If there’s one skincare product that I’m loyal to, it’s sunscreen. When I find one that works, I stick with i come hell or high water. For richer or poorer… my HG sunscreen will eventually send me to the poorhouse I swear LOL!
But due to mounting requests, I embarked on a mission to find an alternate, more affordable sunscreen that I might like. I do have a preference for Asian brand sunscreens, for the simple reason that they work, and for some reason, the formula feels more elegant than most Western brands.
One of my favourites, before it was discontinued was the Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion sunscreen. So, when I went looking for a budget sunscreen option, one of my first stops was Hada Labo and I picked up the Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun Perfect UV Gel SPF50+ PA++++
Long story short, I was pleasantly surprised to quite like this :)
One of the things I liked was the texture – it is a pleasantly creamy texture that my drier skin likes. The creamy texture however, belies the name – Perfect UV Gel. This is no gel at all!
The cream spreads easily on my skin and absorbs quickly, so it just feels very comfortable when worn. Another thing I like is how it seems to add moisture to my skin so it feels cushiony… is that even a word? :P I think it might be because of the hyaluronic acid in this product, which Hada Labo is known to be popular for.
I was a little worried at first that the creamy texture might mean that it would turn oily over time, but to my surprise, it didn’t. In fact, it makes a nice base for my makeup as well, albeit a more moisturising base than I’m used to when using the Shiseido. I do wonder if it’s because my skin is a little drier, so it absorbs better and boosts the moisture, while protecting my skin.
And yes, it does seem to protect my skin. From what I can tell anyway. When I wear this, my skin doesn’t seem to heat up and turn red when I’m exposed to heat. Whatever dark spots I have don’t seem to be getting worse, so I think it’s good LOL!
However, I am given to understand that this Perfect UV Gel isn’t waterproof, so I wouldn’t wear it swimming or if I’m going to be sweating a lot. I don’t think you should too :) The other thing that should be mentioned is that there is alcohol in this product.
I’m not terribly fussed nor sensitive to alcohol in skincare, so this is not something that troubles me. As for the scent, I perceive a slight scent, but not what people comment on as being an “alcohol scent”. Still, it’s probably one of those things. If this bugs you, then stay away. If it doesn’t, then take a chance on it. It’s a pretty decent, wallet-friendly sunscreen to have! :)
IN A NUTSHELL
The Hada Labo Koi-Gokujyun Perfect UV Gel sunscreen is a creamy textured sunscreen with high SPF and broad-spectrum protection that protects against UVA and UVB rays. I do like the texture, which I find comfortable to wear. Although it’s creamy, it doesn’t feel heavy nor oily on my skin and makes a nice base for my foundations. I don’t particularly notice it messing with any of my foundations, and because it seems more creamy than other sunscreens I’ve tried, it allows me to wear slightly more drying bases without too much trouble. The drawbacks would be the alcohol content and the fact that it isn’t waterproof. But otherwise, I like this!
PROS: Lightweight creamy texture feels very comfortable on skin, Not drying, Affordable, Protects my skin from burning even under the sun, A good hydrating base for foundation
CONS: Not waterproof, Contains alcohol which may not sit well with some people
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a creamy textured sunscreen that isn’t drying on the skin, Anyone who wants a more budget-friendly sunscreen for daily wear
PRICE: RM52.90 (goes on sale often)
AVAILABILITY: Most major pharmacies in Malaysia where Hada Labo is sold, Overseas try ebay
For those interested, here is the ingredient list for the Hada Labo Perfect UV Gel sunscreen.
From what I understand of the ingredients (I do have a fairly limited understanding) this is a hybrid formula, in that it has both chemical blockers and physical blockers, so I cannot strictly say that this is a chemical or physical sunscreen. It has a little of both. I’m fine with a chemical formula so again, I’m happy with this.
Have you tried the Hada Labo Perfect UV Gel? Do you like how it feels?
As I said, I was pleasantly surprised to like it. My skin didn’t burn nor feel heated although I had been exposed to the sun, and my foundation didn’t oil up and slip. For that, I give this sunscreen props. I also like how the texture doesn’t have that weird silicone/powdery feel that you get in some formulas. So on an overall basis, this is a wallet-friendly win for me! :) Care to weigh in?
Paris B
After you use this sunblock, does your eyes smart when you’ve rinsed off after cleansing your face for the day? Mine does when I’ve used the Naruko AM/PM sunblock.
Nope, it doesn’t smart my eyes. Actually, none do LOL! Do you use a cleansing oil/balm? Or just regular cleanser?
