The best Japanese sunscreens should feel just like your favorite moisturizers: lightweight, hydrating, and totally undetectable. That’s because they’re made to stay comfortable through high heat and extreme humidity, two characteristics of summers in Japan. If you’ve tried Japanese skin care, these formulas will feel familiar in their approach. “They’re made to work with your skin and not against it,” says Kyoko Getz, a clinical esthetician and director of education at J-beauty retailer Shiko Beauty. “Deeply hydrating, nourishing, and protecting over the long term. Every single step of a Japanese skin care routine has intention.”
As a beauty editor who’s spent years testing both FDA-approved Japanese sunscreens and local J-beauty favorites, I’ve developed an understanding of how the best options should feel. To curate the top picks for every skin type, I interviewed Getz and a Tokyo-based makeup artist for the formulas worth adding to cart. Below are the standouts.
The best Japanese sunscreens, at a glance
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How we tested
J-beauty brands have had a place in my skin care routine for more than 20 years. Even before I became a beauty editor, I gravitated toward their gentle efficacy and focus on overall skin health. Over the years I’ve tested many of the most popular Japanese skin care products, including sunscreen.
When reviewing each option, I make note of its SPF level to ensure it provides enough UV protection for daily wear (a minimum of SPF 30 is what dermatologists recommend). I also look at the ingredients list to determine which skin types it’s best for, whether it’s fragrance free, and its key benefits. For this story I consulted J-beauty experts including a Tokyo-based makeup artist and a clinical esthetician specializing in Japanese skin care to curate this list and help Glamour readers make the most informed decision.
Best Overall: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Weightless Moisturizer
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Fast facts: Lightweight and hydrating texture; no white cast; layers well under makeup; noncomedogenic and oil-free; works for all skin types
My must-have souvenir from Japan is a tube of Kao Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. The Bioré UV Aqua Rich range is Japan’s top seller for sunscreen and our overall best pick. While the formula available stateside uses different FDA-approved filters than the original Japanese version, it’s still one of the most lightweight OTC options Glamour editors have tried. The fast-absorbing, spreadable formula is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and layers beautifully under makeup. It’s noncomedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores) and oil-free, so all skin types, including sensitive skin, can wear it. Broad-spectrum SPF 50 filters give you plenty of sun protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
“I’ve been using this J-beauty sunscreen for years and regularly run out of it (as you can see from my almost empty bottle in the video). The lightweight moisturizer with SPF 50 protection leaves a gorgeous glow and no white cast on my combination, oily skin. I like to use this particularly on my face, neck, and arms when I go running because it doesn't feel heavy like other SPF body lotions,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best for Dry Skin: Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
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Fast facts: The most lightweight Japanese sunscreen we tried; great humidity resistance; lasting hydration; slight white cast shows up on darker skin tones
Anessa’s best-selling sunscreen lotion is just as well-known in Japan as Bioré’s. Among the formulas I tested for this story, it was by far the lightest and runniest, while also providing an impressive amount of lasting hydration with ingredients like green tea, vitamin E, and glycerin. It also offers a high level of SPF 50+ PA++++ protection. (In the US, most brands use a “broad spectrum” label to indicate both UVA and UVB sun protection, while other countries commonly indicate the level of additional UVA protection with the number of + signs next to PA.)
“When it comes to sunscreen, this brand is always at the forefront of technology, offering strong humidity resistance,” says Miki Ishida, a hair and makeup artist based in Tokyo. “It has moisturizing ingredients, applies smoothly, and has a comfortable silky texture.”
Getz also says this formula remains one of her favorites. “It’s made to withstand sweat and humidity instead of breaking down,” she says. “The texture is lovely; it glides on and melts into my skin without a greasy feeling. I personally like it because it layers beautifully under makeup like a primer. Darker skin tones may see a slight white cast, though.”
Best for Glow: Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream
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Fast facts: Deeply moisturizing nongreasy texture; layers well with makeup; recommended for dry and mature skin; glowy finish
Clé de Peau Beauté is the epitome of luxury Japanese makeup, and this sunscreen is one of my favorite formulas to layer under foundation, powder, and concealer. It’s the most expensive on this list but feels as elegant as my favorite antiaging Japanese moisturizers.
The texture is creamy and rich without feeling greasy or sticky, and I use it most during the cooler months when my skin leans more dry than combination. It’s packed with skin care ingredients like peppermint, perilla, and other Japanese plant extracts selected to hydrate, smooth, and help boost collagen. I love how this creates a cushiony effect under foundation so it applies smoother and looks more seamless. The pearl shell extract in the formula doesn’t leave any noticeable shimmer but creates a glowy, lit-from-within finish I love.
