Best Japanese Anti-Pollution Sunscreens

Must-Buy Anti Pollution Sunscreens in Japan

Japanese sunscreens are popular worldwide and known for advance formula such as broad spectrum protection, skin care effects, lightweight formula and excellent longevity in affordable price range.

A wide variety of sunscreens are sold in Japan with different formulas and effects and some products has unique functions in addition to sun protection. Anti-pollution sunscreen is one of the latest and the most trending sunscreens in Japan today.

Anti-pollution sunscreen is a multi-functional sunscreen that protects the skin from UV rays and also defends against environmental stressors such as dust, pollen and PM2.5.

Our skin is exposed to various stress substances daily (dust, pollen, allergens, cigarette smoke, etc) which cause great damage on your skin. These damages can accumulate and appear as skin problems in future such as age spots, wrinkles, skin dullness and acne.

If you have delicate skin that can easily get affected by stress substances or want to take your skin care routine to the next level for long-term skin health, I’d highly recommend you to try these Japanese anti-pollution sunscreens.

As anti-pollution sunscreens are sold by many different brands in Japan today and you may get confused about which one to try. So In this article, I will introduce my picks of the best Japanese anti-pollution sunscreens that protect your skin from UV rays and environmental stressors.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.


1. Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Gentle Milk

Copyright © Kao Corporation

Biore is one of the most popular sunscreen brands in Japan, producing a wide range of highly effective and affordable sunscreens for every skin type. Biore UV Barrier Me Mineral Gentle Milk (ビオレ UV バリア・ミー ミネラルジェントルミルク) is a gentle formula sunscreen milk that is recommended for dry and sensitive easily affected by environmental condition.

The product features Biore’s original UV Cut and Anti-Dust Outer Skin formulas that form a micro-fine protection barrier over the skin to protect against UV rays and prevent environmental stressors such as dust, pollen and PM2.5 from adhering onto the skin. It’s blended with fine powder that leaves the skin smooth and silky. The skin-friendly sunscreen milk is free of UV absorber, alcohol, paraben and colouring. Contains moisturizing ingredients. Waterproof formula.

Price: 1,780 yen (50 ml) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50/PA+++

2. d program Allerbarrier Essence

Copyright © Shiseido Co., Ltd.

d program is a skin care line producing skin care products that are hypoallergenic and designed for delicate skin based on Shiseido’s 50-year research on delicate skin. d program Allerbarrier Essence (dプログラム アレルバリア エッセンス) is a daytime moisturizer that protect the skin from daily UV exposure and dryness.

It features the newly improved Allerbarrier Technology NEO that creates the veil on the skin and protect against airborne particles such as pollen and dust. The low irritant, non-chemical formula uses carefully selected ingredients and is free of UV absorber, alcohol, coloring,fragrance, paraben and mineral oil. It’s waterproof and highly resistant to water and sweat. Can be used as a makeup primer.

Price: 3,300 yen (40 ml) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50+/PA+++

3. Curel Day Barrier UV Protection Milk

Copyright © Kao Corporation

Curel is Japan’s leading skin care brand for dry, sensitive skin. The brand offers a range of skin care products formulated with Ceramide Care. The moisture-retaining ceramide helps to strengthen skin’s natural barrier function and achieve healthy and beautiful skin. Curel Day Barrier UV Protection Milk (キュレル UVカット デイバリアUVローション) is a ceramide functioned sunscreen that protects the skin from UV rays and provides long-lasting hydration.

Featuring the new Day Barrier Technology, it protects the skin from environmental stressors such as dust and pollen. It contains anti-inflammatory agent to prevent skin roughness and redness. It can be used as a makeup primer as it conditions the skin smoothly and helps makeup to sit better. It’s free of UV absorber, fragrance, coloring and alcohol.

Price: 1,650 yen (60 ml) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50+/PA+++

4. X-Barrier Skin Protect UV Cream

Copyright © 1996–2020 KOSE Corporation.

