best everyday sunscreen

Best Everyday Sunscreen: My Reviews and Comparisons

We are all in the search of the best everyday sunscreen. Though the sunscreen market is now surrounded by some scandals as some products don’t meet the indicated SPF protection on the tube. You might remember how it started out with an independent lab testing the famous Purito sunscreen which was a holy grail for so many and it came out to have less protection than initially thought. This was followed up by the Klairs airy UV essence sunscreen which was as well a holy grail for so many. And then by the Keep Cool bamboo essence sunscreen. And now more recently by the Krave Beet the sun.

This epidemic is not an incident that concerns only Korean sunscreen and I invite each and everyone to stop attacking a whole country and industry for a few flukes. Western sunscreens have failed to meet the initially indicated protection levels as well and for years.

Personally, I don’t think there is an intention to lie and rip off customers. The process of testing is most likely very extensive and human error can happen at any step.

Anyway, we are all looking to find new holy grails and here are the reviews on the sunscreens I currently have in my stash.

Disclaimer: recommendations are based on my own experiences and one product might work for me but not for you. Please do your own research to further decide if this is something you wish to try.

Best everyday sunscreen :

Japanese Sunscreens :

I have a new little obsession with Japanese sunscreens. What happened to the Korean sunscreens has temporarily shifted my attention to their neighbour – Japan. I have tried Japanese sunscreen in the past, like the famous Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, but now I went ahead and ordered 4 new Japanese sunscreens that caught my attention.

Aqua Skin Tone Up Uv Essence (purple) SPF50+ PA++++

Japanese sunscreens are just on a whole new level. Most of them are chemical sunscreens and I’m a chemical sunscreen kind of gal’. However these Uv filters are mostly not FDA approved, and not used in Europe either. They are new generations and are completely safe but the approval process is so different and complicated.

This sunscreen is a hybrid, it has both chemical and physical filter and even a hybrid both chemical and physical filter. Confused? Me too.

  • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate a clear, oil-soluble, “cosmetically-elegant” liquid that is used chemical sunscreen.
  • Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol it’s a hybrid sunscreen filter meaning it’s halfway between physical and chemical.
  • Titanium Dioxide Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen.
  • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate is a chemical sunscreen filter that is not available in the US due to impossible FDA regulations but it has high UVA protection and high photostability

I’m learning a lot. This is a tone up essence meaning that it has a white cast that brightens your complexion. Not exactly something for the darker skin tones. I am very pale so can get away with it and I truly love the formula of this. It is creamy and blends out nicely and doesn’t feel drying despite the physical filter. My skin isn’t too keen on physical sunscreens.

Aqua Skin Super Moisture Essence Gold SPF50+ PA++++

This and the previous sunscreen seem similar but not really. The tube is similar and the names as well but the formula is different, duh! This one only uses two UV chemical filters which we saw earlier. You’ll see a trend here as my Japanese sunscreens are packed with these two ingredients.

The formula is creamy and very moisturising (added humectants: sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed collagen). It blends in easily, has no fragrance and leaves no white cast. Even using the recommended 1/4 of a spoon blends out nicely without any pilling. It also leaves no greasy feeling and no tackiness and a skin-like finish. Frankly, a fantastic find and my favourite so far. I use it on my morning runs and it doesn’t run down with the sweat. It might not be the best everyday sunscreen as I’m not profusely sweating every day but I reach for it a lot.

  • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
  • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Don’t forget to remove it with an oil based cleanser!

Kose Suncut Aqualy Uv Protect Gel SPF50+ PA++++

Oh, look the same 2 filters here too! These next three sunscreens are the most suitable as best everyday sunscreens.

The formula is creamy and not too runny with a slight beige tinge to it. It blends in easily, is very lightweight, and one pump is enough for the face, two if you’re including the neck. It also has a few flower extracts and sodium hyaluronate which moisturise the skin. The immediate finish it leaves is dewy and slightly tacky but after a few minutes it looks skin-like and the tackiness disappears. I find that it’s a great sunscreen, affordable, and also the tube is 160ml which will last a while even with day to day use.

It also offers a broad protection with 4 different chemical sunscreens filter.

  • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
  • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
  • Polysilicone-15 is a silicone-based chemical sunscreen
  • Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is one of the best chemical sunscreen filters known today that is also very photostable. It’s not FDA-approved.

