Anessa is a beloved sunscreen brand that is driven by the philosophy of enabling individuals to "shine infinitely under the sun." This ethos captures the brand's belief that while the sun’s harmful effects warrant protection, we must also appreciate the myriad of benefits sunlight provides for our well-being. The brand's latest offering, Anessa Day Serum SPF50+ PA++++ (P2,190), is designed to allow us to savor these benefits while still remaining shielded from harm.

We are truly living in the golden era of sunscreen. Before, sunscreen was merely a beach-day essential, but it has now seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of our daily routines. However, the staggering variety of options can be daunting. Allow me to simplify this process in this comprehensive recommendation post.

If you prefer a sunscreen that is lightweight, comfortable on the skin, and leaves minimal white cast, then this list is for you. Here's a curated selection of sunscreens that I have personally tried, tested, and loved!

Yes, you read that right – cult-favorite sun care brand Supergoop! has finally arrived in the country!

Created in 2005 by Holly Thaggard, Supergoop!’s plan back then was to bring sunscreen to different schools in Texas and Louisiana. As a mom and former elementary school teacher, Holly wanted to encourage children to develop the daily habit of protecting their skin.   

I've forgotten a lot of things in my life, but one memory that remains vivid is the Doraemon theme song. "Do-ra-eh-mo-un!" would joyfully echo from our TV in the afternoon after school, which means it’s time for merienda. I recall eagerly anticipating the fun adventures of Nobita and Doraemon, as the futuristic, robotic cat lent a helping hand to solve Nobita's problems. So, you can imagine my sheer delight when I discovered that Anessa, one of Japan's leading sunscreen brands, has joined forces with Doraemon for a special collaboration.

Anessa, one of our favorite sunscreen brands, launched its first summer event after the pandemic called Golden Island. The event, held at The Island in BGC, featured themed areas such as Luxe Beach, Tropical Gardens, and the Hamptons, each representing a different adventure. Anessa showcased its ability to withstand the hot Philippine summer through temperature pods in each area.

The Anessa Squad, composed of experts in beauty, lifestyle, and sports, discussed the importance of sun protection in their respective fields and why Anessa is the ultimate age-defying sun care.

Summer has arrived which means hotter days and more trips to the beach. The intense heat we feel on our skin is a not-so-gentle reminder to always use sun protection. Happy Skin has quite a few sun care products already (check out reviews here: Rescue Me Invisible Sun Gel Primer and Rescue Me Tinted Matte Sun Gel Primer) but they’re expanding the line-up with their newest “sun-centric skincare collection”: the Happy Skin Sun Boosters.

Ever wished your primer was fully matte, blurred out some pores, offered some coverage, AND provided sun protection? Well, you should check out the Happy Skin Rescue Me Tinted Matte Sun Gel Primer (P1,199 for 40ml) released just a few days ago! This isn’t your typical tinted sunscreen, so read on to see if it’s for you.

I’ve been writing about beauty long enough to remember those ancient times when wearing sunscreen outside of a beach setting was almost unheard of. We’d whisper about the fussy few who’d do it but never really imagine slathering on this (previously) uncomfortable product on a daily basis. Look at us now. Sunscreen has become a religion, almost, and I for one have definitely reaped the benefits of using it regularly in the last decade.

Although beauty is a personal journey, we all know that SPF is non-negotiable. Admittedly though, it is one of the hardest beauty habits to get into. From childhood memories of heavy and extremely tacky formulas making beach and pool days less enjoyable to the price tags that are on a good SPF product - there is always something that holds you back from the path of sun protection.

Luckily, local beauty brands have been stepping up their game and giving the people what they want by creating sunscreen and sunblock options that are comfortable for both our skin and wallets.

Japan's No.1 sunscreen brand Anessa just got an upgrade in packaging and formula, so I'm here to check it out! They switched to a blue logo and outer packaging, which btw is partially made of bio-based plastic. This is produced from "renewable biomass sources that reduce carbon dioxide emissions"*. In working towards their goal of a SUNstainable world, they also removed coral-damaging ingredients such as Octinoxate and Microplastic beads from their formula.

