Quick Summary:
Date Tested: 8/16/2025
In this Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) sunscreen lotion review, I find a poor performing SPF 50 Japanese sunscreen. Thanks go to Zoe for the sample!
There are numerous sunscreen sold in convenience stores in Japan, often at low prices. Most however, are rather subpar performers. This one is no different.
The Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) sunscreen lotion is a hybrid sunscreen formula which contains Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid.
The Rohto Mentholatum – Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) reduced 48.02% of irradiated UVA, 43.53% UVB, and 47.72% of total UVI. Terrible UV filtering ability.
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) ingredients
Active ingredients: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Silica, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polystyrene, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, BHT, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Ci 73360, Ci 42090, Fragrance
Manufacturers Website: www.rohto.co.jp
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) characteristics at a glance:
- Transparent blue and blood-colored pink = lavender color, creating a natural transparency!
- Contains minute strobe pearls that reflect sunlight and light to give skin a three-dimensional glow while enhancing transparency.
- Viscosity is low
Prepared slide BEFORE testing
The Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) distributed unevenly. There is heavy thinning visible in the center of the slide sample.
Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) sunscreen lotion UV blocking test results
Ultraviolet light quick reference:
UVA: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 315nm – 400nm. The “Aging UV light” – Causes wrinkles.
UVB: The Ultraviolet wavelength from 280nm – 315nm. The “Bad UV light” – Causes skin cancer.
UVI: The global sun UV index. The more a sunscreen can reduce the level of UVI, the better.
UV test results:
Ultraviolet sensor readings:
| Before Sunscreen | After Sunscreen | % UV Blocked | |
| TEMP | 74.5 | 75.9325 | |
| UVA | 42102 | 21883 | 48.02% |
| UVB | 2335.5 | 1318.75 | 43.53% |
| UVI | 24.835 | 12.98 | 47.72% |
Want to know more about how I test sunscreen? Head here to read about the details.
Testing notes:
This sunscreen exhibits very uneven distribution on the microscope slide due to its low viscosity. However, when spot checking the thicker layer around the outside of the slide sample, results indicated rather weak protection as well (for the given layer thickness). No one wants to wear a heavy white layer of sunscreen on their skin so it doesn’t matter anyway.
Not Recommended.
Want to try Skin Aqua Tone Up UV Essence SPF 50 Lavender (purple) sunscreen lotion?
Not Recommended
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