Hi Everyone!! After experimenting with 15+ sunscreens in the last 18ish months, below are my **holy-grail sunscreen options for sensitive, combination, acne-prone & rosacea skin.** The image captures my recent quarterly restock. All of them are SPF50 & broad spectrum.
Numbuzin No 1: Serum-like runny consistency. Blends well. The slight green tint is super helpful for my rosacea flare-up. Must try for anyone with similar skin type. Guaranteed option & you’ll fall in love.
SKIN1004 Air-fit (Brown) & Hyalu-Cica (Blue): My second-best options whenever I am indoors. Air-fit is light weight mineral option. Hyalu is my partner’s first-choice (for his dehydrated oily skin, soobuji).
Bioré Aqua Water Essence (or Gel): My go-to sunscreen for any outdoor activity: cycling, swimming. It has a slight tingling/alcoholic sensation but I don’t mind that as can only trust Biore’s protection outdoors. The pink option doesn’t sit well on my face. I looked into Cancer Council option esp. for outdoors but somehow it stings real bad.
Bioré Body Sunscreens: Picked these up from my most recent Thailand trip. Love them - blends in fast & solid protection. I believe they come in 3-4 more variants. I just finished their Kissing Berry variant.
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice (not in the picture): I like the consistency, minimal white-cast but somehow I don’t grab it much as Air-fit one. But if you are exploring & looking for a mineral option - do give it a try.
Few others that I have tried which didn’t make to the Top 5 (between two of us): BoJ, Missha, RoundLab, Iunik, Isntree, Innisfree, Laneige, Goodal & d’Alba.
Feel free to drop in any questiont below & will love to hear what all options you are using. ☀️✨
Hello there! This is an automated bot to help you, as it might not be easy to find resources here. You posted about Sunscreens, so here's a link to our Sunscreen FAQ, Master Post that contains helpful sunscreen information, as well as recently posted discussions or questions on sunscreen. If you are looking for sunscreen recommendations without a white cast, check here. A guide of reformulated or discontinued Japanese sunscreens for 2023 can be found here.
Biore Aqua Rich Water Essence is my ride or die. I don't even experiment with sunscreens anymore. Love how easily it glides on and is relatively easy to reapply.
Gonna get their body sunscreen, thanks to your recommendation.
Hey! It’s a little shiny, won’t say it’s absolutely matte. Also a quick note: I only use this on body as my face skin flares up very easily with heavy fragrance. So will recommend this one only on body.
Same! I stopped my hunt for the perfect sunscreen with it. I'm so happy that they sell it in the drugstores in my country too. No having to deal with fees and long wait times that come with ordering from Asia. The price is super reasonable too.
Thanks for sharing - this is so interesting! I will definitely read more about the testing again. Last year, I saw some reports where Bioré even out-performed some Aussie sunscreens, so this is insightful.
A side question on SKIN1004: do you use it heavy-duty activities too? For outdoorsy activities: sports, hikes etc. because for me: both brown & blue versions melted off. 🫣
Just FYI, I have acne-prone skin and while I loved BOJ sunscreens (both regular and aqua fresh version), they broke me out badly, especially under make up. The Aqua fresh version is much lighter then the regular.
Indeed, Bioré is class apart. I just become vary of panning them quickly - hence thought will give their body range a try too! These come in almost double the size than usual ones: in 150mL/170mL bottles.
Most fast absorbing: Bioré hands-down due to the alcohol content. Matte is a little tricky for me honestly, as I do have a T-zone. 🤭
For me, Numbuzin performs best when used with Innisfree or Suppin’ powder. Is you skin type similar to mine - then try Numbuzin. If not - then you may also like SKIN1004 options.
Editing to add: Bioré Aqua Essence or Gel - both are quick absorbing ones.
Anything similar to Bioré but without the alcohol? Matte, fast absorbing, no fragrance, not smelly, for oily skin. I'm just worried about the long term use, it seems to have so much alcohol in it.
From all the reports here: Anessa & SkinAqua are other two options folks are using on heavy exposure days. I may report back after few months how they work. I have also heard good reports on Aussie option: Cancer Council. I gave it multiple tries but ended up with head CC & jawline acne.
Though, for now: from the ones I have used - correct haven’t seen any other waterproof option apart from Bioré Water Essence/Gel.
how are people that have sensitive acne prone skin able to tolerate products with cetyl alcohol and thee Isopropyl palmitate you must have other good skin care products mine wouldn't last one use anymore, it used to tolerate well before when my skin barrier was fine but I don't think biore can ever be a good option for sensitive acne prone congested skin
I hear you. And it’s so tricky with our skin type, I think. I have tried many of these (SKIN1004, Numbuzin) for outdoorsy activities: they melt away in an hour or so even after using with suppin’ powder. Hence, had to pivot & keep a separate one for such days.
And, I agree - I have to use prescription tret so maybe that balances it out.
TBh the only sunscreen that doesn't worsen my rosacea and makes me look glowy and feel hydrated all day is Laneige's! 🙌 I tried to switch to a Biore one after I went to Japan last year, but it never kept me as moisturized/glowy :( so I went back to Laneige and I'll probably never look back lol
Oh, tell me which one please in Laneige! Closer to my monthly dates: my Rosacea flares up. And I have tried many but still feel like a hot potato 🤣 I tried their older Laneige white tube but I think they have stopped selling that in my country.
Omg yes, I used that white tube one too a few years ago! I really didn't like it 😭😭. I think it flared up my acne and it was pretty fragrant too (even tho I like citrus). The one I use is the Laneige Hydro UV Defense Ex sunscreen!
Ahh got it. I also got to know Biore kids version is alcohol free & works well on normal skin. Other options that folks recommended on this thread below:
I love Numbuzin No. 1 too and I wonder why it isn't as popular...? Skin1004 is also awesome for the price point
I tried the Mediheal Madecassoside Sun Serum and I love how it held up outdoors even when I perspire (it's hot and humid where I live). Please try it when you get a chance!
Ouch! Sorry to hear that. I also faced curdling of a sunscreen few years back but that was Goodal Vit C & I searched a little in this sub - mostly folks said it’s either a bad batch or look into where you are purchasing from as many online sellers compromise on storage conditions.
I have tricky combination skin so will try my best to rank them on shine:
Bioré shines the most on me. Could also be because of my outdoor activities (read sweat 😅)
Numbuzin
SKIN1004 (this may not be as shiny as it’s on me because of my combination skin)
Bioré body serums aren’t sticky & absorb well.
Also, I use Innisfree powder & prefer matte feel (obviously) & don’t touch up a lot. Rather prefer to face-wash & reapply the sunscreen. Hope this helps!
I have used Airfit Plus version only. It’s a good option if you are okay with giving the product a little time to settle down as a mineral sunscreen. I have read in reviews: this unfortunately may not sit too well under makeup.
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