Ah, sunscreen.
You can never overstate the importance of sunscreens – in fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s literally the one component of skincare that nobody should ever go without, no matter what your age, gender, or lifestyle habits.
We’ve done numerous articles on sunscreens, a testament to our strong belief in its importance as a fundamental protection for your skin and your health, but if you’re new to this rhetoric, we recommend checking out this article that elucidates the things you need to look out for when shopping for sunscreen.
We’re also thankful that beauty brands everywhere have heeded our calls for not just more effective sunscreens, but also those with more innovative and easier application methods. We’ve lately seen spray-on sunscreens and mists hit the market, making sunscreen application quite literally a breeze.
This season, we’re seeing more innovative sun protection solutions coming on the market and we’re excited to see how they’re going to change up our skincare routine!
Biore UV Make-Up Base
Japanese skincare brand Biore has always been a drugstore staple for as long as we can remember, and we’re stoked that they’re finally putting their first foot forward into the wondrous world of makeup with their all-new UV makeup base.
All three variants in the line are essentially makeup bases or primers, but they contain SPF50+ and PA++++ so you can always be reassured that you’re protected against those damaging sun rays.
If you’re wondering whether a makeup primer that doubles up as a sunscreen may feel too thick or sticky, you have nothing to worry about. The Biore UV Make-Up Base comes in a lightweight gel texture which doesn’t leave a sticky after-feel like some sunscreens do.
It comes in three variants:
- Oil Control: sheer tinted gel that dries to a soft matte finish that helps to regulate oil production
- Bright Up Base: pink-tinted gel with pearlescent pigments that illuminates the skin to make it look more radiant and glowy
- Covering Base: nude-coloured gel for a higher coverage for days when you have zits or blemishes to cover
The Biore UV Make-Up Base retails for SGD19.90 each at Watsons, Guardian, and SaSa.
ORBIS Sunscreen Powder
It’s not just enough to have a UV-infused makeup base, now we have the option of using setting powders that also have SPF and PA values to really bring us all-around protection against the sun.
The renewed and relaunched ORBIS Sunscreen Powder looks exactly like a powder compact complete with clamshell packaging with inlaid mirror – in fact, it gives us some strong sense of nostalgia holding it in our hands and having it in our makeup pouches.
But don’t be fooled by its exterior. The formula of this powder is anything but old school. It contains SPF50+ and PA++++ to help protect your skin against those UVA and UVB rays that cause premature skin ageing, loss of skin elasticity, and may even cause skin cancer.
The Sunscreen Powder is also waterproof, which means you don’t have to worry about sweat disrupting your makeup as you walk around in the hot sun. It’s also been designed to absorb sebum to help your skin continue looking refreshingly matte for the whole day without cakiness or streaking.
The ORBIS Sunscreen Powder Case retails for SGD11 and the ORBIS Sunscreen Powder Refills retail for SGD29 each at ORBIS counters and on the ORBIS website. It is available in two shades: Natural and Lucent.
Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50+ PA++++
Anessa, a Japanese brand under Shiseido, may be a relatively new player in the Singapore market, but they’ve certainly made a lot of impact since first appearing on our shores.
Already a big player in Japan, Anessa arrived in Singapore with much fanfare and has since impressed consumers here with the lightweight, non-sticky formula of their sunscreens. If the texture wasn’t enough to convince you, wait till you hear about the exclusive technology that the formula uses.
What they’re really famous for is the innovative Aqua Booster EX Technology, which was specially created by Shiseido’s research and development teams, following demand for sunscreen that doesn’t need to be reapplied as often when one wanted to enjoy oneself at the beach.
The sunscreen can stand up against friction and rubbing, because it’s made of plate-shaped friction-resistant powders which adhere closely to your skin, forming a satin-smooth layer that ensures that it won’t be easily rubbed off.
What’s more, as the name suggests, the Aqua Booster EX Technology is not just water-resistant, it actually gets stronger after contact with water. When the sunscreen mixes with water, the molecules of sunscreen are redistributed on the skin and actually becomes reinforced.
If that isn’t enough to convince you, the Anessa sunscreen formula is also 50% skincare ingredients to help nourish your skin even while it protects it. Talk about hardworking skincare!
The Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF50+ PA++++ retails for SGD39.90 at selected Watsons, Welcia-BHG, BHG, and Don Don Donki.
