Aqua Rich Watery Gel

4 Reviews

1. 

   aloofBobolink8

   Reply

   I usually prefer physical sunscreens to chemical sunscreens, but this was an impulse purchase when I swatched it in store, and saw the low price tag of 20$CAD for 90ml. This stuff was light, smoothing, and disappeared right into the skin in no time! I had also heard many good reviews on Japanese sunscreens so I figured why not. I couldn’t read any of the ingredients because it was all written in Japanese, so I did my research post purchase. For reference, I have dry skin.

   I discovered the sunscreen ingredients in this product include octinoxate, uvinul A plus, uvinul t 150 and titanium dioxide. Octinoxate and titanium dioxide are pretty standard ingredients in the west so I won’t go into those. Uvinul A plus is a UVA protector and apparently it is superior to avobenzone because it is more photostable (it doesn’t degrade as quickly), and uvinul t 150 protects against UVB and it is supposed to be long lasting as well. I believe neither are approved in the USA or Canada, but they are in Europe and Asia.

   I’m not the kind of person that wants to reapply sunscreen multiple times during the day, so I’ve always stuck to mineral sunscreens. I feel more assured that a mineral sunscreen will create a physical barrier and therefore offer better all-day protection. However, mineral sunscreens tend to be thicker, leave a white cast, and they sit heavier on the skin. I was happy to hear that the sunscreen ingredients in this Japanese one are longer lasting so they offer me more protection during the day. Also, there is a little bit of titanium dioxide in it (you will notice some little white specks in it that disappear when you rub it in), so it is reassuring that I am getting a thin layer of physical protection. It is much lighter on the skin, and I don’t feel like a grease ball at the end of the day. I’m still paranoid about its effectiveness, so I apply two layers, and I bring a powder sunscreen with me to top up during the day. Even with the extra layers, my face feels glowy, not greasy.

   As I mentioned earlier, I have dry skin, so I prefer skincare products that are moisturizing. In the past, I’ve found some sunscreens to be very drying, and I am particularly scared of the oil-free, mattifying, or lightweight ones. I was worried that this one would be drying, especially since I saw they have some types of alcohol in it (you can also smell it when you apply), but it is not. There are some hydrating ingredients in it (hyaluronic acid, royal jelly, etc.) so that probably helps. It gives me a nice glow upon application.
   One thing I am not very fond of is the silicone content. You can feel the silicone-y finish of it on your skin, which I find can make it a bit too slippery under makeup. I was also able to apply this on/around my eyes without irritation, but my eyeliner didn’t fair too well during the day. The downside, however, is that with continued use, my skin was feeling a tiny bit sensitive, some areas were a little dryer than usual, and my skin was getting a bit clogged. Nothing severe but there was a noted difference.

   I think that this is a good sunscreen to have in your arsenal. Honestly, at 20$CAD for 90ml, it is cheaper and performs better than a lot of sunscreens that are comparable in terms of cosmetic elegance. Is it the best? Maybe not, but I’ve paid over double the price for way less product, for sunscreens with similar properties (lightweight, long-wearing). I don’t think this would be ideal for someone with oily skin though. If you have normal to dry skin, I think this would be good for low sun exposure days, or even for most days (if you don’t work outdoors). I would alternate this with a mineral sunscreen depending on my needs. Although it has its flaws (to be fair, I think all sunscreens do), I think this is good value/quality, so I would recommend it!

2. 

   cautiousJaguar7

   Reply

   I mean, the packaging needs more outstanding, as to its potential benefits. Of course, I understand that Japan native products usually have the ordinary appearance, but :)))))

3. 

   annoyedRice0

   Reply

   I don’t know why I hadn’t tried this before as I only heard good things about it.

   I burn very easily (medium-fair skin tone with freckles!) and I always try to avoid the sun.

   I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the usual offerings in the drugstore (the dreaded white cast, the overpowering smell, etc.) and I can’t justify shelling out a lot of £££ for HE offerings so I didn’t even try any one those.

   I ordered this straight from Japan via amazon and other than the *Waiting-for-the-parcel-to-be-delivered* factor there’s no downside to buying this in my opinion.

   No white cast, no overpowering scent. It’s lotiony, almost liquidy but it sinks in like a dream and sits very well under makeup as well.
   I didn’t find it drying, even on days I forgot to put my regular moisturiser under it, which I’m grateful for as my skin tends to get dehydrated.

   Bonus for the packaging, you can squeeze the amount desired without spilling it everywhere and it’s small enough to even carry it in your handbag if you want to re-apply throughout the day, if you happen to be out a lot.

   It’s really not expensive (I see it in between £5 – £10) depending on the seller and you can sometimes find multi-packs offered for a good price.

   I’m already at my second and I can honestly say I’ve found the ‘best for me’ sunscreen. I just need to keep an eye on the use and order in due time so I don’t have to go without while I wait for the parcel delivery!

4. 

   importedTacos9

   Reply

   This is one of my two favorite sunscreens this year, and it’ll be on the list for some time to come. The other is Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence, but that’s another review…Actually, it’s an almost identical review. These sunscreens are very similar to me. I’ve been alternating them for almost a month and I love them both.

   This is an every-day sunscreen. It’s not water or sweat resistant, nor does it control oil. It’s pretty basic, but it does basic very well. The protection is excellent (SPF 50/PA++++) and the finish is wonderful. After it dries down, I barely feel anything on my skin. It’s not moist or dewy and it’s not matte or dry. It feels like skin, maybe a little smoother.

   It doesn’t break me out or clog my skin. It also doesn’t seem to be drying for me either. I was a little leery of the alcohol content, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem. I can smell it, alongside the citrus-y scent they put in, for a few minutes when first applied, but all scent dissipates quickly. I do need to be careful not to get it in my eyes (that stings!). Once it’s on, it doesn’t burn my eyes, even when I sweat.

   Reapplication is a breeze as well – this never builds up or gets heavy with more than one coat. Unlike the Essence, I do notice that the gel will pill just a little around my hairline. Nothing bad enough to even complain about, but I thought I’d mention it.

   Removal is also a breeze – this washes right off with regular cleanser. I use cleansing oil most of the time (just because) but on the days I’ve been lazy, my foaming Cerave takes it all off with no residue.

   Highly recommended!