UPDATE! I’m revising my view. This one has been relegated to No. 3 after this other one 😉
I go through sunscreens like water. I’ve gone through 2 or is it 3 bottles of my favourite Shiseido Perfect Protector sunscreen and my wallet was killing me! So, when a friend told me to help her pick up a bottle of the Kose Sekkisei Sun Protector N on my last trip to Hong Kong (where it was cheaper than locally) I picked up a bottle for myself.
I’d heard a lot about the Kose Sekkisei range which I hear is terribly popular, but I’d only used their cleansing oil which I don’t remember being very impressed with. I believe its the lotion that gets lots of raves but this is the first time I’m trying anything from the brand.
What I like is the high SPF50+ PA+++ rating. I rarely use anything below SPF50 but that’s my personal choice. I know of people who can’t tolerate SPF sunscreens or who just don’t believe in anything over SPF30. I’ve had people tell me that SPF15 is more than sufficient but all I’d say is I’ll agree to disagree on this 🙂
After about 2 months of using this Kose Sekkisei Sun Protector N, would I replace my Shiseido sunscreen with this one?
Well, lets just say that I’m not ready to give up the Shiseido one just yet, although I’m prepared to alternate the two 🙂 I’d call this my back up sunscreen.
Its not to say that this is a bad product. I in fact think its pretty good. You get a 60ml compact bottle of product which is pretty generous. Like many Japanese brand sunscreens, you do have to shake up the bottle before squeezing it out from the handy nozzle.
However, unlike many Japanese sunscreens the product squeezes out a rather creamy milky lotion that is quite hydrating on my skin and I like how that feels.
I like that because it makes it very easy to spread and importantly, it does not leave a dry papery feel on my skin. My beef with Japanese sunscreen. It in fact, almost feels like I’m applying a moisturiser on skin which makes it feel very comfortable, and it isn’t drying at all.
Apparently, this product also has whitening effects and helps prevent uneven skintone etc but if I’m to be perfectly honest, my skin looks the same as it did 2 months before I started using this. So in terms of efficacy for skintone correction, I’d say this doesn’t hit the mark. As sun protection, as I can’t measure it, I’d just have to assume that its working if my dark spots don’t get any darker.
However, I also find that it does not give me as good a base for makeup as the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector does. It takes a little while to absorb into skin and while comfortable, just doesn’t perform well as a makeup base. So, if I want to have my makeup looking better for longer without using a primer/base, I still have to use the Shiseido Perfect UV.
Its compact and easy to tote about and 60ml is generous especially when I’m as generous with my use of it. So, if I can get this at the price I did in HK (it cost me under RM100 there) I can consider using this as my backup sunscreen. But my primary one will still be the one from Shiseido for ticking the right boxes, even if it ticks my wallet off 😛
In a nutshell
The Kose Sekkisei Sun Protector N SPF50+ PA+++ is a sunscreen with high UVA and UVB protection factor which is useful for our hot weather. The product comes in a generous sized 60ml bottle and the texture is a creamy milky lotion which is very comfortable on skin. You do have to shake it up before use to ensure the product is mixed up properly. I had no problems using this – no breakouts or white casts, but I did not find it giving me as good a base under makeup as it did the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector. I will use this as an alternate product but I will go back to the Shiseido as my primary sunscreen.
Pros: Light textured and easily absorbed, High UVA and UVB protection
Cons: Does not make a good enough base for makeup, Did not work to even out skintone or whiten as alleged
Who will like this: Anyone who wants a milky lotion textured sunscreen with high UVA and UVB protection
I picked this up from Hong Kong where I’ve found this range to be cheaper there. Sasa and Bonjour stores have it but its among the pricier items in the store so if you don’t see it, ask the SA. However, it sometimes comes in a pack with a mask or a lotion which makes it better value than if you buy it on its own. I think mine came with a lotion but I can’t, for the life of me, find it now 😛 Also, there’s no ingredient list because I can’t find my box anymore 😛
Have you tried anything from the Kose Sekkisei range? Have you tried this sunscreen before?
I’ve always been rather curious about the Kose Sekkisei range but I’ve never really tried anything from it because I tend to over look it. Its not a cheap brand, but neither is it a very expensive product range so if you have recommendations on any must trys, please share! 🙂
Paris B
Kose Sekkisei Sun Protector N SPF50+ PA+++ Price: RM110/60ml Availability: Kose counters
I used up three bottles of this before I moved onto Shiseido! :p I think it is a little cheaper than Shiseido’s here in Malaysia. Can’t believe it’s so much cheaper in Hong Kong, guess it’s high time I made a trip there. 😉 xx
Yes Sukie! The shopping will bankrupt you though hehe… 😉 I much prefer the Shiseido one so even with the price difference, I’d still go with Shiseido. Are you liking the Shiseido?
I was about to ask if there are any silicones in it! I am on a hunt for a sunblock with no silicones in it. Is it possible??
Hmm I can’t say, Monstro sorry! The thing is, Japanese brands do tend to use silicones and alcohol and parabens and mineral oil etc that many western brands claim to be free of so while I can’t say if there are silicones in this, I’m not surprised if it does have them.
Hi Paris,
My HG sunblock is the Clarins UV Plus|HP SPF 40 and my backup is La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral. Both are lightweight and I think it doesn’t give me a white cast. I rarely wear face primer and they both do well under makeup for me. Another i like is Kiehl’s Super Shield UV Defense SPF50+, but I feel that it can leave a white-ish cast. It’s another lightweight formula and I use it when I’m not wearing makeup. SPF 40 is about as low as I go.
