Anessa by Shiseido is one of Japan's premier high-tech sunscreen brands.

This year, the brand has generated tremendous buzz with its new, limited-edition design packaging featuring Doraemon, one of Japan's most beloved cartoon characters.

Anessa Perfect UV Skin Care Milk N (SPF50+, PA_++++) (RRP 3,300 yen, including tax), a sunscreen emulsion, is now available in three brand-new collaboration packaging: Niko-Niko Doraemon, Uru-Uru Doraemon, exclusively available in Japan, and Perotto Doraemon, designed by Matsukiyo Cocokara & Co.

The picture above shows the Uru-Uru Doraemon packaging.

Here’s a look at Perotto Doraemon, designed by Matsukiyo Cocokara & Co.

Inside this Doraemon limited-edition package is Sarasara UV Milk. You can expect long-lasting UV-blocking effects and a smooth texture allowing for effortless use as a makeup base. One of Anessa’s greatest features is its smudge-resistant formula that easily washes off with soap and water.

This versatile product is also recommended for sports and resorts. With a 50% concentration of predominantly plant-based skincare ingredients, it provides the perfect balance of effective UV protection and a lightweight feel on the skin. Its smooth and even application ensures your makeup stays in place, making it an ideal choice as a primer, as well. Anessa is a beloved skincare essential and the preferred foundation among many fair-skinned Japanese women since their junior and senior high school years.

Our next product is Anessa Perfect UV Mild Milk N (Dorami-chan) (3,300 yen, tax included). This lightweight UV milk, formulated for the protection of sensitive skin, comes in a limited-edition yellow packaging featuring Dorami-chan, Doraemon's younger sister. Also free of additives, fragrance, and coloring, its hypoallergenic design ensures it is safe for all ages, including babies and children!

Some of the earliest customers to get their hands on these products have shared rave reviews. One customer comments, “The packaging is just adorable!” Moms raved, “Doraemon is great for moms as a makeup base, while Dorami is gentle and perfect for kids!” and “Both parents and children love Dorami.” And according to another parent’s feedback, “Even kids who typically resist wearing sunscreen happily wear it because it’s Doraemon, so moms won’t have to fret.” International travelers have even been spotted buying them in huge quantities as souvenirs from drugstores!

However, quantities are limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. So don’t delay!

Clé de Peau Beauté, Shiseido's esteemed global luxury brand and the pinnacle of Japanese cosmetics, is so immensely popular, customers eagerly line up at department stores whenever a new product is released.

This year, the brand has introduced Clé de Peau Beauté Creme UV n (SPF50+/PA++++) (11,000 yen, including tax), a sunscreen cream for the face and body that combines high-performance sun protection and incredible skincare benefits.

The Adaptable-in-Shield Technology harnesses the skin’s natural defenses and inherent “intelligence” to absorb only what is beneficial for its well-being. It’s a high-quality sunscreen cream with cutting-edge technology that selectively absorbs beneficial light for the skin while safeguarding it from harmful sun rays.

The Rich Vitality Botanicals is a special ingredient blend that targets issues like dryness from UV damage. Combining the extracts of ginseng, mangosteen, European beech bud, and psyllium plus glycerin, this is more than just a sunscreen - it’s a top-notch beauty product! It also promotes a firm, radiant complexion, effectively reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles associated with dryness.

With an elegant fragrance inspired by rare orchids and natural roses, this sunscreen adds a touch of elegance to your skincare routine. Its lightweight texture allows for easy application and effective coverage with a minimal amount.

However, this product is limited in quantity, so if you’d like to try it for yourself, there’s no better time to order than now!

A new serum is now available from NEcCO, a bio-natural skincare brand that has released a series of cosmetics incorporating euglena, a beauty ingredient originally developed in Japan.

This brand, debuting in 2023 from Euglena Co., Ltd., supports the skin’s latent vitality with four types of euglena and fermented beauty skin ingredients. It aims to enhance beauty “from the inside out.” In the first month after its launch, products such as the cosmetic lotion hit 166% of their initial sales target, and it is expected to attract even more attention in the future!

Next is the newly-released NEcCO Tone-Up UV Serum (SPF50/PA_++++), a makeup base, and daytime colored serum (3,250 yen each, tax included). Available in three colors! From left to right in the photo: light beige, medium beige, and clear beige.

Shielding your skin from powerful UV rays, dryness, and other external stressors, this serum offers effective protection and reparative capabilities while simultaneously concealing dullness, making it a great natural foundation for your skin. For a glowing complexion, try on light beige!

For those who prefer to go au naturel, we recommend clear beige. It provides a harmonious, one-toned appearance while minimizing the visibility of dark spots.

Euglena, a type of algae renowned as a superfood, takes center stage in this formulation featuring four original beauty and fermented skin ingredients derived from its incredible properties. This product has been carefully developed to awaken the skin's innate resilience against daytime damage and nurture a more resilient complexion. With an impressive 80% concentration of beauty-enhancing ingredients, this sunscreen not only offers UV protection while pampering your skin!

Indulge in the soothing aroma of orange bergamot and geranium cedarwood with every application!

Introduced in 2022 in Japan, this limited edition stick-type sunscreen by A'pieu sold out immediately thanks to its adorable design and sweet, juicy scent that made waves on social media.

This hot product boasts vibrant pop colors, a delightful fragrance, and smooth, transparent UV protection. Its convenient stick-type design is also perfect for on-the-go application, making it a captivating, love-at-first-sight purchase for many!

The highlight of this year's lineup is the addition of the Juicy Pang UV Stick Pineapple Candy, created in collaboration with Pineapple Candy, a long-time favorite pineapple-flavored candy of Japan! (SPF50+/PA++++) (1,650 yen, tax included, limited quantities available)

The limited-edition Pineapple Candy offers a sweet and sour, juicy scent and a cute design, making sunscreen application more enjoyable. Other color options include apple, orange, and muscat.

This lotion provides effective protection for the skin, even under intense UV rays, and boasts a water-repellent veil for exceptional resistance to sweat and water.

It also contains beauty moisturizing ingredients, offering skincare benefits, as well. Each application of this lightweight lotion keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized, ensuring reliable UV protection and a refreshing sensation, even during the hottest of summer days!

Thus concludes our top selection of four must-try sunscreens for your visit to Japan this year. These captivating products will surely become a coveted addition to your summer beauty routine. So embark on an adventure, and explore these enticing options and pick out the perfect summer companion for your skin!


Written by: Makoto Sasayama
Makoto Sasayama is an experienced beauty journalist, actively engaged in numerous cosmetic planning and beauty brand consulting endeavors. A regular contributor to various publications and an active promoter of cosmetic branding, her commitment perfectly conveys the capabilities of Japanese cosmetics from a global perspective to people all over the world.

English translation by: Krys Suzuki