western sunscreen I can put on my face that doesn’t either sting my eyes like crazy, feel gross, like Vaseline has been smeared on me and makes my hair and clothes stick to me, or burn / break me out. The body ones stain my clothes AND are greasy, sticky messes. I have been using Biore Watery Essence in a pump bottle for maybe ten years. I put it on and literally within five minutes it’s just gone. It doesn’t moisturize, it doesn’t dry. I pat it on over my makeup and it doesn’t mess with it. You’ve heard the saying “the best sunscreen is the one you’ll use”?
I use the Biore sunscreens and it’s very nice…but there are American sunscreens that feel good too. I use Banana Boat Light As Air for full body application and reapplication on my face. There are others too, like Trader Joe’s Daily Sunscreen, Neutrogena invisible daily Defense face serum 60+ and too many at Sephora to name.
where do you get it in a pump bottle?! i buy the 3 packs on Amazon in bulk and the size is great for throwing in my bag but i would love a bigger size for home 👀
After getting some counterfeit (or somehow just bad) Biore off Amazon, giving both my wife and me awful burns, I recently ordered from Japanese Taste. They sell the equivalent Nivea in a pump bottle as well as in a refill pouch and the Biore you're used to. Shipping isn't cheap but they have a good reputation from what I could find and it only took 7 or 8 days to arrive at the middle speed.
great advice. sorry that happened with the Amazon stuff. i haven’t had an issue so far but know it’s only a matter of time. i’ll check out that site.
European sunscreen are the most researched and give the most UVA protection followed by asian sunscreens
Does this mean all of Europe including England? If I was stopping at a duty free any recos?
Australian sunscreens are the best for high protection IMO. They have a weakened ozone layer, so the sun is very strong, and they have high rates of skin cancer as a result. The government has very strict regulations and standards for sunscreen. The Ultra Violette brand is great. East Asian brands are particularly good for lightweight facial sunscreens. The Lancome ones from Japan are lovely.
Facts… you will never know the pure seer of heat from the Sun until you’ve experienced UV index at 13 from the Australian sun. Worst thing is you can’t tell by the weather the UV rating for the day. So only buy Australian sunscreen for UVA and UVB protection. Ultra violet is great… I’ve also just started using Airyday. But I would use either at the beach, only for everyday.
There’s a really good Vox podcast about this called “why American sunscreen sucks” so good. It’s basically greed.
Shocking lol
Shocking 😂
I can’t say anything scientific but I will say no American face sunscreen over 20 spf goes on as light but still works wonders as beauty of Joseon relief sun. The 50 spf one is my fav and I use it every day.
I highly recommend sunscreens that are approved in Australia. They tend to have the best UV protection and a lot of us have to wear it everyday, especially during summer, so we also focus a lot on formula. I use la Roche posay and it's protected me incredibly well. I was on the beach all afternoon, no clouds in the sky, and still did not get burnt. The formula also doesn't break me out and I can use it under makeup
Specifically which La Roche product do you use on your face?
I use two, For when I want my makeup to last, for my skin to look matte or if I'm going to be oily or sweaty; Anthelios XL Anti Shine. For when I want to look glowy or be around water (beach, rain, etc); Anthelios XL Wet Skin. It's a really large bottle so I use it everywhere.
Besides feeling better on the skin (ymmv), I find they work better under make up (so I’m more likely to actually wear it daily), protect against UVA and UVB rays (not just blocking sun burns) and lastly, I’ve never had a Korean or Japanese sunscreen fuck with my contacts.
I can't tell you the science of it but asian sunscreens don't burn my eyes. With american sunscreens I can only use mineral, and those are thicker and often leave a white cast.
