Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF 60+

Most Helpful Critical Review

OILY Like Crazy BEWARE

This is hands down the oiliest sunscreen I've ever used!! It's nearly impossible to work with. I've ruined multiple tops because of the greasy residue it leaves behind. I've even resorted to waking up two hours early just to apply it to my face, neck, and chest—and that's two full hours just for sun...screen application alone. That's before makeup, getting dressed, or doing anything else to get ready for the day. I'll spend an hour trying to blow-dry my skin in hopes it will dry down and absorb — but it never does. Even after waiting two full hours before dressing, the slick, greasy layer doesn't go away. It stays oily for a full 24 hours, never sinking in, no matter how long I wait. I often have to apply face powder all over my neck and chest just to dull the shine and avoid destroying more clothes. Without powder, it transfers onto everything—especially clothing—and leaves oil stains. I now only use this sunscreen on days I'm staying home in old clothes I don't care about. Trying to use this on my entire body for a beach day was a disaster. I felt like I'd bathed in frying oil—slick, uncomfortable, and absurdly messy. The formula is also so greasy it easily migrates into my eyes. And after all this effort, it doesn't even seem to protect my skin well. The previous version had 20% zinc oxide, which gave me confidence in its protective abilities. This new version only has 5% zinc, and given how easily I've gotten sunburned while wearing it, I suspect they also reduced or removed the titanium dioxide. The protection just isn't there anymore. It feels more like an oily skincare cream than a functioning sunscreen. On top of all that, it's extremely difficult to remove. At the end of the day, I have to get in the shower just to wash my face. I end up using my cleanser multiple times over 10+ minutes, and I'm going through my cleanser way too fast just trying to get this stuff off. While I understand that this may have beneficial skincare ingredients—like the company promotes—that's not the primary goal of a sunscreen. What matters most is ease of use and effective sun protection. Unfortunately, this formula fails at both. The old version was far superior: it protected my skin, had a high concentration of zinc oxide (and likely titanium dioxide as well), and was something I could actually use without ruining my clothes or needing to cover myself in powder. I was excited when this product came back and bought several bottles, but now I'm stuck with them. I'm currently testing alternatives from other Japanese brands in particular and hoping to find a replacement. Very annoyed and disappointed with Shiseido for this oily mess which is lacking in sun protection.