Kanebo Sensai Silky Bronze Sun Protective Cream For The Face SPF 30

Here's the problem with most sunscreens: they don't always play well with the other stuff we put on our faces. We all have a skin care routine. Serum this and anti-aging that. Then there's makeup, from face primer and up. And nobody wants white residue, a greasy face and foundation that melts and travels south. But sun damage is even less desirable, so we experiment. Last summer my solution was Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30, a sunblock in powder form you can apply over your makeup. This season Chantecaille is offering a similar product with a higher SPF and hopefully a better mechanism than the PTR brush, but as much as I want to try it, Kanebo Sensai Silky Bronze Sun Protective Cream For The Face SPF 30 is looking like an even better option.

The best thing about this Sensai sunscreen is the skin care/anti-aging aspect. It can actually replace whatever else you apply over your basic moisturizer while providing sun protection. It looks and feels like any good face cream, goes on sheer and leaves no goop or white residue behind. The Silky Bronze series is formulated with a bunch of good-for-you ingredients from Vitamin B to apricot essence complex and is chock full of hyaluronate/collagen booster (the stuff that makes skin retain moisture and firmness). I tend to take big promises with a (yet unbottoxed) raised eyebrow and a grain of salt. Still, there is no doubt that my skin likes Silky Bronze and responds well to having it daily under my foundation or tinted moisturizer. The cream holds nicely to makeup and does the sun protection work while not messing with everything else.

Bottom Line: Happy face.

Kanebo Sensai Silky Bronze Sun Protective Cream For The Face SPF 30 ($100, 1.7 oz) is available at kanebo.com, neimanmarcus.com (though not in stores) and Bergdorf Goodman. I received a press sample from the comapny's PR team.

Image: Sunlight from digitalart.org