X-Barrier Skin Protect UV Cream (エクスバリア スキン プロテクト UV クリーム) is a non-chemical sunscreen cream that provides a powerful UV protection and great hydration.

It’s hypoallergenic prescription for delicate skin that has weak skin barrier function and suffers from dryness and rough skin repetitively. It forms a fine veil over the skin and blocks UV rays as well as airborne particles such as dust and pollution. It’s free of UV absorber, colouring, fragrance, paraben, mineral oil and alcohol. It contains 65% beauty ingredients to keep the skin moisturized. It’s resistant to water and sweat, yet can be removed easily with regular soap.

Price: 3,080 yen (50g) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50+/PA++++

5. Verdio UV Moisture Gel

Copyright © THE OMI BROTHERHOOD, LTD.

Verdio UV Moisture Gel (ベルディオ UV モイスチャージェル) is a gentle-formula sunscreen gel for sensitive skin and small kids. It’s sold by one of the leading Japanese pharmaceutical companies, Omi Brotherhood.

It gently protects the skin from external stimulus such as UV rays, dryness, pollen and PM2.5. The lightweight and refreshing gel spreads evenly on the skin with smooth and non-sticky finish. It’s blended with 7 kinds of botanical essence to keep the skin moisturized. The skin-friendly formula is free of colouring, fragrance, mineral oil, paraben and alcohol. It’s resistant to water and sweat, but removable with a regular soap.

Price: 700 yen (80g) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50+/PA++++

6. FANCL Sunguard 50+ Protect UV

Copyright© FANCL CORPORATION

FANCL is a Japanese company producing additive-free cosmetics products, health food and supplements. All skin care products of FANCL are free of preservatives, fragrance, artificial colouring, surfactant and UV absorber, and recommended even for sensitive skin.

FANCL Sunguard 50+ Protect UV (ファンケル サンガード50+ プロテクトUV) is a broad spectrum sunscreen milk with multi-protection. The lightweight sunscreen milk gives a smooth and silky finish without creating white cast. It offers multi-protection featuring the original prescription to spread evenly on the skin and block UV rays, blue light and environmental stressors which can cause dryness, dark spots and wrinkles. It’s waterproof formula.

Price: 2,750 yen (60ml) 【Buy it Now】

SPF50+/PA++++

7. Shiseido The Perfect Protector

Copyright © Shiseido Co., Ltd.

Shiseido The Perfect Protector (SHISEIDO サンケア ザ パーフェクト プロテクター) is a sunscreen product by Shiseido Sun Care series. It offers a powerful and long-lasting sun protection and protect the skin against environmental damage.

The multi-protection formula defends against UV rays, dryness, air pollutants. It features the Synchro Shield Technology that strengthens the UV protection veil when contacting heat, water and sweat. It contains 50% skin care ingredients which moisturize the skin and prevent the skin damage caused by UV rays such as wrinkles, dark spots and dullness. It’s recommended for outdoor activities or sports.

Price: 5,170 yen (50ml)

SPF50+/PA++++


Thanks for reading! I hope this article helps you out with finding a perfect sunscreen for your skin! The listed products are commonly sold at drugstores, cosmetics stores and variety shops in Japan, but some products are also available to shop online with international shipping! So if you are interested in these products, go ahead and try them out!

If you are into Japanese beauty products, I’d recommend you to check out the online beauty store Kokoro which offers a wide selection of Japanese beauty products with worldwide shipping. Visit their website (Kokoro: http://bit.ly/32HfNbi) to check more Japanese cosmetics products! Free shipping is available when you spend over 40 USD 🙂

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Written by

"The world is my oyster" A globetrotter 🌎 and hammock lover 🌞 who loves taking adventures to fuel wanderlust. Born and raised in Japan, I have lived and explored countries around the world. As a resident of Japan and based on my travel experience, I'd love to share my knowledge and tips for travelling Japan with my readers. I hope my story will help you plan your trip and have a great time in Japan 🌈