The best Japanese sunscreens should feel just like your favorite moisturizers: lightweight, hydrating, and totally undetectable. That’s because they’re made to stay comfortable through high heat and extreme humidity, two characteristics of summers in Japan. If you’ve tried Japanese skin care, these formulas will feel familiar in their approach. “They’re made to work with your skin and not against it,” says Kyoko Getz, a clinical esthetician and director of education at J-beauty retailer Shiko Beauty. “Deeply hydrating, nourishing, and protecting over the long term. Every single step of a Japanese skin care routine has intention.”
As a beauty editor who’s spent years testing both FDA-approved Japanese sunscreens and local J-beauty favorites, I’ve developed an understanding of how the best options should feel. To curate the top picks for every skin type, I interviewed Getz and a Tokyo-based makeup artist for the formulas worth adding to cart. Below are the standouts.
The best Japanese sunscreens, at a glance
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J-beauty brands have had a place in my skin care routine for more than 20 years. Even before I became a beauty editor, I gravitated toward their gentle efficacy and focus on overall skin health. Over the years I’ve tested many of the most popular Japanese skin care products, including sunscreen.
When reviewing each option, I make note of its SPF level to ensure it provides enough UV protection for daily wear (a minimum of SPF 30 is what dermatologists recommend). I also look at the ingredients list to determine which skin types it’s best for, whether it’s fragrance free, and its key benefits. For this story I consulted J-beauty experts including a Tokyo-based makeup artist and a clinical esthetician specializing in Japanese skin care to curate this list and help Glamour readers make the most informed decision.
Best Overall: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Weightless Moisturizer
Original video from Jenifer Calle testing Bioré UV Aqua Rich Weightless Moisturizer
Fast facts: Lightweight and hydrating texture; no white cast; layers well under makeup; noncomedogenic and oil-free; works for all skin types
My must-have souvenir from Japan is a tube of Kao Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. The Bioré UV Aqua Rich range is Japan’s top seller for sunscreen and our overall best pick. While the formula available stateside uses different FDA-approved filters than the original Japanese version, it’s still one of the most lightweight OTC options Glamour editors have tried. The fast-absorbing, spreadable formula is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and layers beautifully under makeup. It’s noncomedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores) and oil-free, so all skin types, including sensitive skin, can wear it. Broad-spectrum SPF 50 filters give you plenty of sun protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
“I’ve been using this J-beauty sunscreen for years and regularly run out of it (as you can see from my almost empty bottle in the video). The lightweight moisturizer with SPF 50 protection leaves a gorgeous glow and no white cast on my combination, oily skin. I like to use this particularly on my face, neck, and arms when I go running because it doesn’t feel heavy like other SPF body lotions,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best for Dry Skin: Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
Original video of Sarah Y. Wu testing Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
Fast facts: The most lightweight Japanese sunscreen we tried; great humidity resistance; lasting hydration; slight white cast shows up on darker skin tones
Anessa’s best-selling sunscreen lotion is just as well-known in Japan as Bioré’s. Among the formulas I tested for this story, it was by far the lightest and runniest, while also providing an impressive amount of lasting hydration with ingredients like green tea, vitamin E, and glycerin. It also offers a high level of SPF 50+ PA++++ protection. (In the US, most brands use a “broad spectrum” label to indicate both UVA and UVB sun protection, while other countries commonly indicate the level of additional UVA protection with the number of + signs next to PA.)
“When it comes to sunscreen, this brand is always at the forefront of technology, offering strong humidity resistance,” says Miki Ishida, a hair and makeup artist based in Tokyo. “It has moisturizing ingredients, applies smoothly, and has a comfortable silky texture.”
Getz also says this formula remains one of her favorites. “It’s made to withstand sweat and humidity instead of breaking down,” she says. “The texture is lovely; it glides on and melts into my skin without a greasy feeling. I personally like it because it layers beautifully under makeup like a primer. Darker skin tones may see a slight white cast, though.”
Best for Glow: Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream
Original video of Sarah Y. Wu testing Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream
Fast facts: Deeply moisturizing nongreasy texture; layers well with makeup; recommended for dry and mature skin; glowy finish
Clé de Peau Beauté is the epitome of luxury Japanese makeup, and this sunscreen is one of my favorite formulas to layer under foundation, powder, and concealer. It’s the most expensive on this list but feels as elegant as my favorite antiaging Japanese moisturizers.
The texture is creamy and rich without feeling greasy or sticky, and I use it most during the cooler months when my skin leans more dry than combination. It’s packed with skin care ingredients like peppermint, perilla, and other Japanese plant extracts selected to hydrate, smooth, and help boost collagen. I love how this creates a cushiony effect under foundation so it applies smoother and looks more seamless. The pearl shell extract in the formula doesn’t leave any noticeable shimmer but creates a glowy, lit-from-within finish I love.
Best for Makeup: Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen
Original video of Sarah Y. Wu testing Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen
Fast facts: Comes in a clear version and three color-correcting tints; acts as both sunscreen and makeup primer; smooth gel texture; purple version shown here leaves white cast on darker skin tones
If you want a more accessibly priced face sunscreen to layer under foundation, try this one from Canmake, made with sodium hyaluronate and evening primrose seed extract to hydrate. The Japanese drugstore brand is known for its makeup, so it makes sense that its UV gel would pair perfectly with any base. It comes in multiple color-correcting shades, including a redness-reducing mint. There’s also a clear version that goes on invisible and doesn’t leave any white cast. For this story I tested the popular purple-tinted version, which is meant to brighten your base. While it made my skin tone look instantly more illuminated, it leaves a noticeable white cast on medium to dark skin tones. I like that the formula pairs so well with both liquid and cushion foundations that I can skip primer entirely.
