The New Sunscreens

Thanks to Asian women’s unending pursuit of glowing, spot-free skin, the sun care category has also grown exponentially, be it drugstore finds or $300-a-bottle variations

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
<b>1.</b> Atmosphere Airy Light UV Emulsion SPF 30/PA+++, $99, SK-II 
<b>2.</b> White Lucent All Day Brightener SPF 50+, $85, Shiseido 
<b>3.</b> Skin Protecting Brightening UV+ Shield, $49, Philosophy 
<b>4.</b> Phyto-Blanc Brightening Daily Defense Fluid SPF 50 PA++++, $370, Sisley 
<b>5.</b> Snowise Brightening UV Protector, $92, Sulwhasoo
<b>1.</b> Atmosphere Airy Light UV Emulsion SPF 30/PA+++, $99, SK-II <b>2.</b> White Lucent All Day Brightener SPF 50+, $85, Shiseido <b>3.</b> Skin Protecting Brightening UV+ Shield, $49, Philosophy <b>4.</b> Phyto-Blanc Brightening Daily Defense Fluid SPF 50 PA++++, $370, Sisley <b>5.</b> Snowise Brightening UV Protector, $92, Sulwhasoo

Thanks to Asian women’s unending pursuit of glowing, spot-free skin, the sun care category has also grown exponentially, be it drugstore finds or $300-a-bottle variations. Like their skincare counterparts, sunscreens are increasingly becoming multi-hyphenates, taking on the roles of makeup base and even primer. 

One of the market leaders when it comes to brightening breakthroughs, SK-II has introduced a new sun care product aimed at fending off the hazardous effects of UV and Infrared (IR) rays. According to research conducted by P&G, UV rays aren’t the only enemy when it comes to our skin. The truth is, only about seven percent of the radiation we are exposed to on a daily basis is made up of UV rays while up to 54 percent are IR rays. On top of that, infrared light penetrates deeper into skin than UV rays, and causes skin temperatures to rise, setting off a chain reaction that snips away at collagen fibres deep within the skin surface, resulting in skin sagging. Enriched with Pitera, opuntia and niacinamide, SK-II’s Atmosphere Airy Light UV Emulsion SPF 30/ PA+++ (1) is a lightweight skin protector that protects against the harmful effects of UV and IR rays. Those with oilier skin types can opt for the sheer, matte finish of Philosophy’s Skin Protecting Brightening UV+ Shield (3), which also defends against both UV and IR rays. 

Another growing concern in many Asian cities is the prevalence of tiny pollution particles in the air, which can permeate the skin barrier to wreak havoc. After extensive research, Sulwhasoo scientists have developed a special Skin Coating Film Technology, which forms an invisible veil over skin to prevent pollution particles from penetrating. Combined with White Cloud Grass, a prized ingredient in traditional Korean medicine, its new Snowise Brightening UV Protector (5) further fights skin dullness due to pollution. On the other hand, Sisley’s Phyto-Blanc Brightening Daily Defense Fluid SPF 50 PA++++ (4) uses botanical actives to strengthen skin’s hydrolipidic film and to deflect fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that are invisible to the naked eye. If you don’t have time to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, try Shiseido’s White Lucent All Day Brightener SPF 50+ (2). A daytime moisturiser that not only seals in moisture and targets dark spots, it also has a time-released formula so your skin is guaranteed optimal protection against environmental assaults all day long.

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