Japanese sunscreens are among the best. Modern filters, pleasant formulas and lightweight finish – but is Anessa’s Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk as perfect as the name suggests? You’ll find out below in my Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen review!
The brand
Do you know what Anessa, Nars, Serge Lutens and Drunk Elephant have in common? Of course you do: it’s their parent company, Shiseido. Founded in 1872 (!), it has become one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world. Anessa is mainly a brand for sunscreen products and is available mainly in Asia (but that doesn’t mean that you’re not able to buy Anessa products in other parts of the world! More below.) They claim that:
ANESSA’s suite of products is based on formulas that utilize powerful UV-blocking technology and 50% skincare ingredients that defend skin against UV rays in any environment.
Shiseido
Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen review: Description
Here’s what the official description of the Anessa Perfect UV claims:
50% Skincare ingredients
Anessa
Easily removable with soap
Very water resistant – water resistance proven by a 80-minute bathing test
Beautifying effect thanks to a radiant finish
Mask stuffiness resistant
Can be used as a makeup primer
Refreshing fragrance of citrus soap
Ingredients
Like a lot of Japanese sunscreens, Anessa Sunscreen Skincare Milk includes both alcohol and fragrance in their formula. You can’t smell the alcohol, though – and the citrus-vanilla fragrance is very light. On the other hand, the formula includes some antioxidants and calming Green Tea and Aloe Extract.
Dimethicone is the first ingredient in the inci-list, even before water: therefore, we can expect a texture that’ll be very light and pleasant and will sink in quickly.
Otherwise I’m a bit disappointed at the “50% skincare ingredients” claim – a few antioxidants, Aloe and Green Tea don’t really provide you with earth-shattering skincare properties.
Filters
| Sunscreen Filter | Type | Spectrum | Remarks |
| Zinc Oxide | physical / inorganic | UVB, UVA II, and UVA I | good stability and good as a skin protectant and anti-irritant. Might leave whitish tint |
| Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate / Octinoxate / Octyl Methoxycinnamate | chemical / organic | UVB (at wavelengths: 280-320 nm) with a peak protection at 310nm | clear, oil-soluble, “cosmetically-elegant” liquid, not photostable (loses 10% of its SPF protection ability within 35 mins), needs other filters to stabilize (like Tinosorb S) |
| Octocrylene | chemical / organic | UVB & UVA II with peak at 304 nm | quite photostable (loses 10% protection in 95 mins), used to stabilize other filters (eg Avobenzone), often used to improve water resistance of products |
| Titanium Dioxide | physical / inorganic | UVB & UVA II – less good at UVA I | possible white cast |
| Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate / Uvinul A Plus | chemical / organic | high UVA protection (320-400 nm) with peak protection at 354nm | high photostability, can be used up to 10%, available elsewhere but the US & Canada |
| Polysilicone-15 / Parsol SLX | chemical / organic | UVB (290-320 nm), peak at 312 nm | Colorless to pale yellow liquid with nice and non-shiny finish. Can stabilize Avobenzone and works well with Ensulizole |
| Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine / Tinosorb S | chemical / organic | broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB, 280-400 nm, peak at 310-345 nm) | very photostable, available elsewhere but the US |
Sustainability
I couldn’t find anything particular about sustainability efforts. They’re very involved in community projects, though:
“The brand is actively engaged in social-contribution activities such as seminars on how to properly use sunscreen; classes to raise UV-ray awareness in elementary schools; and the donation of sunscreen products to patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (a disease that causes hypersensitivity to UV radiation).”
Shiseido
Application
Here’s the thing with this sunscreen: I’ve never had any problems applying and wearing it. No matter what kind of skincare I layer underneath or what foundation and makeup I use over it: it always works. The Perfect UV sunscreen applies like a dream. It sinks in quickly and leaves a velvety, skin-like finish.
It’s perfect for busy mornings when you don’t have time to faff around with your skincare and makeup, and also great for vacation when you don’t want to spent your time perfecting your base.
Finish
While the result is wonderfully non-sticky and non-tacky, it has one slight drawback: especially when you re-apply, you might get a slight white cast depending your skintone. The mineral sunscreen filters (Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide) is notorious for that, and the more you build it up by re-applying, the more pronounced it gets (especially on a medium-tan skintone like mine).
Checklist
Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen review: Rating
Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen review: In conclusion, it’s the super easy one to wear in a pinch. It just always works. Above all, it meets all the claims! (See above.) However, this also depends on your skintype and how well it’ll tolerate high amounts of alcohol in your sunscreen. While I never have problems with it, Dorit, for example, couldn’t ultimately wear it, because the alcohol irritated her skin. The obvious other downside: it’s relatively pricey and not so easy to get in Germany.
Price & Availability
60ml will cost you around $30. It’s available at the usual reselling sites for A-Beauty: for example, Stylevana, YesStyle and Amazon.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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