Top 10 Best Sunscreens in Malaysia 2023 (For All Skin Types)

Summary

Before getting a sunscreen, you may want to check whether the sunscreen suits your skin concerns. Most sunscreens will fit most types of skin but nowadays, brands are tailoring the ingredients and formulations to skin concerns to help add more value to their sunscreen products.

• If you have uneven skin, try L’Oreal Paris UV Defender Serum Protector but pick the version for uneven skin.
• If you have dry or oily skin, try Sunplay Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel or Missha Aqua Sun Gel.
• For sensitive skin, one good choice could be Clinelle UV Defense.
• If you’re looking for the overall best sunscreen for face, try Wardah UV Shield. Or La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen is another good one, although a bit expensive.

What is a Sunscreen?

Sunscreen is a photoprotective lotion, cream or gel that you apply to your skin to prevent harmful UVA and UVB rays from reaching your skin.

According to skincancer.org, regular usage of sunscreen not only reduces the risks of skin cancer and precancer, but also prevents premature skin aging including wrinkles, sagging and age spots.

Who Should Be Using Sunscreen?

Many people may be under the impression that sunscreen is only needed during vacation to tropical islands or when walking under the intense sun, but the truth is everyone (except infants under the age of 6 months) who is exposed to the sun regularly (most of us!) stand to benefit from regular usage of sunscreen.

Sunscreen vs Sunblock

Sunblock, which often is synonymous with sunscreen, acts as a protection layer for the skin by reflecting the harmful UVB (short wave ultraviolet B) rays, thus avoiding the rays from penetrating your skin. UVB is a radiation that can make your skin burnt and increase the risk of cancer.

Sunscreen, on the other hand, absorbs sun rays before they can get to the dermis layers of the skin, thereby protecting you from UVA (long wave ultraviolet A) that can make your skin wrinkle and age faster.

However, today’s sunscreen and sunblock products often do the same job of protecting against both UVA and UVB – protecting your skin from sunburn and wrinkling. The difference is in how it does it and whether the ingredients suit your skin concerns. Sunscreens can be great for people with normal-oily or not sensitive skin but it ultimately comes down to just trying out and seeing the result.

If you wish to get a sunblock, see here our recommendations for Best Sunblocks in Malaysia.

What is SPF?

SPF, which stands for Sun Protector Factor, is a measurement to indicate how long the cream can stay protective from UVA or UVB rays.

There is no ‘perfect’ SPF nor is it better if it’s higher. Choosing SPF ultimately depends on your skin and skin conditions but a rule of thumb is SPF15 or higher for indoors and SPF30 or higher for outdoors. It’s always a good idea to read a guide on SPF to understand how often you will have to apply a sunscreen.

• SPF15 – Can last from 150 minutes to 300 minutes.
• SPF30 – Can last from 300 minutes to 600 minutes.

What is PA+++?

You will often see the term SPF and PA+++ when shopping for sunscreen or sunblock. In short, PA+++ is a relative score used in certain countries to denote that the product provides the best protection against UVA rays, better than for example, PA+. Read more about PA+++ if you’re interested.

Sunscreen Buying Guide

Here are some things to keep in mind when buying a sunscreen for the first time:

• Your skin concerns: Does the sunscreen offer additional benefits that may be suitable for your skin type? Here’s a guide on how to know your skin type.
• SPF level: Think about your activities in the next few weeks. Are you going to be exposed to the sun frequently? Get SPF30 or higher if you’re going to be outdoor a lot. Read more above.
• Texture type: Choose between gel, cream or lotion, depending on what you prefer and how much you’re willing to spend. Gel type may be good for people with oily skin.
• Feel: You want the sunscreen to feel light on your face and leaves little or no white cast.
• Price: You can find a good sunscreen product for between RM30 to RM50.