Category: Sunscreen

Sunscreen Review Part III: Japanese/Korean Chemical Sunscreens

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**Updated on 8/14/2018 to include a review of Isehan Kiss Me Sunkiller Perfect Water Essence Sunscreen Gel Spf 50.

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This should be my final “off topic” post (i.e., not about pH levels of products).

I decided to try a few Japanese and Korean chemical sunscreens because they include sun filters that aren’t FDA approved. They are, however, approved in many other countries and much better than what we have in the USA. Also, they offer great UVA 1 and UVA 2 protection.

I chose Asian sunscreens because I wanted to avoid Oxybenzone but it also seems to be one of the few chemical sunscreens that provides UVA 2 protection. And I also want to avoid octocrylene but it seems to be necessary to stabilize the very common chemical sunscreen Avobenzone. The Asian sunscreens have tinosorb and uvinul as their filters.

I applied the Asian sunscreens in the same way as I applied the physical (mineral) sunscreens I reviewed (Part I & Part II). Meaning, on top of serums, moisturizer, and eye cream. As a reminder, my skin is combination and I really find my cheeks dehydrated. My skin is tan and I’m a 2Y08 or 3Y07 using Sephora’s color IQ system. Also, I avoid products with coconut oil/caprylic capric trygrlycerides so there might be better sunscreens out there, I just can’t use them.

Sunscreen Reviews (in no particular order)

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Sunscreen Review Part II: Skinceuticals, Farmacy, Glossier, Dr Jart, Darphin

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This is part II of my review of (mostly) physical sunscreens. You can find Part I, here. As a reminder, I’m tan and a 2Y08 or 3Y07 using Sephora’s Color IQ system. I also wear sunscreen on top of moisturizer, several serums and eye cream. My skin is combination with oily t zone and dehydrated cheeks. I rarely wear foundation on top of sunscreen.
I also don’t/can’t use products with coconut oil or capric/caprylic triglycerides (i.e., fractionated coconut oil). So there are likely some other mineral sunscreens out there that are wonderful but I can’t use them.
[Note: I’ve also reviewed some Japanese and Korean sunscreens that use chemical filters.]
Sunscreen Reviews (in no particular order)
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Sunscreen Review Part 1: make p:rem, Murad, Tatcha, Hydropeptide

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I’m writing another sunscreen post because I’ve struggled to find something that works for me for a long time. I’m tan and find that a lot of times the tint (or whiteness) of sunscreen doesn’t work for me. I also have skin that is on the drier side.

Why this review?

For years I used chemical sunscreens and then a couple of years ago I became worried about the health effects of using them. I tried to switch to mineral sunscreens (i.e., zinc and titanium dioxide) but just couldn’t find any that worked well. Also, at the time I was convinced I had to avoid all products with silicones because silicones were giving me milia. I’ve now learned I’m okay with silicones but still try to avoid using too many.

Fast forward to about a year ago and I found Hydropeptide’s SPF. But being that I always think there is something better, I decided to try some others. Also, the hydropeptide SPF is quite expensive.  I often wanted to save it for special occasions since it works great under my foundation.

A reminder, this is my skin color. I’m a 2Y08 or a 3Y07 using Sephora’s color IQ system.

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Hydropeptide Solar Defense SPF 50, Non-Tinted Sunscreen Review

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This product review is not my typical review that is related to the pH level of skin care. But I felt that I had to write a review of this new sunscreen because I couldn’t find any other reviews specifically on the SPF 50 . I purchased it anyway, hoping that it would be as good as the SPF 30.  Unlike the SPF 30, it is not tinted. I have not actually tried the SPF 30 but it has some good reviews. [Update: Click here to read my other sunscreen reviews.]

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