Ahh I like the 2 you like too! I however found that after going through a couple of bottles of the Clains UV Plus one, it just wasn’t good enough for me sun protection wise, although the texture is really lovely! I like the Kiehl’s one too but it can sometimes get a bit oily. Good choices all round though! 😀
I haven’t tried anything from Kose but I heard a lot about the Medicated Sekkisei Lotion. I’m still on my Shiseido UV Protector, and I don’t know if I want to change it. Then again, I’m known to be fickle, so… 😛 This is definitely more wallet friendly.
to me, this kose one is too moisturizing to me to the point that it broke me out plus made me an oilly face by noon…
i personally dont recommend it to combi skin…
Yikes! Sorry to hear it performed so badly on you. It is very moisturizing, that’s for sure!
I really do like the Shiseido one so I think I’ll go back once I’m done with this Kose one. Its nice, but I guess, not nice enough to keep my loyal heh
I do not think I will change my sunscreen for now after using Shiseido Perfect Protector sunscreen (thanks to your recommendation, you are such an enabler!). Plus the Shiseido sunscreen is really value for money compared with the ones from Kiehls and Clarins 🙂
I’m not sure if the Shiseido is a better value here in the US. Unfortunately, Perfect UV Protector, specifically, is harder to find here and approx $46.00 – $53.50 for a 1.7 oz bottle (I think I found an online shop that was a bit cheaper once, but with shipping it made it about $46), while the Clarins and the Kiehl’s are approx $38 for the same size bottle and it’s more readily available to me. I must be looking in the wrong shops! 🙂 If there is a place that is even cheaper, please let me know!
Gosh Rose, I didn’t realise the price difference was so great! Over here, the Kiehl’s and Clarins prices are very close to Shiseido’s but that said, the former are generally pricier here than they are in the US so that may explain the small price difference 🙁
Hahaha I’m glad you do like the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector. Its really nice isn’t it? I like the lovely base it gives for my makeup which allows me to skip things like primer (and thus save me money!)
I’ve recently just picked up the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector (I’ve been meaning to for the longest time, after reading your initial post on it but was waiting to finish the sunscreen I had in hand first) and I absolutely love it!!! It’s light and doesn’t make my face look like a frying pan after half day. And I completely agree with you on how good it is as well as a base for makeup. I think I finally found my winner for sunscreen!! 🙂
Yay for liking the Shiseido sunscreen, Daphne! 😀 I’m happy it works for you and I’m going back to that too once I’m done with this Kose one 😀
I’m using the Kose SPF at the moment…but mine is not ‘medicated’. I like that there’s no white cast and the 60ml bottle is a bonus. Initially I find the Shiseido SPF dries too fast, before I can spread it (plus the silicone issue). But I really like that my oily face did not oil up as with other SPF that I already had a bottle in standby. As for the silicone issue, I’ll be fine as long as I don’t use it 2 days in a row; alternate days is the magic word for me.
Oh wait, is there a medicated and non medicated version? I wonder what the difference is. Hard to tell when its a brand that doesn’t get a lot of coverage >.< Do you find that the Kose one works better for you than the Shiseido one? I think I know what you mean about the drying bit because the Shiseido one does feel a bit more dry compared to this one.
oh! I’ve used http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp?skintonetype=2&SortBy=date-desc&ItemId=106200&AgeRange=0& and I absolutely in love with the texture and how my face felt after the application. Plus point – it’s cheap!
Its great to know the Biore one works for you Lingzy 🙂 It doesn’t work for me (most Biore ones don’t) which is a pity because a nice cheap sunscreen would of course be very wallet friendly! 🙂
i think i am on my 3rd bottle already! (first ever!) but i am getting fickle lately and my current favorite is the yadah sunscreen, it’s quite creamy and moisturizing, does not leave any white cast too.
Wow 3rd bottle of this sunscreen! Good for you 😀 I haven’t seen the Yadah one around but I’ll take your word for it that it works 🙂
I remember using this in Japan and not getting burned or tanned despite my really white skin and the scorching Japanese summer! I really, really liked it, but it’s a little over my budget and since my skin also changed a lot since then, I looked for different ones.
A good one that is more wallet friendly that I’ve tried is by Hada Labo which you can easily get in Japan I think 🙂 It works for me too when I use it. I remember you were pursuing some further studies in Japan – bet you’re having a fab time! 😀
I am using the Dermalogica oil free matte SPF30, and I love it! I have combination of dry and oily skin and this keeps my skin oiliness in check! But the price is *gasp* RM210+ for a bottle of 50ml. Pricey but I can’t find another sunblock better than this.
Wow! That is most certainly pricey! But you know what they say. If it works, it works. No point changing to find it breaks you out because it can cost you more to get things under control!
I definitely want to try this Kose Sekkisei sunscreen as it won’t hurt my wallet too much, since my current sunscreen Cellabelle is about to finish up and I can’t get any replacement for it as the beauty saloon that sold it to me had closed down last year Nov 🙁 I used to be Kose Sekkisei user for its highly raved Lotion, on top of that also tried Cleansing Cream and Moisturizer. I must say my skin loves how they hydrate and whiten my skin. If you want to try then these 3 are recommended – Cleansing Cream, Lotion and Moisturizer – as 3 step basic skincare.
Thanks for the Sekkisei recs! 🙂 I know its quite a popular range of products but we just don’t hear a lot about it do we? 🙂
I have rosacea skin & lots of skincare products do not agree with me. Only sekkisei & sekkisei supreme works and do wonder for my super sensitive skin.. The improvements may be subtle and is also the reason its safer for long term use. They may contains alcohol but it does not sting or strip my skin moisture. Thumbs up for their skincare