Best Japanese Whitening Sunscreens

Best Japanese Sunscreens for Skin Brightening

Japanese beauty products are very popular worldwide, and sunscreen is a particularly popular category as they are known for their longevity, powerful UV protection, lightweight formula and affordable price. A wide variety of sunscreens are available in Japan with different formula and effect, which you can choose according to skin type or skin care benefits.

One of the most popular types of skin care products in Japan is skin whitening/brightening, and there are whitening products that offer both skin-brightening effects and sun protection. These Japanese skin-brightening sunscreens promote clear and translucent skin and prevent dark spots and freckles while protecting the skin from UV exposure.

Cream, gel and serum, various types of whitening sunscreens are available in Japan. Today, I would like to introduce some of the best Japanese sunscreens with skin-brightening effect. If you are looking for great skin whitening products, these products may be the quick way to achieve bright and clear skin!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.


1. ANESSA Whitening UV Gel

Copyright © Shiseido Co., Ltd.

Shiseido ANESSA is a top-selling sunscreen brand in Japan, known for its high-quality and effective sunscreens with powerful UV protection and beauty effects. ANESSA Whitening UV Gel (アネッサ ホワイトニングUVジェル) is a medicated sunscreen gel that prevent spots and provide moisture.

The lightweight, refreshing gel gives the skin a translucency and dewy finish. It features double active ingredients: effective skin whitening agent, m-tranexamic acid that suppresses melanin production and prevents spots and freckles, and irritation prevention ingredient, glycyrrhetinic acid. It contains 50% skin care ingredients to moisturize the skin. It offers Japan’s highest sun protection factor and long-lasting waterproof effect, yet can be removed easily with soap.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 2,640 yen

2. TRANSINO Whitening UV Protector

Copyright © DAIICHI SANKYO HEALTHCARE CO.,LTD.

TRANSINO Whitening UV Protector (トランシーノ薬用ホワイトニングUVプロテクター) is a multi-function sunscreen that works as a whitening treatment, emulsion, sunscreen and makeup primer.

The medicated sunscreen milk glides smoothly, moisturizes and protects the skin from environment stressors such as UV rays and PM2.5. It contains tranexamic acid as an active whitening ingredient to suppress melanin production and prevent dark spots and freckles. It also contains stratum corneum refining ingredient to moisturizes the skin. Light-diffusing multi-dimension powder covers visible pores and uneven skin tone, and promotes brighter complexion. It’s non-chemical formula and free of UV absorber.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 2,860 yen [Shop Online]

3. SEKKISEI UV White Gel

Copyright © 1996–2020 KOSE Corporation.

SEKKISEI produces a range of skin care products blended with oriental plan-derived extracts to improve skin’s clarity and translucency. SEKKISEI UV White Gel (雪肌精 ホワイトUVジェル) is a beauty sunscreen gel that protect the skin from UV damage and prevents future spots and freckles.

The light and smooth sunscreen gel feels moisturizing and refreshing on the skin without stickiness. It’s formulated with high concentration of beauty serum including fermented Job’s Tears, which is highly moisturizing and promotes brighter and clearer skin with each use. It protect the skin from damages by environment stressors such as UV rays, dust, pollen. It contains sebum absorbing ingredients which helps the skin to stay smooth and makeup to sit longer.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 3,080 yen [Shop Online]

4. SOFINA beaute Moisturizing UV Emulsion Whitening

SOFINA beaute Moisturizing UV Emulsion Whitening (ソフィーナボーテ 高保湿UV乳液 美白) is a moisturizing daytime milk with long-lasting UV protection and skin-brightening effect. It enhances the stratum corneum’s moisturizing ability and leads to smooth and supple skin.

The highly moisturizing sunscreen milk contains ceramide care ingredient to protect the skin from damages caused by UV rays and dryness, and keeps it moisturized throughout the day. It’s also formulated the brand’s advanced “Cultured Tuberose Essence α”, extracted tuberose essence as a moisturizing ingredient. The active whitening ingredient, chamomilla ET suppresses melanin production and prevents spots and freckles. Refresh and Moisture types are available.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 3,300 yen [Shop Online: Refresh/Moisture

5. DHC Medicated UV Protection Whitening Serum

Copyright © DHC Corporation

DHC Medicated UV Protection Whitening Serum (DHC薬用ホワイトニングセラム UV) is a beauty serum with powerful UV protection and skin-brightening effect. It works as beauty serum, moisturizer, makeup primer and sunscreen and can be applied after face toner.

It features double medicated ingredients: tranexamic acid to suppress melanin production and prevent dark spots and freckles and stearyl glycyrrhetinate to prevent rough skin. It contains rich amount of moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and white strawberry extract and leads to smooth and resilient skin. The non-chemical, gentle formula sunscreen is free of colorant, fragrance, paraben, UV absorber.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 2,420 yen [Shop Online]

6. Shigaisen Yoho Non Chemical Whitening UV Cream

© ISHIZAWA LABORATORIES

Shigaisen Yoho Non Chemical Whitening UV Cream (紫外線予報 ノンケミカル薬用美白UVクリーム) is a medicated sunscreen cream with skin brightening effect. This multi-function sunscreen can act as sunscreen, moisturizer and makeup base.

It contains vitamin C derivative that prevents the formation of dark spots and freckles. It’s blended with collagen, hyaluronic acid and 7 kinds of botanical essence to moisturizes the skin. The long-lasting, waterproof sunscreen absorbs excess sebum and helps makeup to stay longer. The non-chemical formula sunscreen is free of UV absorber, colorant, fragrance, mineral oil, paraben and alcohol which can be used for sensitive skin.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 2,530 yen [Shop Online]

7. Parasola White Brightening UV

© Naris Cosmetics Co.,Ltd.

Parasola White Brightening UV (パラソーラ ホワイト ブライトニング UV) is a tinted sunscreen with colour-correcting and skin brightening effects. The lavender colour sunscreen essence blurs skin dullness and brightens up the skin tone naturally.

It contains active skin brightening ingredient, tranexamic acid which suppresses melanin production and prevents spots and freckles. The soft focus effect powder covers uneven skin tone and visible pores. Sebum control ingredients keep the skin smooth and non-sticky, and 10 kinds of beauty essence promote clear and moisturized skin. The non-chemical formula is free of UV absorber and protect the skin from UV rays gently. It’s waterproof formula and resistant to water and sweat yet can be removed easily with soap.

SPF50+/PA++++

Price: 1,430 yen (30g) [Shop Online]

8. SANA Nameraka Honpo Skin Care UV White

Copyright(c) TOKIWA Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd

SANA Nameraka Honpo is a top-selling drugstore skin care brand in Japan, offering a wide variety of effective yet affordable skin care products blended with soy isoflavones. The brand released two multi-functional makeup primers that acts as toner, beauty serum, emulsion, cream, sunscreen and makeup base.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Medicated White Skin Care UV Base (サナ なめらか本舗 薬用美白スキンケアUV下地) is a skin-brightening makeup primer that contains arbutin (active whitening ingredient) and rough skin prevention ingredients in addition to the brand’s signature fermented soy milk essence. It features a tone-up effect to add clarity to the skin and contains sebum absorbing powder to prevent makeup from smudging.

SPF40/PA+++

Price: 1,100 yen (50g) [Shop Online]


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 🙂

For more information about the latest Japanese cosmetics products, here are some more articles that you may be interested!

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"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 🌈