Regulars amongst you will know that I’ve found my Holy Grail sunscreen and I preach about it from the rafters to whoever will listen. When that runs out, I’ve got my back up in place. But I recently put to test a lesser known sunscreen from Taiwanese brand Naruko AM+PM and I’d be blown if it didn’t wriggle its way into the cockles of my heart, nestling itself comfortably between the Shiseido and the Hada Labo.
This is the am+pm 10 Peptide Total-Defense Sunscreen with SPF50 and it’s by Naruko, a Taiwan brand created by popular Taiwanese beauty guru Niuer. I understand he is terribly popular in Taiwan and products he recommends always fly off the shelves whenever featured on his beauty show. But because I don’t read and speak Mandarin, this is a world of beauty that is unfortunately closed to me. Pity 😛
But coming back to this sunscreen. If I’m to be honest, I doubt I’d have given it a second look had I seen it on the shelves. I’m just a little wary about trying new things these days, which I know backfires on me as a blogger but what the hey 😛 However, this bottle ended up in a bag of items I was given to try for the Cite Cosme Beauty Awards 2014 and I thought I’d give it a go. Turned out, I really liked it!
Being unfamiliar with the brand, I did a little research on it and found out that am+pm or AMPM is one of the brands under the umbrella brand of Naruko. am+pm as the brand says, is a skincare range that is designed to take you from AM to PM and is tailored for those living a busy office life and needs something to keep your skin in top condition while you undergo work stress. Interesting!
The sunscreen comes in a very compact bottle and has the usual shake up formula popular here in Asia. However, unlike many other similar type of sunscreens, the texture is what really got to me.
The product dispenses out as a slightly runny creamy lotion. It isn’t watery nor, if I’m to be particular about it, is it particularly lightweight. It isn’t a bad thing 🙂
If you are familiar with the texture of Shiseido Perfect UV sunscreens then I’d say that this am+pm one is a wee bit creamier. I like it. It isn’t oily or heavy on the skin, and it does absorb nicely into the skin and doesn’t feel a bit drying at all through the day. The only thing is that if you wear this over a creamy moisturiser, then it might feel a bit heavy. Or if you wear a creamy foundation over this, then the foundation may slip a little as the day wears on.
In addition to its primary function as a sunscreen product, this am+pm sunscreen contains 10 peptides to protect and boost the skin’s functions and anti-aging capacity. Here’s the 10 peptides and their functions that I got off the Naruko website.
If I’m to be perfectly honest, I cannot tell if they work as advertised. I can vouch for my skin feeling well moisturised all day, which is probably due to the Hyaluronic Acid. I can’t say if the rest are showing much of an obvious result but I’m not using this product for the peptides. I’m using it because I really like it and it seems to work well enough for me.
I’ve been using this since I ran out of my Shiseido sunscreen a while back, and it’s been a good substitute. It isn’t as good a makeup base as the Shiseido one because of the creamier texture, that much I’d admit. However, it seems to keep my skin more moisturised, and although I was out in the sun, I haven’t noticed my pigmentation getting worse.
That’s my gauge of a sunscreen’s efficacy. If I discover my pigmentation getting worse after an unavoidable bout in the sun, I drop it like a hot potato.
Ultimately, for the very affordable retail price of RM59 (or RM45 on the official website or at various sale prices in Watson’s pharmacies) I’m a happy camper. I think I’ll put this before the Hada Labo Whitening sunscreen for now 🙂
In a nutshell
The am+pm 10 Peptide Total-Defense Sunscreen is a very affordable sunscren from Taiwanese brand, Naruko. It has a slightly creamy texture but is otherwise lightweight and absorbs and sets well on skin. I find that creamier foundations will not sit as well on this so it doesn’t make as good a makeup base as the Shiseido Perfect UV sunscreen. However, I otherwise like it very much. It keeps my skin feeling moisturised and not dry, it protects from the uv rays and it feels comfortable without clogging my pores or breaking me out. It is also very affordable and there isn’t much else you can ask for!Pros: Lightweight lotion texture, Slightly creamy texture feels more comfortable on drier skin types, Does not feel drying on skin, High SPF protects skin from UV rays, Affordable
Cons: Can feel a bit heavy on skin if worn over a heavier moisturiser, Does not work as a very good makeup base for creamier liquid foundations, Nozzle tends to over dispense product
Who will like this: Anyone who is looking for an affordable sunscreen, Anyone who has slightly drier skin, Anyone who light lightweight sunscreen textures that are a little creamier and not drying
Here is the ingredient list for those interested.