Best for Makeup: Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen
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Fast facts: Comes in a clear version and three color-correcting tints; acts as both sunscreen and makeup primer; smooth gel texture; purple version shown here leaves white cast on darker skin tones
If you want a more accessibly priced face sunscreen to layer under foundation, try this one from Canmake, made with sodium hyaluronate and evening primrose seed extract to hydrate. The Japanese drugstore brand is known for its makeup, so it makes sense that its UV gel would pair perfectly with any base. It comes in multiple color-correcting shades, including a redness-reducing mint. There’s also a clear version that goes on invisible and doesn’t leave any white cast. For this story I tested the popular purple-tinted version, which is meant to brighten your base. While it made my skin tone look instantly more illuminated, it leaves a noticeable white cast on medium to dark skin tones. I like that the formula pairs so well with both liquid and cushion foundations that I can skip primer entirely.
“I like this as a moisturizing base,” says Ishida. “It glides smoothly over my skin, and the purple shade gives a subtle brightening effect, blurring fine lines and uneven skin tone. This makes it perfect for days when I don’t want to wear makeup.”
Best Sunscreen Stick: Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick
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Fast facts: Easy-to-use stick format; soft matte finish; nondrying; layers well with makeup; no white cast; water-resistant (80 minutes)
Sunscreen sticks are by far the easiest way to reapply your SPF every two hours when you’re on the go. This popular option from Shiseido shields your face and body from UV rays and gets rave reviews from Glamour editors. Not only does it provide broad-spectrum SPF 50+ protection, it’s also water-resistant so it lasts through sweat and humidity. The formula contains two plant extracts that target dullness and uneven skin tone: licorice root extract and soy lecithin.
Glamour contributor Danielle Jackson previously said that this sunscreen is ideal for dark skin tones. “It’s one my personal favorites because it truly goes on completely clear—making it undetectable on my dark skin—and leaves an invisible, matte, hydrating layer that doesn’t pill under makeup. The stick itself also glides onto the skin very easily without slipping or getting caught in drier or harder-to-reach areas of the face.”
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen
Fast facts: Ingredients help smooth and balance skin; layers well with makeup; recommended for a wide range of skin types including acne-prone skin; natural glowy finish
I personally swear by Tatcha’s original SPF 35 Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen; I was one of the first to try and report on when it launched in 2015. Since then the brand has developed a broad-spectrum SPF 50 formula that Glamour editors love for both dry and acne-prone skin types. It’s infused with niacinamide, a popular ingredient for balancing excess sebum and targeting fine lines and texture. It also contains hyaluronic acid and silk extract for a smooth, hydrated finish.
Glamour contributor Talia Abbas previously nominated this sunscreen as her favorite find for a smooth finish. “It has a beige shade to it, almost as if it were a tinted moisturizer—and a supremely lightweight texture,” she said in her review. “In addition to the smooth application, you get this kind of lit-from-within glow that’s unlike any other SPF product I’ve tried, which normally just sits on top of skin because of a thicker, creamier texture.” While she liked the hydrating ingredients and dewy finish, she also noted that it works well for a wide range of skin types. “The formula doesn’t cause any makeup to cake or pill—and because it’s oil-free, it’s also noncomedogenic, which makes it safe to use if you have acne-prone skin,” she said.
Best for Oily Skin: Sekkisei Herbal UV Defense Gel
Fast facts: Refreshing gel texture; recommended for combination and oily skin; glowy finish; no white cast
Combination and oily skin types will love this refreshing gel sunscreen, which doesn’t feel at all heavy or greasy, even on your T-zone. The watery gel absorbs instantly and is packed with the brand’s signature plant extracts like Job’s tears, licorice root, and aloe vera. The result is a sunscreen that acts like an antioxidant-rich gel moisturizer and layers well with the rest of your favorite Japanese skin care products.
“This is one of those classic Japanese sunscreens that gives you UV protection plus skin care perks like hydration and skin nourishment, all in one silky gel formula,” says Getz. “What I love about it is the amazing ingredients that hydrate, brighten, and soothe your skin. The gel texture feels very light and leaves no white cast—just a sheer, subtle glow.”
Frequently asked questions
Why are Japanese sunscreens so great?
Japanese sunscreens are heavily influenced by Japan’s hot, humid summers, which gives them a lightweight, comfortable texture. Local Japanese skin care brands also use filters that can feel more cosmetically elegant than what we have access to stateside. The FDA’s short list of approved sunscreen filters, which hasn’t been updated since 1999, includes ingredients like zinc oxide or octinoxate, but excludes many of the options available in other countries. To keep products on store shelves in the US, many Japanese skin-care brands have reformulated their products with FDA-compliant filters to be sold over-the-counter (OTC) in the States.
Our list focuses on FDA-approved physical and chemical sunscreens that keep the comfortable feel of Japanese skin care. The two exceptions are the popular Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk (SPF 50+ PA++++) and Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel UV Sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++), which you can purchase from YesStyle.
What are the best Japanese sunscreens for oily skin?
Most of the sunscreen formulations on our list are light and refreshing, helping them wear well on oily skin without feeling overly greasy or heavy. Our top pick is the Sekkisei Herbal UV Defense Gel, which has a weightless formula that sinks in fast.
Meet our experts
- Kyoko Getz, clinical esthetician and director of education at J-beauty retailer Shiko Beauty
- Miki Ishida, hair and makeup artist based in Tokyo
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