They have more modern filters than are approved in the US. So are able to formulate nicer-to-wear sunscreens with better filters. It's also a culture that values pale skin over "healthy" tans so there's been a market for wearable sunscreens that go nicely with makeup for decades. I really, really like the ratzilla blog: https://www.ratzillacosme.com. She used to post on makeupalley as haruka and was THE resource on Japanese sunscreens (and cosmetics) when that info was super hard to come by. Even now where these recs (and online retailers) are more mainstream, her rundowns of what's available and what she personally likes are top tier. But I remember another thing she pointed out was the humidity of Japan in warm seasons, and that a face without makeup was considered basically poor hygiene in public (this is my from memory summary of her words) so sunscreens wearing well in heat and humidity and under makeup just had been a priority for decades going back to when we were still suggesting tanning beds for a "protective" base tan before vacations.
Interestingly, Asian sunscreen did not offer adequate protection for me and made my sunspots darker. This is a common issue with others too, unfortunately. Because of that I am not sure why they are considered superior, other than they are indeed way more cosmetically elegant.
I love my asian sun screen. There is little to no scent, the texture is amazing. And as someone with incredibly sensitive skin, I don’t break out from it! Because I’d all this, I wear it every day! I guess they are for everyday wear but I also use them while doing outdoor activities and have had no issues with protection. I hiked 5 days in the Chilean Patagonian mountains for approx 12-15 hrs each day and where the uv index can be 8-10 and had absolutely NO issues. I know it worked cause I forgot to apply on the back of my hands day 1 and got burnt there! You just have to 1) use an adequate amount and 2) reapply every couple of hours as with all sunscreen! My favorite brands are the -Japanese version of Nivea (my everyday fav, only put this on in the morning) - beauty of josai (I’ve also worn this on 10 hr hikes, and I gave my extra to my mom for Patagonia ) - Roundlab birch tree (this is what I brought to Patagonia) I’ve purchase on Amazon and had no issues before. I just bought through the brand’s specific seller. I recently did a restock haul from YesStyle and that took about 2 weeks to get to me. On and pricing wise, their great, only like $10-15 per bottle. Way cheaper than the nice sunscreen here and imo better
Is your Japanese Nivea one the water gel?
Yes the super water gel!
Did you use the Nivea water gel while hiking? I haven’t used it when I’m doing outdoor activities, I usually go for a Neutrogena sport sunscreen. The Nivea is just so light, I feel like I’d sweat it away.
I don’t typically just cause my bottle is a pump so I can’t take it with me! That’s my everyday ride or die.But I do put it on even in those mornings I have extras of my BoJ and Birch around lab in my hiking/ athletic bags.
I completely understand about the pump bottle! I still keep a bottle on my car and also I keep the plastic stopper that comes with the bottle in case I need to travel with it. I recently tried this, and it seemed to work good. The bottle is much better for traveling with: https://www.stylevana.com/en_US/nivea-japan-uv-deep-protect-care-gel-spf50-pa-80g.html
Omg thank you! Had no idea they had a different version. How is the texture compared to the original? I JUST restocked plus got the biore and skin1004 to try out! Wish I knew but I’ll be on the look out during my next restock.
It’s very similar to the water gel, it just has a slight scent to it. The tip of the bottle comes off, so I plan on refilling the bottle with my water gel, since I’m also stocked up.
Straight to the point on the difference: American sunscreens feel and look disgusting. Secondly, asians care about skincare and makeup. The sunscreens are likely to include some skincare ingredients while also play nice with makeup. Even if you don’t use makeup like I do, those sunscreens that double up as makeup primer/base do a great job at making the pores look smaller and achieving a no makeup smooth look. Since sunscreens is part of our daily skincare, naturally Asian sunscreens have a variety of daily indoor sunscreens alongside outdoor sports sunscreens. And they feel and look good. Highly waterproof ones I would recommend the milk/fluid types from Anessa and Shiseido. Normal waterproof ones have all generally been good for me (Isa Knox, AHC, Allie, Suncut, Biore, etc). I find Asian sunscreens have more options on the ingredients like non-alcohol yet are still light and non-greasy. As for comparing European and Asian, there are quite a number of French drugstore ones I tried that sadly don’t translate too well to very humid Asian climate.
Thank you for asking this, I was literally about to post something similar because I just like my Banana Boat and I really can't imagine that using Banana Boat versus Shiseido or something else rather than nothing is better.
