What makes Japanese sunscreens the best in the business? SEKKISEI’s Clear Wellness series, for example, weightlessly blocks and heals sun damage at the same time. Pictured above is the KOSÉ Sekkisei Clear Wellness UV Sunscreen Essence Milk SPF50+ PA+++ that can be used on both the face and body.
For the millennials on the older end of the spectrum like me or for the baby boomers who are reading this, there is a chance that you’ll have heard of Sekkisei which is a “diffusion brand” from cosmetics powerhouse KOSÉ. Specifically, you might have seen products like its lotion and emulsion which have been globally loved since its launch in 1985 for one good reason.
Each of its products hydrate the skin to its optimum level without leaving it feeling sticky or tacky but that doesn’t mean it’s any less efficacious. Its natural medicine formula is comprised of ingredients like herbs, fruits, and vegetables that work to protect the skin against ageing phenomena while restoring it back to its original vibrancy. In short, it feels as good as it makes your skin look: a feat that most Japanese brands can only boast of.
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However, and without disrespect to this venerable brand, its sunscreens haven’t evolved as far as the ones from other brands until the launch of the Sekkisei Clear Wellness ones. How exactly are they one of the best Japanese sunscreens? The answer is that they now have one property that mimics the existing skincare in the line. They each come with a formula that is rich in botanical ingredients that care for sun damage which in essence, means that you are both protecting against and healing from the sun’s detrimental rays.
The first ingredient that KOSÉ decided on for the Sekkisei range is an extract from the Haskap fruit, one that grows in cool temperate Northern Hemisphere regions. Since it contains more vitamin C and β-Carotene than blueberries, it has incredibly high efficacy when it comes to stopping melanin from forming while protecting against oxidation damage caused by UV rays, blue light and other light. Likewise, the mallow extract further boosts each of the sunscreens’ defensive properties by preventing inflammation from happening.
Next, the skin’s barrier was considered as heat regardless if it’s from the sun or other sources damages it by weakening its structure. Think of it like your skin is a concrete slab where fault lines start to form when you excessively dry it out. KOSÉ’s solution was to create a “filler” called ITOWA that strengthens this barrier while improving how well said barrier retains hydration throughout the day.
If you have the pleasure of using one of the best Japanese sunscreens from this range, you’d notice too that its semi-milky-meets-water texture instantly smoothes over dry patches without ever drying sticky. In fact, it has the highest UV protection rating in the market for a waterproof formula.
The brand has further invented one more ingredient that they call a Seawater Ion Shield Ingredient. Imagine the sunscreens containing little dots that when exposed to sea water, merge to form a gel that thickens the sunscreen itself. This gives each of the sunscreens resistancy to being washed off if you’re swimming in the ocean which in turn, also makes this a barrier reef-friendly product.
Lastly, if you’re hovering between a M.A.C Cosmetics shade range of NC45 and above, each of the sunscreens will work on your skin tone specifically because of the pearl agents used within the product. Most brands use pigmented pearl powder that is often just a white one which creates an ashy finish but the genius again of KOSÉ is that theirs is tinted beige that melts into most skin tones.
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