Drop everything! I’ve just found my current favourite affordable sunscreen in the Kanebo Allie Extra UV Perfect SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreen!

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It was hard not to go crazy buying up all the skincare in sight while I was in Japan earlier this year. Very hard. It helped that there was a language barrier – it prevented me from quite literally falling for every product out there! Yet, I managed to hoard a number of items, predominantly sunscreen, and one that caught your eye was the Kanebo Allie Extra Perfect UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ I showed in some of my pictures back then.

Quite a few of you asked me about it, but I wasn’t comfortable sharing, as I’d quite literally opened it up to use while in Japan, and it was too new to actually form an opinion on. I wanted to come home where the heat and humidity is high, to see how I’d like it. Then, I wanted to really put it through its paces, so I took it to the beach, where I spent an ungodly amount of time in the sun and by the pool.

kanebo allie extra uv perfect sunscreen spf50+ pa++++

I wanted to be very sure about how I felt about this one. This was because I’d already fallen in love with it while in Japan, and I really really wanted to know if it was as good for me as its first impression was.

Happily, or unhappily, I think this is the perfect successor for me, to my long-time favourite, the Shiseido Perfect UV sunscreen. The latter has been reformulated this year where the name now states “Multi-Defense” and before you ask, no I have not yet tried it. I know I should, but I am working through other sunscreens I own (I need to before they go off – 2 years shelf life for best efficacy!) and to be honest, I’ve read too many unhappy comments about this new formula – enough to put me off trying.

Well, let’s just say that I’m not actively looking to try the Shiseido one either, because this Kanebo Allie Extra UV Perfect sunscreen has me very happy with it. And yet sad.

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Impress IC Brightening Sun Protector SPF50+ PA+++ : Another Sunscreen that left me truly impressed

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When it comes to sunscreen or sunblock, I think many of you are familiar with my raves for the Shiseido Perfect UV Protector. I go through these like water and every time I toss up an “empties” post or photo, it appears somewhere in there after a couple of months. I think most people are sick of it already – don’t you have other faves?! I get that wail.

Erm… if I did, then it won’t be a fave right? 😛 But recently, a friend told me to give the Impress IC Brightening Sun Protector SPF50+ PA+++ a try. According to said friend, this was their fave, and knowing my predilection for sunscreen, I had to try it. So when I ran low on the Shiseido one, I sprung for this Impress version.

impress ic brightening sun protector spf50 sunblock

Impress IC is a brand under the Kanebo Cosmetics umbrella so you can find it at major Kanebo Cosmetics counters, and as I have indicated in the image above, yes this Brightening Sun Protector is quite impressive!

Like most Japanese style sunscreens, this has a lightweight liquid texture and you have to shake up the bottle to ensure all the ingredients mix up. For those who dislike the feeling of heavy, thick sunscreen textures, then these sort of light liquid might sit better with you.

While not as affordable as the other sunscreen alternative I shared with you before, this has joined the ranks of Shiseido and Hada Labo as one of my favourite sunscreens 🙂

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PSA: Kanebo Cosmetics Discontinues Manufacture and Sale of Whitening Products under Blanchir Superior, Impress IC White, Granmula and RMK

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kanebo recall

Photo credit of AFP from Channelnewsasia

I shared this piece of news a few days ago on Facebook that Kanebo Cosmetics Inc was discontinuing the manufacture and sale of selected whitening products from 3 ranges of skincare, but was waiting for the info from the Malaysian offices before I posted a quick PSA.

Basically, about 39 complaints were initially received from customers in Japan that they suffered skin staining or discolouration and white blotches on the skin after using some Kanebo Cosmetics products, which contain 4HPB or Rhododenol 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol a product developed by Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. and used in their whitening ranges of skincare since 2008. This ingredient was certified safe by the Department of Health in Japan and over 4 million bottles of skincare products. Update: The number of affected people in Japan has increased to over 2000 (source)

Due to the recent complaints received in Japan, and pending investigation of the cause and effect of Rhododenol on skin, Kanebo Cosmetics has voluntarily decided to temporarily discontinue production of their products which contain 4HPB or Rhododenol and in Japan, to recall the products which have already been sold.

Here are the products and brands in question and what you can do if you are using them or still have stock of them.

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