Since this past May, hubby and I have finished several 80g bottles of Nivea Sun Protect Water Gel Super SPF50 PA+++, going through the bottles much faster than I could take photos of them. Once we were in Tokyo and used up the last bottle, I purposely took a detour with SunCut UV Protect Gel SPF50+ PA++++, both to try something new and to make sure I'm documenting all the sunscreens I just bought.
This is the stronger version of the Sun Protect Water Gel SPF30 PA++ now with SPF35 PA+++. Below is the 140g pump bottle version, because I no longer have the 80g ones with twist-caps. I don't plan on buying more of those either, because I now can simply get refill pouches for this pump bottle.
This is the stronger version of the Sun Protect Water Gel SPF30 PA++ now with SPF35 PA+++. Below is the 140g pump bottle version, because I no longer have the 80g ones with twist-caps. I don't plan on buying more of those either, because I now can simply get refill pouches for this pump bottle.
First, I'm just going to put this out there: this is an easy-on-easy-off formula and absolutely not a sunscreen for sweaty outdoor activities like swimming or sports.
Okay, now that I got that off of my chest, hands down this is the best sunscreen for running errands around town, daily commute to and from work, etc. I use it on my neck, decolletage, arms, legs, feet, etc. It goes on a weightless watery gel and dries completely and invisibly. It doesn't help Japan's humidity of course, but it doesn't add to it either, and for that I'm thankful.
There are different formulas out there that do offer oil control, with some do and some don't require a special cleanser (makeup remover, oil cleanser, etc.) for complete removal. Personally though, I don't like the feel of those formula on my body. I feel they're too thick and substantial and I prefer the naked skin finish. But we'll see, I just bought a boat-load of sunscreens from several different brands both for the face and body. May be I'll luck out with a new discovery that's more substantial and still retain that naked skin feel?
What I'm really saying is that this formula will come right off with humidity, sweat, and sebum. No sunscreen is perfect, and for all the comfort this one offers, this is its drawback. When I apply this to my neck and decolletage, I dust a sunscreen powder over it to set. Mineral powders like Paseo UV Cut Powder or UVLab Mineral Powder are naturally sweat and water-resistant for up to a couple of hours. And I don't sweat on my arms so I'm okay there.
Uh, awesome. This sounds so tempting! I feel the same about these naked-skin-feel sunscreens.
ReplyDeleteSo far I got Biore Men SPF30PA+++ and Biore Mild Sun Milk, love those.
But I wish I knew the ingredients of this Nivea. Because with Biore I now kind of have doubts about their UVA1 protection, they got a filter that's only used in Japan and that there's very little information about, so maybe that covers UVA1, maybe not.. :s So by now I top them off with a tiny bit of zinc oxide sunscreen on the face just to be sure.
Hi crackpot_honey,
ReplyDeleteActually, there's a website that has a whole lot of info on Japanese sunscreens, with ingredients and everything :) Here's the link to this sunscreen I just reviewed:
http://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/nivea-sun-protect-water-gel-spf50/
Looks like it's all chemical with this sunscreen, which sort of explains why it's only PA+++. This is why it's absolutely not a "performance" sunscreen and more for daily use. I would never wear this to the beach, but to run some errands or walking out to the groceries is no problem.
Hope this helps,
D.