Review | Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Base

Image Credit: google images

It is finally Spring and unfortunately so is the high percentage of humidity. I've been on the search for a sunscreen that would not leave me feeling greasy and all the products I've purchased from the drug stores in America left me feeling disappointed. So I searched on products sold across the pond and this is the first sunscreen product that I've tried from Asia. Here is what I think about it:

Product Description:
*found on Amazon.com

• Biore Sarasara UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen is a water-based sunscreen which can be used on your face as well as on your neck, arms, legs and the rest of your body. It has a water-like texture and absorbs easily into the skin. It feels very light on your skin and it doesn't give you the typical uncomfortable and greasy feeling after applying sun lotion.

• With its special mixture of hyaluronic acid and citrus essence, it beautifully moisturizes your skin. Hyaluronic acid helps your skin remain fresh and moist. The citrus essence contains orange extract, grapefruit extract and lemon extract. It has light citrus scent and gives you refreshing feeling.

• The SPF rating is a measure of how effective a sunscreen is against UVB which causes skin damage and darkening of your skin (rating range: 1 to 50). The PA system is a measure of how effective a sunscreen is against UVA which slowly damages and ages your skin (rating range: + to +++). This product is rated highest on both measurements. - Rated highest on both SPF and PA measurements. Provides powerful protection against sun damage.

*There is more information on this product but I didn't think they were relevant or agreed to the claims. Click on the link for the full description.
 

• Ingredient list: Water (Aqua), Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Lauryl Methacrylate/Sodium Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Xylitol, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Acrylate Crosspolymer, Agar, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben

Pros:

This light weight sunscreen has a gel consistency that feels cool as you apply it and becomes transparent / matte. Quite an ideal product to use as a sunscreen during the humid summer months and under makeup that reacts well with the ingredients of this product.

• Feels great when applied
• Absorbs quickly into the skin
• Great as a makeup base
• Light pleasant fragrance 
• No negative reactions
• Affordable 

I can confirm that you can use any normal facial cleanser to remove this sunscreen because I haven't had any negative reactions such as an acne breakout. Usually, my skin reacts negatively to any impurities that are left behind on my skin for a tad bit too long.

In a review (link) on skinandtonics.com, Kerry elaborates more on a list of some ingredients that benefit your skin as well as some "questionable and controversial ingredients" in this sunscreen.

Cons:

Now, I couldn't really tell you how well this sunscreen is at shielding my skin from the sun's harmful rays but here are some cons:

It's not sweat proof. I started using this product at the beginning of Spring. The weather has been hot and humid on sunny days; cold and rainy on cloudy days. Most days, I'm feeling matte for about 6 hours after application; and on hot and humid days, I would be drenched with sweat (especially on my forehead). I could feel the product and makeup running down my face. As like most sunscreens, it should be reapplied on the skin to maximize on its protective benefits.

I will always use this product AFTER moisturizing with my usual daily moisturizer. I believe that the alcohol in this sunscreen is the main reason that it just doesn't seem as moisturizing as it claims, especially knowing that alcohol is listed as its second ingredient. According to Meg's Review (link) on makeupstash.com, she comments "while it dries clear and almost-matte, that cooling sensation is unfortunately attributed to alcohol, second on the ingredient list." So I wouldn't replace this with my daily moisturizer because its not the most moisturizing product out of all the moisturizers I've tried; but, it doesn't leave your feeling dry or stripped of moisture. That is probably due to the hyaluronic acid mentioned in the product description.

Overall rating: 4.75/5 - This is my typical rating for all sunscreens that I favor but still unsure how well my skin is being protected from the sun.

Purchased: Amazon.com for about $9 (link)