Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Is the Luxe Sunscreen I Order from Japan

Andy Baraghani
Updated
Senior food editor Andy Baraghani owes his glowy skin to this cult sunscreen.

Every week, senior food editor Andy Baraghani shares his favorite feel-good tip on our Instagram Story. And you guys dig it. So Andy will be recapping some of your favorite segments here. Up next, Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, the Japanese sunscreen that Baraghani swears by.

Sunscreen was the first big step I took in preserving and sustaining the skin that I have, and that’s really thanks to my mother. She was a Lancome lady for over 20 years in San Francisco, and wherever we went, she would always remind us to put on sunscreen. When I moved to New York and I was on my own, I still made sure to incorporate sunscreen into my daily skincare regimen. It doesn't matter if it's 95°F or 35°F, rainy and snowy or humid and hot—I'm wearing it, and I'm reapplying all day, because sunlight is one of the worst things you can do to your skin along with sugar and lack of sleep.

But I didn’t find my holy-grail sunscreen until two years ago. I was on Reddit at /r/skincareaddiction, which is a great resource for anyone interested in skincare. There is a lot of information—you might have to filter a bit to find what feels right for your skin—and I noticed a lot of people talking about Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence.

This sunscreen has a serious cult following, though it’s not technically sold in the United States. I honestly just got it because I wanted to try something new, but I quickly became obsessed because it has a great lightweight consistency in addition to serious protection. I always look for sunscreen that has UVA and UVB protection, and this product has both. It’s also SPF 50+. I order it on Amazon, and it’s so worth it.

I know some people use moisturizers with SPF, but I’m a firm believer in using two separate products. I prep my skin with Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream, let it set, and then put Bioré UV Aqua Rich all over. I go heavy on my cheeks, forehead, and nose, then hit the forgotten places: ears, neck, throat, hands, and any exposed chest area. The lightweight consistency means it absorbs rapidly without leaving a white cast, which is never a good look.

I’m not a homebody, and it’s summer—of course I’m out in the sun! So I take my vitamin D pills, I cross the street to stay in the shade, and I wear this sunscreen. Mom, I hope you're proud.

Buy it: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, $18.

All products featured on Healthyish are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.