I think I’m getting a little red while wearing this. It’s not expired. I bought it from a drugstore in Japan. Makes me hesitate to wear it if I’m going to be in direct sun a lot during the day. Anyone else experience this? Is the original formula better?
by fanart89
3 Comments
2 thoughts come to mind:
1) Are you applying enough and are you re-applying regularly? Most people don’t apply nearly enough, and these cosmetically elegant water-based sunscreens are more prone to being disrupted by skin oils, touching the face (or other skin), etc.
2) Are you picking the right product for your use case? These types of super light cosmetically elegant products aren’t really designed to be used when you’re out in direct sun for prolonged periods, they’re targeted towards incidental sun exposure such as a short walk to the mail box, in between buildings, car to house, etc. Something “heavier duty” might be needed if you’re going to be in direct sun a lot during the day, and even then sunscreen is never 100% perfect protection on its own – UPF clothing, hats, parasols, etc. are all very important, sunscreen shouldn’t be your main or only line of defense.
Most Korean sunscreens are made for incidental exposure, so they don’t provide enough protection against the sun and are not waterproof. That’s just the downside of cosmetically elegant sunscreen formulas. Since you’re in Japan, you can try Anessa, Allie, Omi Sun Bears, or Biore Athlizm. I haven’t tried Allie or Biore Athlizm, but I really like the Omi Sun Bears hybrid SPF for my oily skin! I’ve personally didn’t like Anessa, because it stings my eyes and felt greasy on the skin, but it’s supposingly the stongest Japanese SPF out there.
I’ve worn this sunscreen in all kinds of climates (desert, island, etc. while travelling) and did not burn, it really holds up in my experience (oily acne-prone skin with some eczema/dermatitis). I re-apply every 2 hours and have not had any issues. Could it possibly be an allergic reaction? Or maybe more frequent re-applications are needed? If it was me, I would use it on an overcast day and see if I still got red. However, you get alarmingly red, maybe the arm is a better place to test it in case it is an allergy.
Additionally, where you are located should also be considered. I know places like Australia have strict sunscreen regulations due to their intense sun, so if you live in such a place, it’s best to follow the local guidelines.