THE LAST SUNSCREEN YOU WILL EVER TRY

Japanese brand Ishizawa Labs cracked the formula for the best sunscreen

Beauty does over half a trillion USD annually. You know what drives that number? A belief that you will, one day, find the mystical Holy Grail or Fountain of Youth product that makes years of experimentation and thousands of dollars sunk into mediocre products worth it. I should note, I am not above this delusion. (I’ve been a Sephora Rouge member for the last six years to prove it). However, I can reveal that the sunscreen Holy Grail is real, and I found it in Singapore.

Last January, my boyfriend and I ventured from Hong Kong to Singapore for a weekend of exploration and eating. It was my first time in the Lion City, and it completely lived up to my expectations. Our quick stint ended, as most peoples’ do, at the renown Changi Airport. For those who are unfamiliar, Changi is the only aviation center that is a destination. It has more than any airport logically should: a hedge maze, a walking net suspended 25m off the ground, a gold vending machine, and more. The most memorable store, however, was the Japanese version of CVS, Hands. It was there, at the shop-closing sale, that I discovered the best sunscreen I have ever tried.

While I’m a mutt of Western European origins, my heritage is largely Irish and French; therefore, sun protection is a non-negotiable part of my day. Growing up in southern California, you know my family has tried virtually every product on the market. I (and, I’m sure, we all) know how bad sunscreen looks, feels, and smells. It leaves a translucent blue sheen on the skin that appears more like Halloween make-up than an essential step in any sunfaring. The texture is gloopy, sticky, and never settles into the skin as much as it lays on top of the skin. The smell, though, is what haunts my childhood beach trips. I’m happy, then, to announce I will be ending generational trauma at the nozzle of orange, blue, and baby pink bottles. 

If I were ever to gatekeep a product, it would be this one. And I have. For the last year and a half, I have been enjoying the fruits of my curious beauty-obsessed mind in peace. I’ve stock-piled nearly 40 bottles of the stuff, which, I’m sure you’ll agree once you try it, is not an overreaction. Alright, enough teasing. Let me introduce you to UV-yohou by Ishizawa Labs. 

The original formula I tried was the Moisturizing UV Serum. It’s SPF 50 PA++++, lightweight, and leaves no white cast. But the thing that really sets this product above everything else on the market? It smells like neroli! Even after the sunscreen has been on the skin for a few hours, there is not a trace of that chemical smell. We’ve done it; we’ve made it to the future!

The incredible formula is made in a variety of formats, including a Makeup Setting UV Spray and a jumbo-sized Smooth UV Gel for the body. (The jumbo size carries the orange scent while the face mist is scentless). 

Now, there’s good and bad news. The bad news is that this sunscreen line is currently not available in the US. (It is available in Hong Kong at City Super Log On). The good news is that this product is available online in most markets! (You will likely have to pay a larger price tag to cover import and shipping). Of course, the easiest way to get this product is in Japan. As I mentioned earlier, you can find this product at Hands; I went to three locations when I was in Tokyo last summer and found it stocked at every shop. I’m currently unaware of other stores that carry Ishizawa Labs sunscreen, but if you find it elsewhere, let me know in the comments below! 

There is a brand website that notes where the products are stocked overseas, but it doesn’t note which product of their massive merchandise line is available. I find that the shops often carry the face cleanser, but not the sunscreen. 

Anyway, as we shift into summer, now is a good time to stockpile Ishizawa Labs. It may be the last sunscreen you will ever try.