I’m not that great at reading ingredient lists, but from what I can tell from the active ingredients, this sunscreen has both UV-B and UV-A blockers so that’s all good then 😛 Naturally, if you are sensitive to silicone, it is present in here so do take note; but I’m not and it does not have the horrible slippery feel of most products that have a lot of silicone, so I’m not terribly fussed about it.
All in all, I’m happy with this and although I’m not now the most adventurous person out there when it comes to trying new skincare, I’m happy I gave this a chance 🙂
Have you tried this am+pm 10 peptide sunscreen before? Are there any other Naruko or am+pm products you like that I should try?
I tried one or two Naruko products a few years ago but wasn’t wowed. This one however has me intrigued by the brand again so if you use or have tried any product that you think is absolutely worth a go, please share! I’d definitely be interested, especially since they carry affordable price tags! 😀
Paris B
p/s On this note, please expect a stretch of silence on the blog for a week or so till I get back on even keel. I should be able to get back to my regular schedule soon, but you will find me on my usual social media channels, Instagram being the primary one if you want a quick reply and like irrelevant and irreverent pictures about beauty, food and various titbits 😉
Naruko am+pm 10 Peptide Total-Defense Sunscreen SPF50 Price: RRP RM59 (look for sales or discount offers) Availability: Naruko Malaysia website or Watson’s stores
I just bought the Hada Labo air sunscreen. So far so good! I chose the Fresh one for oily/combination skin. Initially I wanted the moisturising one but some how I preferred the texture of the Fresh one. RM45 for 30ml. Once this finishes I might try the AMPM one, it sounds like it’s more value for money!
I think you should try out the sunscreen from Dermalogica which is designated for sensitive skin. The texture is abit watery but it really works well with whatever type of foundation. However, the price is a bit unfriendly..
I hear that one is nice too! I’ll give it a go some time soon. I know it’s lying around in one of the packing boxes somewhere… LOL
My Hada Labo is finishing very soon, thinking of getting the Hada Labo Fresh AND moist, but this come in the rite time, gonna check out the website for sure..again you are making me do it..LOL…
quick update, RM45 on the website in the link above.
Haha I hope you like it Wan. It’s not too expensive but I wouldn’t use it for long periods in the sun. For that I still prefer the Shiseido Perfect UV 🙂
You guys get the best sunscreens. Despite having the strictest sun defense rules in the world, most of the sunscreens we get here are thick and heavy. Couple that with a thick moisturiser I slather on and a creamy foundation as base, sometimes my skin feels like a complete oil slick sometimes. I wish there was a way for me to grab these easily. I love the Hada Labo one you’ve mentioned before and I’ve used up 2-3 of those. Really looking forward to trialling this 🙂
Hello! I used up 2 bottles of suncreen from Australia Cancer Council. It was a bit creamy, and the fragrance might put some off. But I thought, Australia has one of the harshest UV rays. And this sunscreen IS from the cancer council so it must be good!? 🙂
I used to use Cancer Council sunscreen too! But on my body not my face. I found it too oily for my face >.<
I think Asia, particularly Japan, has perfected the sunscreen. At least with their light yet effective formulas people will actually wear them instead of just moaning about how greasy it makes their faces, as is wont to happen with most Western brands, from experience. You know you only have to holler if you want anything from here 😀
Ok Paris. I hear you. This is going into my shopping bag when I’m back in Malaysia.
Oh, how I miss Watson’s and Sasa 🙁
Haha I can imagine you do, and also the low low prices!
I’ve recently fallen in love with Yadah’s sunscreen (around the same price range) and I find it hard to believe that I will love anything quite as much, but this seems interesting. I’m currently testing out Ole Henriksen’s, and if you can get past the scent, it’s a very decent product.
I remember you mentioning Yadah once before! I shall have to check them out, but not going out a lot these days is putting a dampener on my shopping habits! Or maybe not since my wallet isn’t screaming in pain anymore LOL 😀
Great review as usual! The nondrying finish sounds really nice. I love the shake bottle sunscreens, but they always dry out my skin >.<
My only concern would be that this doesn't seem to have full spectrum UVA protection according to this chart. http://www.skinacea.com/sunscreen/uv-filters-chart.html
Yep, most shake bottle sunscreens dry my skin out too but this one is nice as is the Hada Labo and Shiseido, which I like. I find others like Biore and Sunplay very drying so I stay clear of them. Thanks for the list and the info. I think this one’s ok for people who maybe mostly confined to the office as opposed to someone who’s out and about all the time. When I’m out and about, I use my Shiseido which I always have a bottle on standby 🙂
I’m a fan of AMPM’s A30 pore minimizing complex and the super triple HA night gelly. I use the A30 as an overall face moisturizer and it works reliably well. Love the relaxing scent. As for the night gelly, on it’s own, it’s not sufficient. It works better as a pre-moisturiser boost. I’m going to give this sunscreen a try once my current ones are used up.
