Tinted sunscreen for Filipinos, by Filipinos
While not exactly new, skin care or makeup that does more than its original purpose is always a welcome addition to one’s arsenal. Shower gel that doubles as a conditioning shampoo, body lotion that leaves a faint glimmer on legs and arms, or a sleek makeup stick like the one from Nars that can be used on lips, cheeks, and eyelids are just three prime examples.
Nowadays, there is renewed interest in tinted sunscreens that provide protection from the sun’s rays and coverage for a dewy finish.
I remember when BB creams with SPF first came on the market in the 2010s and how a friend used to hoard tubes of the ones by Nivea, thinking they would run out. Log on to TikTok now, and you’ll find over 144,000 posts with the hashtag “tinted sunscreen.”
One of the newest, launched only last month, comes in a sun-shaped squeeze bottle with a tiny spout. Hikari’s Premium Sun Perfect Tinted Sunscreen was developed by Filipinos for Filipino skin. “We came up with this product after heeding the collective feedback and reviews from product users of our first sunscreen, which we released last year,” Ralph Lim, CEO of Bau International, makers of Hikari products said.
The result is a tinted sunscreen that’s fragrance free, noncomedogenic, lightweight, breathable, and fast absorbing, with buildable coverage and a natural finish.
“Bearing in mind that we live in a tropical country, we specially formulated this product after considering the climate and the skin types of Filipinos. Gawang Pinoy para sa Pinoy,” said Michael Rey Almazan, president and co-founder of Bau International.
The tinted sunscreen can be applied directly on the skin using one’s clean fingers, a sponge, or a foundation brush. The squeeze bottle can take some getting used to as it isn’t very pliable, and there is a danger of squeezing out too much. We tried using the product on its own, but a thin application of moisturizer or serum before applying the tinted sunscreen facilitated easier spreading.
Most talked about
On TikTok, Hikari’s tinted sunscreen is one of the most talked about. It helps that users who see posts and are attracted by them can buy it online for around P300, much less than other premium tinted sunscreens.
“Without compromising the effectivity and quality, we have carefully sourced and selected ingredients from abroad and have it made here in the Philippines with our local manufacturing partners, who are as competent as their international counterparts,” Lim said. By cutting out the middleman, freight, and other importing costs, Hikari is able to make their products more affordable for Filipinos.
The tinted sunscreen contains a combination of mineral and chemical sunscreen actives that protect against UVA/UVB rays with an SPF 50 PA+++. It also contains skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E, and aloe vera.
It took the brand a while to come up with a product they could be proud of. “It took us three years due to many considerations, including research and development, with the formulation, manufacturing, market testing, packaging, and pricing. It was important for us to conduct numerous product testings to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of this product,” Almazan said.
Hikari’s Premium Sun Perfect Tinted Sunscreen comes in a “universal” shade that adapts to natural light, fair, or dark Filipino skin. It’s available on different social media platforms (Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and Facebook) and through authorized distributors and resellers nationwide.