Isehhan Kiss Me Mommy UV Mild Gel SPF33 PA+++

Ok, this one is only SPF33 so it’s not something I would use on a hot summer day, but I enjoy it when it’s overcast. It has a similar feel and finish as the Kose sunscreen. However, this formula is a bit more on the runny side and on the dewier and tackier finish. But all of that settles in a skin-like finish after a few long minutes. It is very lightweight but takes a little while longer than Kose to blend in. It also has macadamia seed oil, hyaluronic acid, jojoba seed oil, acerola fruit extract, aloe vera leaf extract, raspberry extract.

All in all, not my favourite but definitely a good sunscreen and I love all the added ingredients that my skin slurps in. It replaces my moisturiser in the morning.

  • E thylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
  • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Nivea Japan – Sun Water Gel SPF 35 PA+++

I didn’t like this one at first but it’s growing on me.

This sunscreen is on the runny side as it drips down your face. don’t attempt to do three fingers with this it will end up all other the place. It is only SPF35 so I reach for it when it’s not too sunny. Upon application, it feels very soothing and cooling. It is lightweight and takes a little while to blend in but nothing off-putting, and leaves a dewy finish. It leaves my face feeling refreshed and moisturised as well because it had hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate. If you apply too much it can get tacky!

  • E thylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
  • Eethylhexyl Triazone is a new generation, chemical sunscreen (not available in the US) that gives the highest photo-stable absorption of all available UVB filters.
  • Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

All in all, I can’t even choose a favourite best everyday sunscreen here. I like all the formulas, they are all moisturising which is tops for my dry skin, and they’re all lightweight and leave no white cast. It all comes down to the creaminess as I prefer something that is not too runny but not too heavy so I would say I lean towards the waterproof Aqua Skin and the Kose Suncut.

Sunscreens I don’t really like

I wanted to mention these two which I don’t reach out for and do not recommend as an everyday sunscreen. But I have to use them up because I don’t like wasting products.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF40

EW!!!

I know this is a favourite for so many people but I can’t get over the greasy feel. I wonder if you all are applying the necessary quantity! Because if you do and you still like then I’m missing something here.

The amount of silicone and greasy feeling is disturbing. I can still feel it sit on my face for hours. It just never absorbs. I hate it as an everyday sunscreen. Truly! Quite the regret that I bought it.

  • Avobenzone (3%) the only globally available new-generation chemical sunscreen agent that provides proper UVA protection. It is the global gold standard of UVA protection and is the most used UVA sunscreen in the world.
  • Homosalate (8%) is not a strong UV filter in and of itself and it is not photostable so it always has to be combined with other sunscreens for proper protection.
  • Octisalate (5%) It’s not a strong filter in itself, it’s always used in combination with other sunscreen agents to further enhance the SPF and to solubilize other solid UV filters
  • Octocrylene (4%) protection is not strong enough on its own but it is quite photostable and is often used to stabilize other photo-unstable UV-filters

The Inkey List SPF30

This is not exactly a sunscreen I hate but one I don’t really reach for. I have previously talked about it and I still think it’s a great product. It is a physical sunscreen with a non-consmetic tint to hide the white cast. It works on my pale skin but I have seen dark-skinned creators look ashy.

In short, I’m simply not a fan of the satin mat finish and my dry skin feels like it’s getting all the water sucked out. Not a bad sunscreen but not my personal preference. I’m more of a dewy, chemical sunscreen kind of person.

  • Zinc Oxide is a physical sunscreen.

I hope this post gave some ideas and that you’ll give the Japanese sunscreens a try, I am sure at least one will become your next holy grail best everyday sunscreen. Fingers crossed none will get in any further scandals!


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2 Comments

  1. NEW! Skincare Products I've Been Loving in 2021 - Glowing Damsel

    18/01/2023 at 8:04 AM

    […] stocks it and you bet I’ll be purchasing it with my own money. It reminds me of the Purito Sunscreen (the one in the scandal, not the new one, haven’t tested that one […]

  2. 3 Korean Sunscreens You Will Need This Summer - Glowing Damsel

    17/04/2023 at 5:17 PM

    […] is no secret that I am a chemical sunscreen kind of girl. Better yet if it’s Korean […]

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