I've always kept myself updated on new Happy Skin releases, be it skincare or makeup. Two of their recent ones really piqued my interest: a sunscreen primer and a tinted moisturizer. I know I need both but realistically speaking, how will they fare in my daily routine? These can be used separately or together, so let's see.

I need to preface this post by saying that I am currently recovering from a bad sunburn on my back. I don’t even remember the last time I was sunburned in any way! I think I would have still been a kid the last time something like this happened. But I have to take the blame on this one. Sunscreen is meant to be re-applied every three hours, more often if you’re getting some serious sun exposure. I was having so much fun that the veteran beauty editor in me forgot all about it! So yes, DO NOT forget.

I’m fiercely loyal to my sunscreen so it’s a cosmic shift for me to switch sunscreens, after pretty much using the same thing for eight years. I do try and love other sunscreens of course, but I keep coming back to Biore. You all know this. And yet a couple of months ago this changed.

I’ve actually tried Anessa sunscreen even before it arrived in the Philippines. It’s touted as the #1 sunscreen brand in Japan!

Shiseido has been busy lately, what with new releases that I think you’ll love for your skin. Today I’ll be reviewing the new Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation and the Clear Suncare Stick!

My skin hasn’t been in the best state in the past year, so I still like wearing a bit of liquid foundation underneath even when I have a mask on. In fact, I find that it also helps my makeup survive a little longer. But not all liquid foundations are created equal in this use case. Some, like the Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation (P3,000 /30ml in Lazada) may rule them all.

I was never really particular with my skincare because I grew up with normal, low-maintenance skin. That is, until I hit my late 20s and noticed a huge change brought about by an internal imbalance, and made worse by a change in environment! I woke up one day to sensitive, combination skin - just like that. It became so easily irritated that I had to go through trial and error with ingredients for about year before I got know this whole new me.

I’m extremely loyal to my sunscreen. You guys know that I’ve been using the Biore UV Aqua Rich since 2015, and rarely switch out to new ones. The only other sunscreen I use other than the Biore is the Kiehl’s UV Defense Aqua Gel. The latter, while nice, is really quite expensive for everyday use. The Biore on the other hand is perfect for my budget and requirements - it’s lightweight and wears well under makeup, so I haven’t felt the need to switch to another drugstore sunscreen.

It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging period of adjustment for everyone. For the first half of last year, I was so completely resigned to staying in that I pretty much dropped most of my beauty habits, save for my nightly skincare routine. But as the months went by, I slowly began to miss my old self-care rituals. So much so that I’ve started them back up even whilst I remain stuck indoors.

I’ve been using the Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense since last year and I love it. It’s lightweight and doesn’t dry my skin, so it was especially useful during my travels when the weather is cooler! It wears well under makeup and never makes my skin feel greasy during the day. Recently, I’ve been trying out the Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 PA++++ (P2,100 /30ml or P3,100 / 60ml from the Kiehl’s PH website) which is supposedly an even lighter version. So is it better?

Yesterday Happy Skin released the Fresh Morning Dew Collection, which aims to deliver a fuss-free fresh face that’s comfortable to wear during the crazy hot summer. I find this collection tight and well-conceptualized; if you don’t like spending a lot of time on makeup, hate the makeup-y feeling on skin, and love to use flattering multi-use colors, then this line-up is made for you.

Let’s take a look!

Warning: don’t do this at home, alright? It’s been over 40 days since I wore sunscreen on my face and body. I haven’t used a single drop of it since the Manila lockdown started! I do my normal skincare routine otherwise - essence, moisturizer, I even mask - so it’s not really laziness. Part of it is because I don’t have any more Biore UV Aqua Rich backups at home (my HG sunscreen), but a huge reason is a morbid curiosity of mine on how important sunscreen REALLY is to my skin. I wanted to find out what will happen if I just stop using sunscreen altogether. Call it insanity. Call it a sacrifice for science.