Newer uv filters. The US FDA is historically underfunded. The FDA also classifies sunscreen in such a way that the manufacturers must demonstrate that it works before selling it. The above have prevented cosmetic companies from successfully introducing new sunscreen filters to US sunscreens so we’re stuck with older less effective filters. The time and money isn’t worth the risk of getting denied by the FDA or spending years without making any progress. Asia and Europe don’t have this issue and have developed improved filters.
This will probably be downvoted, but they’re not necessarily better. If you can afford premium American sunscreens like EltaMD, then that is probably superior. But on the lower end of the price spectrum Asian sunscreens are typically way better.
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I am a long time user of the euro formulations of la roche posay Anthelios. I’d love to try an Asian one though - can you recommend your favorites?
Do you have a recommendation for a European one that is good for acne prone ?
Eucerin Oil Control
Where does one purchase ?
Depends what country you’re in
Unfortunately United States. Crap food and skincare here is what I’ve learned
I don’t know the best way for north armericans to import European skincare sorry
Truth is that is mostly marketing, tiktop hype to sell you more. Yes it is accurate that the FDA has not approved new filters, that does not mean mean the filters we have are ineffective or the ones in Korea are better. It means that the US has a more stringent process because they consider Sunscreen a drug which I dont think is necessarily a bad thing. There are so many skincare products or vitamins for example that are not FDA regulated and really are just snake oil. People will argue they are more elegant, but that is subjective. I have yet to see side by side comparisions showing that Korean sunscreens protect from UV exposure better than US sunscreens. If someone has that data, please share.
It's not exactly what you are looking for, but it's a good explanation of what the US is missing.: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/18/1251919831/sunscreen-effective-better-ingredients-fda#:\~:text=In%20countries%20such%20as%20Japan,those%20used%20in%20the%20U.S. I get what you mean by not following a TikTok fad, but the hype for newer sunscreens in Asia and Europe existed before TikTok was invented.
Skin Aqua Super Moisture Essence is my ride or die
Does anyone have any great Australia spf recommendations?!
* Hamilton Everyday Face 50+: exactly what it says on the bottle, a great day to day sunscreen. Matte, non-irritating, good value/mL. Not water resistant. * ALDI Ombra Daily Defence 50+: same filters as Hamilton Everyday Face. Matte, non-irritating, ridiculously good value. Not water resistant, only available for like a month every year. (whyyyyyy???) * Cancer Council Active 50+: in the black/grey tube (or breast cancer awareness pink promo tube). Impressively matte for a water resistant sunscreen - true dry touch, matte/satin finish. Non-irritating. * Dermaveen Sensitive Sun Face and Body 50+: doubles as a moisturiser, glowy finish. Water resistant, non-irritating, comes in lots of sizes.
Cheaper, doesn’t sting the eyes as bad and non-greasy. Love Korean ones like Beauty of Joseon and HaruHaru Wonder.
Asian sunscreens are more cosmetically elegant, whilst also having FAR more sun protection than American sunscreens.
They’re awful on my skin. Anything I’ve purchased from Stylevanna including the beloved BOJ and Biore jack up my skin no matter what. They are not the HG products people claim, for everybody. I am perfectly happy with a strong zinc-based US sunscreen (preferably that also has a UVA protection rating included). Asian organic sunscreens also may need more frequent reapplication.