I use Bioderma cleansing water and follow up with a foaming cleanser. I don’t think the problem is with the cleansers coz my eyes do not smart when I use the Shiseido sunblock.
Ah then it might be the sunblock. Perhaps there’s something in there your eyes don’t like! So, Shiseido FTW? ;)
“If there’s one skincare product that I’m loyal to, it’s sunscreen. When I find one that works, I stick with i come hell or high water. For richer or poorer… my HG sunscreen will eventually send me to the poorhouse I swear LOL!” …………
I could not stop LOL after reading that
Happy to have made you smile today! :D
I tried the older version of this. Was pretty good but made me itch a little. I wish Jap sunscreen used more Tinosorb M instead of just S (which is water soluble, so less tenacious) which is why I’m sticking to my Actinica Lotion (Galderma) which is made for skin cancer patients.
It leaves me a little shiny but it really does not budge and is super moisturising for my combo skin. I skip moisturizer when using Actinica.
I remember you telling me about this suncreen :) Will try to take a look at it, but it does sound a little intimidating LOL!
Hi there!
If you don’t mind me asking, where do you get Actinica in Malaysia, or do you get it from overseas?
Thank you :)
Simu.
Thank goodness for this post because I’m beginning to like the Shiseido one but for poorer and hotter days, this Hada Labo one is definitely more wallet friendly. And I’m glad that it’s another Hada Labo product that works! Paris, thanks again for sharing your views on affordable and effective sunscreen product!
Yes, I’ve been very happy with most Hada Labo products so it was a bit of a relief to find a lightweight affordable sunscreen that was nice. I’m looking at a couple more so will definitely share as I go. I still go back to Shiseido though. It’s foolproof for me!
I am waiting for this review when I saw this sunscreen in your skincare post last time. I am using hada labo sunscreen (fresh) for oily combination skin after hada labo discontinued the whitening version. This one I can’t wait to get my hands on.
Thx PB
Was that the Hada Labo Air sunscreen? I don’t think I liked that very much haha! but this one is better. But am not sure about oily-combination skin though. If you try it, I’ll be happy to know if you find it too heavy :)
Looks like a good daily option! I’ll have to check it out once I use up my other tubes, heh.
It’ll be so easy for you to get your hands on this, Kuri! And so many other affordable Japanese options too :D
I’m actually in the US now so it’s double the price for me here, but still accessibility isn’t bad with the Japanese grocery stores carrying lots of skin care products.
Sometimes, I think the US gets the best of all worlds, especially with all the websites, Asian grocery stores etc :D
Yeah, it’s pretty good! I do wish they had the ready-to-eat duck gizzards here though. I can’t seem to convince my dad to brave customs and bring me back some from China. :D
LOL!! I knew there had to be a market for those, because I won’t eat them! LOL! Maybe try with 1 pack and see if customs goes crazy? It’s all vacuum packed after all :D
I have been using this for 2-3 months and your review about it is spot on :-). I bought this as the Hada Labo UV Whitening Emulsion sunscreen which I was previously using has been discontinued. So this is an effective and budget-friendly option which I use on weekends.
Good to know you like it too Victoria! I really liked the UV Whitening Emulsion. Pity they chose to discontinue it :(
I like this one too! My skin is drier than usual lately, so I’m now using the Biotherm UV Supreme SPF50 which is more emollient, and it acts like a moisturizing primer under foundation. It works well, but because I drive quite a bit, I find that I need to reapply. Sucks when I’m wearing makeup though. The sun has been so hot, it’s incredibly painful to be out.
I tried Biotherm a while back, but for some reason, the whole brand doesn’t work very well with my skin. That said, it’s a good thing – one less brand to figure out LOL! That said, I love finding cheap and good options for things like sunscreen that run out so quickly, especially for us overzealous ones :P
The packaging is too cute and also the colour of the tube. Alcohol should seriously be avoided :) Great review :)
I bought this in a three-for-one deal in Tokyo dirt cheap. I have finished a tube and like it enough to not give the remaining ones away. That said although my skin is dry, even in drier weather, this leaves me very shiny. Fine with makeup and/or finishing powder on top, but not quite perfect! Shiseido Perfect UV Protector is the one that lives up to its name.
I’m with you on the Shiseido! I still go back to it because nothing else comes close. Well, this comes close enough, but no cigar ;)
Hi.
I’m looking for affordable sunblock (like spf 50+ and pa++++)so Paris,what do you think is the best product?
Thanks
I don’t know of any best products unfortunately, as I only use Shiseido for now. However, brands like Biore, Senka and Sunplay are very popular and boast SPF50 PA+++ ratings at minimum, so that might be a good place to start :)