We all (hopefully) know the drill—sunscreen is a non-negotiable part of any skincare routine. UV rays are everywhere, particularly in our tropical Malaysia, and sun damage is cumulative. Indeed, the most effective way to stave off the signs of premature ageing and skin cancer is to take precaution ASAP.
READ: Sunscreen 101: Your guide to all things SPF (and PA++++)
A big part of “taking precaution” involves investing in a good sunscreen. Now, there are plenty of incredible formulations on the market, but we want to spotlight a few local favourites today. Not only are these Malaysian-born sunscreens on par with international brands, they’re also decorated with a little local colour. From novel ingredients like rambutan to kale and beyond, here are our honest reviews of three Malaysian-owned sunscreens:
READ: #SupportLocal: 13 Malaysian skincare brands every beauty lover should know
Chuck’s
Chuck’s Very Important Sunscreen SPF50 50ml, RM78
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“This local brand makes some bold promises with their sunscreen—namely, no white cast, no sticky residue and no skin irritation. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty ideal to me, so I was very keen to try it out. Well, I’ve finally gotten my hands on it, and I am pleased to report that it lives up to its claims! To me, the Very Important Sunscreen feels just like a regular moisturiser. It’s very lightweight, sinking into the skin easily and leaving a hydrating veil that is neither greasy nor sticky. It also didn’t irritate my eyes at all, which is a huge plus! In fact, throughout the day, it wears very comfortably—almost like a second skin.
“Further, it doesn’t have that classic ‘sunscreen-y smell’ that you find with a lot of formulations—or much of a smell at all, really, which is a huge plus for me. There are also a few interesting ingredients that really caught my eye with this sunscreen: Kale extract works to hydrate and repair your skin, gardenia Florida fruit extract helps to neutralise redness with its slight green tint, and eucalyptus oil cools your skin in our Malaysian humidity. Overall, I’m definitely a fan!” — Redzhanna Jazmin, Beauty Writer
Velvet Vanity
Never Forget Sunscreen SPF50 50ml, RM59.90
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“This brand-new launch was a very nice surprise. Why? Well, Velvet Vanity is predominantly a makeup brand, and this is actually their first venture into skincare. Needless to say, my interest was piqued. As far as first impressions go, I am very pleased! For starters, the packaging is super cute and convenient, making it ideal for on-the-go use. Further, the formulation has this mid-weight, creamy texture that applies well, spreading easily and sinking in nicely. I do find that its texture is a little on the rich side, so I would recommend it for drier skin types (alternatively, those with oily skin types can probably skip moisturiser with this one).
“Overall, the texture is delightfully silky, and doesn’t feel greasy or sticky in any way. That said, it does leave a slight white cast upon initial application. Fortunately, this white cast disappears after just a few minutes on every skin tone—believe me, I put the sunscreen to the test on both my fair-to-medium skin and the tan-to-deep skin of a dear friend. That’s right—you don’t have to worry about looking pasty or ashy on no-makeup days! I’d definitely recommend it.” — Redzhanna Jazmin, Beauty Writer
Duck Cosmetics
SunDay Sunscreen SPF40+ 30ml, RM80
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“If you’re in need of a water-resistant formulation for big days out at the beach or outdoor workouts, the SunDay Sunscreen from Duck Cosmetics is a solid choice. Unlike other water-resistant formulas, it doesn’t leave a shiny, greasy residue behind. Rather, it sinks in very quickly and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and smooth, complete with a matte finish (perfect for oily to combination skin).
“The formulation also has a pretty interesting star ingredient: Rambutan. The local fruit is a very buzzy skincare ingredient at the moment, and has been purported to have skin barrier-fortifying and elasticity-improving properties. All in all, if you’re hoping for a formulation that doubles down on anti-ageing, you’ve found it.” — Redzhanna Jazmin, Beauty Writer
Do you have a favourite local sunscreen that we missed? Let us know here!
For more SPF-related stories like this, click here.
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