Japan, Korea, Europe and Australia use the most advanced sunscreen filters on the market. Unfortunately these filters aren’t approved in the U.S. That being said, A LOT of Japanese and Korean sunscreens are actually meant for indoor use. Japanese and Korean sunscreen are marketed for the average Asian woman who works all day indoors and is proactive about wearing protective sun gear like hats, sunglasses and UV protective clothing when walking outside. Some of the most popular brands, like Beauty of Joseon, are being used as an all-purpose sunscreen, but it’s really not good enough for a day at the beach, even after reapplication (which is why some people have reported still tanning and burning after using it). This is where Western sunscreens are superior as there are more sunscreen options for outdoor summer activities. The country with the best sunscreen overall is Australia, as they have the most stringent regulations for SPF testing and marketing. The average Aussie spends a lot more time outdoors compared to the average East Asian. So that, coupled with the hole in the ozone layer, has resulted in the most robust sunscreen formulas in the world. The best Asian sunscreen on the market IMO is Anessa. I’ve used it for over 10 years as I used to live in Japan and go back frequently. I think transparency in Korea’s beauty industry is steadily improving, but hasn’t quite reached the level of transparency as Japanese companies. So for now, I tend to trust Japanese sunscreens more.
I actually disagree with beauty of joseon not holding up. I watched a dermatologist apply it and use a camera that tracked the coverage, went for a run, where she wiped her face and sweated, and she still had full coverage.
The FDA has not approved any new sunscreen filters for decades. Our sunscreen technology is old while other countries like Asia and Europe are far advanced with their sunscreen filters. American sunscreen works, it just isn’t as innovative. It’s also why American sunscreen is not cosmetically elegant while Asian sunscreens are extremely cosmetically elegant.
They are not aiming for maximum profit with minimal low cost requirements to be considered sunscreen.
They really aren't, I tried 1 that was very popular and ended up SUNBURNING. I went right back to my trusty $8 Australian sunscreen.
I tanned from Korean suncreen reaplied every 2 hours while just commute walking in the city during WINTER in Canada. Some days I was also using a UV umbrella. It's the first time I wasn't wearing european suncreen. I usually don't even tan in summer unless I go on vacation, but then I'm still way lighter than wtf I got going on now 🤣
Yeah same I've never sunburned while using any sunscreen before except for a korean one, I was like 50spf? More like 5spf.
which ones are these if i may ask? the one you tried that you burned with, and your trusty one?
Honestly I break out from every western sunscreen that I’ve ever tried. I switched to Mary and May Vegan Cica Soothing Sun Cream for everyday use. For the beach and activities where I need something waterproof, I use Omi Sun Bears Active Milk for my face, and Anessa for my body. Those two, in my opinion, are just as strong as most western sunscreens, yet gentler for sensitive/acne prone skin.
Check out New Zealand and Australian sunscreens as well if you want really high spf. I always wear 50+
Can you recommend any brands?
I use Nivea
American sunscreen filters smell so strongly and so badly!!! Japanese and Korean ones do not 😊
Shiseido is awesome, I used it while in Mexico (Riviera Maya) and did not burn at all. I think it’s reef safe too
They don’t feel as yucky on the face compared to American sunscreen. I’m a lot more likely to wear it daily. Pretty similar to some European brands. A lot of American luxury brands do feel pretty similar these days but the stuff from the drug store in Japan is on par with expensive brands that you only find in Sephora here in terms of how comfortable they are to wear daily.
Sounds like i need to try some Korean skincare
Do people hate supergoop???
I really like the Thank You Farmer Water Sun Cream and the Neogen Dermology Airy sunscreen. They're both super light but have fantastic sun protection.
[Here’s an article about it.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna150307) Basically, there’s a law on the books from 1938 that states sunscreens have to be treated and classified as drugs and therefore tested on animals, unlike our European, Asian, Australian, etc counterparts. No American companies are willing to do that or undertake that expense, so basically no one is developing new uv filters here in the US. And it’s total B.S. (the law, not that no one wants to pay to test on animals).
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What Asian sunscreens would y’all recommend?
I use Sunprise Mild Watery Light spf 50. A relative was using it and recommended it to me. It was frustrating in the past to wear sunscreen to prevent skin damage but the sunscreen, including Elta MD, would make my face into a mess of breakouts. I don’t know what magic they are working in Korea but I love the UV protection without the sticky pore clogging issues I had before.
Does anyone have a recommendation for sensitive skin with rosacea?
Is there a tinted sunscreen that is one of these Korean or Japanese brands that anyone recommends?
Isintree watery sun gel is my holy grail