A renewed Korean sunscreen that doesn’t leave a greasy residue or white cast on the skin? We put it to the test!

The benefits of wearing sunscreen daily are practically endless – fewer dark spots and wrinkles, less discolouration, and, most important of all, a lowered risk of getting skin cancer.

Still, there are reasons why we avoid slathering on sunscreen every day, and it’s often because of the product itself. It’s sticky. It’s greasy. It smells bad. It’s too fragrant. It pills. It doesn’t sit well under makeup. It leaves a white cast… The list goes on and on.

Most of us are constantly searching for the perfect sunscreen, and Korean skincare brand AXIS-Y wants to give you just that with its latest offering – a renewed version of its already bestselling Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++.

Why this Korean skincare brand reformulated their popular sunscreen

AXIS-Y has given its sunscreen formula a makeover, and get this – it’s their third version!

While its first and second versions were a go-to for many, the brand chose not to rest on its laurels. Instead, the team behind AXIS-Y listened closely to their community’s wants and worked tirelessly to create the best sunscreen they possibly could.

The team shared that the issue with the second version was the white cast, texture, and scent, which they addressed in the latest offering. A brand that acknowledges past problems is indeed commendable, and certainly something you don’t see every day!

To perfect its formula, the renewed vegan sunscreen now bears an “essence gel lotion” texture that resembles a moisturising cream. Its lightweight texture is said to glide onto the skin smoothly for a dewy yet non-greasy finish.

Even better, the renewed version claims it doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin, so it would be perfect for those with deeper skin tones.

While the new formula sounds like a hit, is their third time really the charm? We put it to the test!

Is the renewed AXIS-Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen non-greasy?

My skin has as many moods as there are days of the week. It’s inherently oily yet dehydrated, but also prone to clogged pores, acne, and sensitivity. Naturally, I’ve had a bit of a Goldilocks situation with sunscreen.

Goopy, greasy formulas kept my skin nicely moisturised, but I’d end up with congested skin by the end of the day. Silky, lightweight sunscreens, on the other hand, kept my pores clear and happy, but my skin would feel tight and parched after a few hours.

Finding the right formula for my finicky skin seemed near impossible, but I still had faith in AXIS-Y’s renewed Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen.

Trying out the fragrance-free and alcohol-free mineral sunscreen for the first time, I noticed that it has an unexpectedly moisturising formula, which I appreciate when I’m cooped up in our air-conditioned office.

It not only adds another layer of hydration to my skincare but also leaves behind a semi-matte glow. The renewed sunscreen settles fast without balling up on my skin, which allows me to move on to makeup application relatively quickly.

To find out if the formula is genuinely non-greasy, I dipped my hand in a box full of confetti to see how many lightweight pieces would adhere to the back of my hand.

Unsurprisingly, confetti glided right past the silky finish of the sunscreen, proving its non-sticky and non-greasy claims.

Does the renewed AXIS-Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen leave a white cast?

The lovely gel-cream texture smoothed over my skin easily, but I must admit – as I started working it into my skin, I grew slightly concerned about the white formula. After blending and allowing it to settle for a minute or two, however, the white cast dissipated.

What I like about the formula is that it plays nice with the toner and moisturiser I layered underneath it. The AXIS-Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen also didn’t ball up under makeup to create any “facial dandruff” – I can’t say the same for plenty of mineral sunscreens I’ve tried in the past.

Since my complexion leans a little fairer, which means a white cast may go undetected on my skin, I invited two other Daily Vanity team members with different skin tones to try out the reformulated sunscreen too.

Here’s what they had to say about it!

“When I dispensed the sunscreen on my fingers, I appeared quite thick. However, I was pleasantly surprised when it blended out smoothly on my face,” senior creative designer Iffah remarked.

“It definitely left a white cast at first, but I soon realised that it just needed to be properly blended out on the skin. The white cast disappeared after the product had set in.”

It has a non-sticky and non-greasy formula, which I prefer because my T-zone gets really oily. The sunscreen also sat well under my makeup and did not cake up after I had finished my entire makeup routine,” she adds.

“First of all, I love the texture of the sunscreen – not too thick like the other sunscreens I have tried. It has a light, moisturiser-like texture which makes it easy to blend in,” campaign executive Supraja raved.

“It did have a slight white cast when I first applied it, but it started to disappear as the product got absorbed into my skin,” she observed. “It’s light, non-sticky, and comfortable – best for those who are looking for a formula that doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily.”

What else is new with AXIS-Y’s Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen?

AXIS-Y’s Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen has seriously proven itself with our rigorous tests, but that isn’t all it has to offer.

Catering to those with sensitive skin, the sunscreen is now armed with the new “Hydro-Fit Formula”, which excludes essential oils and features hyaluronic acid to give your skin a healthy glow. This also allows you to reapply your SPF throughout the day without any residue.

I like that the formula includes some of my favourite soothing, anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients too, such as calendula, green tea, chamomile, allantoin, and niacinamide. They calm sensitive, tired skin from UV damage as they refine skin texture and replenish your skin’s moisture levels.

It even contains the patented ingredient SYN-COLL (palmitoyl tripeptide-5), which promotes collagen production, thereby improving your skin’s elasticity and wrinkles!

If you’ve been searching for a mineral sunscreen that checks boxes most mineral SPFs can’t, AXIS-Y’s Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen will likely be your next holy grail.

AXIS-Y Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ retails for S$23 at Watsons online.

This article is brought to you by AXIS-Y.