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x-post from r/skincareaddiction
[Please click here for images of the product and its application.] (http://imgur.com/a/OXskY)
About me: NC25/Combo Skin/US
I literally trawled RatzillaCosme for a combo sunscreen with newer filters like mad, entering Uvinul and Tinosorb as key words, going over every entry, until I found this. It’s a fairly new product from Shiseido Anessa, released for Spring/Summer 2017, so there weren’t many reviews I could find online. It’s part of the Aqua Booster line, and is marketed for [sensitive skin and kids] (http://anessa.shiseido.co.jp/products/suncare/perfect_uv_ab_mild/). It’s alcohol and fragrance-free. There’s also an SPF35 PA+++ version available. I’ve been using this sunscreen for almost a month now.
Active Ingredients:
Zinc Oxide……. 12.53%
Uvinul A Plus.. 1.5%
Tinosorb S……. 1.5%
This product also contains Titanium Dioxide, but does not indicate it as an active ingredient on the package. [Entire ingredient list] (http://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/anessa-perfect-uv-sunscreen-aqua-booster-mild/) on Ratzilla’s site. The English entry on cosdna says Titanium Hydroxide instead of Dioxide.
Size: 60ml/2 oz
Price: ~$16.50/oz (The cheapest I could find was $32.99 with shipping from a reputable US seller on ebay)
Claims: (Translated from Japanese)
No additive • No fragrance • No coloring • Power up when you touch sweat or water! “Aqua booster technology” • Low irritation type that can also be used for sensitive skin “Also for babies and kids” • “Environmental Damage Corresponding System” to Protect Skin from Ultraviolet Rays and Airborne Particles • Water resistance was confirmed by water bath test over 80 minutes “Super water proof” • Sled with falling soap (Washes off with soap?) • Allergy tested (Not all people suffer from allergies)
Texture & Application: Milk form, runny and emollient — almost like a dry oil, with very low viscosity. There’s no graininess, but note that like most fluid combo sunscreens, this separates. A good shake before application is necessary. It comes out of a narrow Yorker (?) spout, so I draw one inch lines all over my face and neck. For me, it’s 10/10 cosmetically elegant.
It’s not sticky on my oily t-zone and doesn’t take that long for it to form a film. If you have oily skin, you might feel a little greasiness before it sets. It feels so thin even at large amounts, so I try not to over-apply!
White cast: I’d give this a 1/5 on my tan skin. It’s really not obvious, but there’s some build-up around my hairline that goes away after a few minutes. If you’re N/NW/NC40 or deeper, you might notice it more, but nothing a good foundation can’t fix IMO. Not bad for a combo sunscreen!
Without makeup: This performs really well, gives my skin an even semi-matte sheen, no pilling over moisturizers with silicones, or over thicker ones like Nivea Creme. The main feature of Shiseido Anessa’s Aqua Booster line is that the product “powers up” when exposed to sweat, humidity or water. I can attest to its staying power after having it on in the summer heat (coastal New England), running, and doing errands for a couple of hours (sorry I didn’t reapply lol). Also, I’ve been applying this on my eyelids and haven’t experienced any stinging at all. It does crease on the lids, though.
With makeup: Under Too Faced Born This Way (contains dimethicone), this played nicely, like a hydrating primer. There was no pilling, at least not with light coverage, applied with a beauty blender. I also had a thin layer of Nars creamy concealer over, and still no pilling.
Under Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion SPF 50, there was flaking, probably because of the alcohol and fragrances. I won’t be doing that again.
Scent: This is fragrance-free, so all I can smell is an almost undetectable faint scent present in most mineral/inorganic sunscreens.
Recommendations: This is perfect for the humid outdoors, playing sports, the beach, and the pool for all skin types. Will definitely repurchase.
Dry/Dehydrated skin: As long as there’s enough humidity, this will feel comfortable. However, this felt sooo drying indoors, especially with AC on. I’ve tried hydrating layers, oil, and rich moisturizers under it, but my skin was just parched. I wouldn’t use this in the winter, which is good because I can’t afford to use this every day.
Oily/Normal: You might experience a little bit of shine, depending on how oily you get. It stayed matte on my t-zone for the most part. But, I don’t think this would get too greasy or uncomfortable, honestly.
TL;DR: Very emollient, semi-matte, alcohol-and-fragrance-free fluid, SPF 50 PA++++ waterproof combo sunscreen, formulated for the outdoors and for sensitive skin. 1/5 white cast on NC25 skin. This holds up to its water-resistant claims. As always, YMMV.
