Don’t get me wrong, this is the best sunscreen I’ve tested in 2021. There’s just one issue with it… More in the following Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk review!
The Brand
Aaaaaaand here it is where it gets complicated. Rohto (or Rohto Mentholatum) manufactures the whole line-up of Skin Aqua sunscreens. In some countries in the South-East Asia region though the sunscreens will be under the Sunplay brand’s umbrella (the name will then be something like Sunplay Skin Aqua), while in other regions, Skin Aqua will be the brand. No biggie, you’ll think: different names, different brands, who cares?
It’s not that simple. Reddit user marcelavy has found out that the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel isn’t only released by different brands in different regions, but that it also is manufactured in different countries AND HAS DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS according to the countries’ regulations it’s manufactured FOR. That means, if you buy the Moisture Gel in Japan, China or Indonesia will get you very likely a different product, although it’ll share the name. (Be aware that the comparison u/marcelavy made was not for the Moisture Milk I’ll review here, but the Moisture Gel. iIt seems likely that the Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Milk has the same issues though.)
I, not reading Japanese, will have to take that at lip service. But I can say that it’s exceedingly difficult to get the brand information from the official website for non-Japanese persons.
In this review, we’ll deal with the 2020 reformulated version that’s Made in Japan, because my bottle says it on the back. I’ve taken the info I need from ratzillacosme, a very reliable site for J-Beauty.
Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk review: Description
The main features stressed:
- Water-like texture
- 4 moisturizing ingredients: two kinds of hyaluronic acids, amino acids and hydrolized collagen
- Clear like water
- Comfortable wear for everyday use
Ingredients
Again, I rely on ratzillacosme site for ingredient info. I cross-checked with my packaging (and the help of google translate) and I can say that it somewhat matches (give or take the quirks of google translate). I can say that Incidecoder’s list doesn’t match (and YesStyle’s doesn’t neither).
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) |
| 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 everywhere but the USA & Canada |
I don’t know about you, but this seems a bit – flimsy to me. All three filters are very reliable, but I find it strange that with that high amount of Zinc Oxide there’s absolutely no white cast. And then, there’re nearly no “sunscreen boosters” included that would push the SPF a bit. A nice addition are acrylates copolymers, little spheres that’re supposed to bounce off UV radiation. I now understand while the description stresses to reapply often. The UVA protection is likely around 20.
Sustainability
Bottles are made from recycled plastics.
Application
I got this one to replace Isdin’s old fusion water pediatrics, and a German blogger stated that they’re similar in texture. So, my main focus did lie on texture with this one.
I used my Summer AM skincare routine underneath the Skin Aqua (cosrx toner, then either a serum or Paula’s Choice’s CBC Milk), and used the recommended amount of 1.4g after thoroughly shaking it.
Reader, I was shocked upon initial application. And “shocked” is the wrong term here, actually: I was close to a nervous breakdown. Because the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk does NOT go on like water. Sure, it’s a very runny, liquid formula, but it’s more similar to liquid silicone (or any cooking oil, for that matter) than water. You’ll move it around with your fingers easily, and it’ll appear just sitting on your skin in a thin, oily layer.
Finish
I’m happy to report, though, that it’ll sink in completely after about 20mins. Then it’ll have the most wonderful, silky, skin-like finish I’ve encountered this year. Keep in mind, though, that the finish depends on what skincare products you use underneath it. If I apply a moisturizer over my serum, the Skin Aqua don’t vanish as tracelessly as before.
The texture though is very forgiving: I haven’t had it pill on me no matter what I piled on below or over it. I also didn’t see any white cast (on my admittedly rather pale skin). A plus is the moisturizing formula: it never feels drying on my sensitive combo skin and doesn’t veer into the tacky-sticky-oily territory either.
Comparison
In finish, it really is similar to the old Isdin! Yay! It also performs similarly to Niod’s Survival 30 upon application – a very liquid silicone feel that’s transformed after some waiting time.
Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk review: Checklist
Rating
So, here’s the thing: I love how Skin Aqua’s Super Moisture Milk feels on my skin. The finish is definitely the nicest I’ve encountered this year. I haven’t tested it in Summer conditions, though, so I can’t really say how good the waterproof claim is, and also haven’t worn it under prolonged sun exposure.
The filters make me slightly wary, though.
And then, there’s a high difficulty of purchasing it involved: you’ve to watch like a hawk to see which product you’ll get, because there’re different versions of this floating around. Also, (obviously) a higher UVA protection would be nice. As it is, I think I’ll repurchase and wear it during winter.
Availability and Price
40ml are generally around $12 at various sites like Ebay, Amazon, Stylevana and YesStyle. Please check carefully which version you’re buying!
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.
My holy grail at the moment! The encapsulated technology makes SA Moisture Milk one of the few sunscreens I can use that contain octinoxate with the added bonuses of being fragrance and alcohol-free. I love how well this sunscreen works under my makeup, too. I will continue my hunt for the perfect purple unicorn – a chemical sunscreen that I can slather around my eye area.
Thank you for this review. I tried the Gold version and it hurt my skin so much. I have super sensitive, oily, dehydrated skin and a sun allergy so sunscreen is a must but finding it is so hard. I’m thinking of getting this one since it seems to check all the boxes. Do you know if this only come in a 40 ml bottle or is there a bigger one? I was looking at it on dokodemo and there seemed to be another size but I wasn’t sure. I want to buy it but I also want to get the most for my money so if they have a bigger size, I’d buy that.
Hi Rogue, as far as I know there’s only the 40ml bottle of this exact version around – make sure that you’re getting the version you want (which can be difficult with the Skin Aqua, I found).