I have heard so many good things about the Biore Aqua Rich UV Watery Essence, and it did not disappoint.
The one thing that needs to be mentioned straight off the bat is the strong alcohol smell on the application. It has absolutely no drying effect on me though so I can get over the smell as it does dissipate quickly.
This is the perfect application in a sunscreen in my opinion.
It’s watery texture absorbs into the skin quickly leaving no white cast or residue. It is so light weight that I don’t even feel like I have applied sunscreen.
It has an SPF of 50+ PA++++
This sunscreen gives my favourite Dear Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence a run for its money.
I will definitely be ordering more of this.
HOW TO USE
Sunscreen is always applied as the last step of the morning skincare routine.
My personal preference to apply a generous amount to the face, neck, chest, and ears. Don’t be stingy with the SPF folks. It also helps to reapply every 2 hours or so.
This sunscreen is not as nourishing as some others so don’t skip the moisturizer with this one.
MY SKIN TYPE
I have pale combination skin with a very oily t-zone. I suffer from enlarged pores, underlying redness and hyperpigmentation.
At times I can be prone to breakouts, but these days they tend to be more hormonal.
INGREDIENTS
- Water
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is the most commonly used chemical sunscreen. It absorbs UVB radiation (at wavelengths: 280-320 nm) with a peak protection at 310nm. It only protects against UVB and not UVA rays (the 320-400 nm range). This is not a very stable ingredient. It should be combined with other sunscreens.
- Ethylhexyl Triazone is a new generation, chemical sunscreen that gives the highest photo-stable absorption of all available UVB filters today. It protects in the UVB range (280-320nm) with a peak protection of 314nm. It is an oil-soluble, odorless, colorless powder that works well in fragrance-free formulas. It can be used up to 5% worldwide except for the US and Canada.
- Isopropyl Palmitate is an emollient ester that makes the skin smooth.
- Lauryl Methacrylate/Na Methacrylate Crosspolymer is a slip agent that gives sunscreen formulas long-lasting, lightweight and non-sticky properties.
- Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate is a UV filter. It is designed for high UVA protection and high photostability. It gives sun protection in the whole UVA range (320-400 nm) with a peak protection at 354nm.
- Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a skin-softening agent and emollient. It has a rich, thick texture.
- Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is a UV filter and absorber. It is said to be one of the best sunscreen agents known today. It is a broad-spectrum (covers the whole UVB and UVA range, 280-400 nm) chemical sunscreen agent with peak protections at about 310 and 345 nm, and unlike older UV filters, it’s very photostable. It hardly deteriorates in the presence of UV light and it’s also useful in stabilizing other less stable sunscreen agents.
- Palmitic Acid is an emollient.
- Dextrin is a little helper ingredient that can be a thickener, a humectant, a foam booster, an adhesion promoter, and a filler. It’s a blend of polysaccharides that helps to moisturize and soften the skin.
- Butylene Glycol is a texture enhancer.
- Xylitol helps to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is used as a texture enhancer.
- Dimethicone is a gentle emollient.
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer.
- Glycerin is a skin-replenishing and skin-restoring agent with humectant properties.
- Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient emulsifier.
- Propanediol is a glycol that helps to enhance the absorption of ingredients into the skin.
- Glyceryl Behenate has gelling and emulsion stabilizing properties.
- Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer is a blend of silicone polymers that work as a thickening agent and texture enhancer.
- Cetanol is an emulsifying aid.
- Agar is a viscosity controlling agent.
- Sorbitan Distearate is an emollient.
- Isoceteth-20 works as an emulsifier or solubilizer.
- Polyvinyl Alcohol is a film-forming, and binding agent.
- Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Suporima is a viscosity controlling agent.
- Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier.
- Arginine is an amino acid considered to be essential to human development. It has antioxidant properties.
- Hydroxide K is a PH adjuster.
- Hydroxide Na is a PH adjuster.
- Royal Jelly Extract is a skin-conditioning agent.
- Hyaluronic Acid Na is the salt form of Hyaluronic acid. This salt is a powerful humectant that attracts and holds water to it.
- Phenoxyethanol is a preservative.
- EDTA-2Na is a stabilizing agent.
- BHT – Butylated hydroxytoluene is a potent synthetic antioxidant.
INGREDIENTS TO NOTE
- Ethanol is a type of alcohol that can be sensitizing to the skin. Typically, it is used in sunscreens as a deliver/penetration agent.
- Perfume
CLOSING
I purchased my Biore Aqua Rich UV Watery Essence from YesStyle.
I very much enjoyed this sunscreen and would be happy to repurchase and use again.
Visit my skincare page to read more reviews of products I have tried out.
**I source most of the ingredient explanations from Paula’s Choice website, INCI Beauty, Incidecoder, SkinCarisma and CosDNA.
***Please note that these are simply my opinions. Everyone will have skin that responds differently to different ingredients and formulations.