Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence: A Best-Selling Japanese Sunscreen

Bioré is not only a pore strips brand but the top seller of sun products in Japan for twelve years running!  An award winning Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is one of the most popular sunscreens in Japan.

The Ideal of Summer Beauty Is Always Changing

 Summer is around the corner!  Are you ready?  In summer time, many people love and strive to get the golden glow of tanned skin, as it demonstrates that they have time, money and energy to enjoy a gorgeous vacation on the beach.  Yes, tanned skin looks healthy and beautiful, but not for me.  I wear sunscreen every day throughout the year, trying not to get too much tan.  It was Coco Chanel that has conversely transformed tanning, which used to be despised as a sign of the lower class, into a symbol of luxurious living.  This was also a liberation from the old values.  However, things are changing a bit now again. 

What Age Should We Start Wearing Sunscreen?

The NHS says on their website that “there’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan.”  It continues, that we should use at least factor 30 sunscreen and children needs extra care (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-safety). Then, what age should we start wearing sunscreen?  According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, everyone over 6 months of age should wear sunscreen daily (https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/).  You might say you are an indoor person and have never had a chance to get a sunburn.  Yet, your skin has been exposed to the sun every minute of the day even in the house.  Even during the winter months and the cloudiest of days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds and snow reflects those harmful rays too.  Such sun damage adds up over the years, increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Bioré UV Aqua Rich:  Start Wearing It Every Day! 

If you want to keep your skin young and healthy, you should start wearing sunscreen every day.  You may already have a sunscreen and are satisfied with it, then put it on right now!  If not, here is what I recommend:  Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence 

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１ It is a perfect choice for you, if you want your sunscreen to be effective, but you don’t want to spend your day with sticky skin, wearing it. 

The Ingredients & The Features That Make It Better Than Bare Skin

The official site says Bioré UV Aqua Rich has six features*: 

1. Formulated with moisture-rich water capsules to prevent dryness.
2. Includes hyaluronic acid, Royal Jelly extract, and BG (moisturizing ingredients).
3. Rinses away easily with soap in spite of the super-waterproof formulation.
4. No coloring agents.
5. Inhibits acne.
6. Allergy tests performed.
   *These six features are cited from Kao Launches Improved Version of Bioré UV Aqua Rich

(https://www.kao.com/global/en/news/products/2018/20181219-001/)

I checked the list of ingredients on the back to see what they do:

Firstly, water is the main ingredient, followed by ethanol.  Ethanol has bactericidal and dissolving effects.  Ethyl hexyl methoxycinnamate and diethylamino hydroxy benzoyl hexyl benzoate absorb harmful UV-B and UV-A, respectively.  These are often used in sunscreens because they are highly effective.  BG and xylitol are used as moisturizer.  Xylitol is a common ingredient in many products, from sugar-free chewing gum to toothpaste.  BG can be seen on the packages of the skincare products for babies.  For more information about the ingredients, check ZakZakka!

These features and ingredients already sound all right, but what makes Bioré UV Aqua Rich distinctive is its World’s Frist-Ever Micro Defense Formula!

The World’s First-Ever Micro Defense Formula

Water-based sunscreens are lightweight and ideal for those who want a fresh feel.  However, there was a problem to be solved.  The moisture evaporates while the oil phase containing active ingredients remains, which can result in the micro-crevices on the surface of the applied area.  Researchers at Kao Corporation, the owner company of the Bioré skincare brand, developed a submicron-scale capsule infused with an UV protection agent.  The capsule is composed of an amphiphilic ingredient, so it has an affinity for both water and oil.  The capsules stay on the surface and fill the gap, which provides even UV coverage, right down to the micro level.  This so-called Micro Defense Formula is the world-first technology of its kind!

Which Aqua Rich Is Your Pick?

    ↑Watery Essence                                             ↑Watery Gel

There are two types of Bioré UV Aqua Rich; Watery Essence and Watery Gel.  Both are water based and combine strong UV protection (SPF 50) with light texture.  They can be used on face and body.  To name a few differences, Watery Essence has jelly-like texture and spreads well.  It is recommended to take a tiny amount and use it in a thin layer.  It can be used as a make-up base.  Watery Gel is in the bottle and easy to spread on arms or legs.  It also makes your skin look bright.  So, it is suitable for the whole body.  If you prefer a more natural look, I would say Watery Essence.  For ease of use and if you want to give your skin a lighter look, choose Watery Gel.  My choice was Watery Essence.  I thought it would be my routine if I could use it as a make-up primer.  And Watery Essence is in a handy tube that can fit nicely in my bag.   

The Feel of The Product

I use Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence on a daily basis, so I would like to talk about it now.  The actual feel is more like a serum or non-sticky cream than a sunscreen.  It has a beautiful watery texture that’s transparent and blends effortlessly with the skin.  It’s wonderfully light and doesn’t leave that awful chalky tint that most thick sunscreens do.  It glides on smoothly, and hydrates the skin.  There’s no flakiness or stickiness, even when reapplied or layered.   Another plus is that it’s easy to remove with just soap and water.  Many waterproof sunscreens require double cleansing or a special cleanser, which dries out my skin.  But, not this one.  So, this was what made me happiest.  The very light fragrance of Lily of the valley is also pleasant.

Wrapping Up!

Now you know why I’m wearing sunscreen every day throughout the year.  For fresh & dewy skin that feels hydrated while fully protecting you from UV rays, Bioré UV Aqua Rich is the answer.  And if you want to make UV protection a habit, Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is the way to go!  The only problem is that you can’t buy one in the UK.  But don’t worry!   ZakZakka has plenty in stock as of this posting and there you can read more reviews.  Shipping costs from Japan will be required, but it won’t cost you that much as it is such a small product.  Once you use it and feel the texture on your skin, you will find it worth buying overseas. 

People start buying sunscreens in April.  Get yours today while stocks last.  Don’t wait till summer!  Let’s stay safe and healthy together!