Thanks for the night gelly rec – night gelly sounds like a lot of fun haha! I remember trying one from Naruko before, but maybe I put too much faith in it as a moisturiser when I should be using it more as a pre-moisturiser instead.
Haven’t seen this here! I’m using one from Yves Rocher. It’s not as thick as others, absorb quickly and smells vaguely like raisins / prunes. 😀 Yummy (not that I eat the sunscreen, mind!). Many tells me the Biore one is good. Any ideas?
I break out from Biore for some reason but everyone else I’ve talked to or blogged about it loves it, so I’m probably not the best person to ask HAHA! 😀
Thanks for the review, ParisB! I’m currently using Hada Labo whitening sunscreen – the longest ‘relationship’ with a sunscreen to date. Might give this a try once I’ve emptied the current one. 🙂
I like that one! That Hada Labo Whitening one so if it suits you, stick by it. I think it’s great but if you’ve got a wandering eye then this one is worth a go at if you aren’t in the sun a lot 😀
I think the most surprising bit in this entry is that you don’t read and speak Mandarin. Lol.
Haha! Nope, I have a mental block 😛 So while I understand and can speak minimal rudimentary Mandarin I couldn’t carry on a conversation 😛
I think the sunscreen ingredients are not as good or stable as the Shiseido or Japanese ones. Shiseido and increasingly now, a lot of Japanese drugstore brands are using Tinosorb S as a UVA filter. It is a very stable and efficient (means you don’t need as much of it to provide reasonable PA/PPD protection) sunscreen filter.
Octyl methoxycinnamate may degrade and form free radicals when exposed to UV light. This means that it may worsen pigmentation and that your UVA protection doesn’t last as long as you think it does.
I’d stick with Shiseido or even Biore Perfect milk as they contain zinc oxide and Tinosorb S as filters.
Thanks for the input Firn. I much prefer the Shiseido if only for texture too because I found this a bit oilier than I’m used to. Perhaps those who stay indoors a lot (office workers) and want something lighter on the wallet could consider this. I personally can’t use Biore at all because every formula breaks me out so I’ve given up trying them 🙁
The new formula of Biore’s UV Face Perfect is quite similar to Shiseido’s down to the ingredients. I’ve been using it on my nose only (the oiliest part of my face) and so far no breakouts. In fact, I’ve been getting less blackheads because this doesn’t have Shiseido’s clogging ethylhexyl palmitate ingredient.
It may be slightly more drying than Shiseido’s but I’ve been using it on my neck (safer to test here first) and so far, no flakes/peeling. My facial skin is more sensitive though, so I may not try it on my face just yet.
Ah they reformulated Biore, I see. Maybe I’ll give it another go one of these days. Shiseido doesn’t clog my skin but I don’t know why every one of Biore did before. I guess it’s just one of those things eh? 🙂
Honest Review! Looks like a great product! I loved the way you explained everything so well about the product. 🙂
Thanks, will you be trying this out?
Just wanted to share this video here, about the different sunscreen makes. I never really bothered with sunscreen (despite your best efforts at promoting them Paris) because I don\\\’t care whether I get dark or not. But skin damage is a different ballgame.. Wonder how AM/PM will fare under the UV camera!
Hi. Always follow your review on sunscreen & I bought shiseido based on that. I’m just curious..have u try shu uemura uv armor SPF 50 water resistant? Hoping that you could a review on that. Thanks 😉
Hi Sb, no I haven’t tried the Shu Uemura sunscreen. I’m afraid I don’t have a lot of confidence in Shu Uemura skincare to be honest but if I ever give it a go, I’ll be sure to review it 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
Hi ladies,any idea if this Naruko AM+PM 10 Peptide Total Defense Sunscreen is available in Taipei itself? I\’m from Singapore!Blessed Christmas in advance!
I believe it should be, since it’s from Taiwan. Try looking in Watson’s stores.