I am one of those people who likes to wear sunscreen every day of the year no matter what I'm doing or what the weather. That being said, I have tried SO many sunscreens and this is one of only two I have found that doesn't look greasy/ break me out/ make me look pale/ look terrible under makeup/etc. This sunscreen is heavensent for daily use as it does everything you want it to, namely, the opposite of what I listed above. If this wasn't so darn expensive, I would purchase this again and again and again for my daily wear! Love this product.

I have very fair, easily burned skin that is also oily and break-out prone. To keep from getting burned, I've been real sun block (not the wimpy stuff in makeup/moisturizers) almost every day of my life since the time I was a teenager. The problem with sun blocks in the US, though, is that they're always so oily. This sunscreen isn't perfectly matte but it comes pretty darn close and it doesn't make me break out.
Pros: Quite matte even for oily skin, very sheer, stays put most of the day
Cons: Fairly expensive (although it lasts a long time), only available in the US through the internet
Bottom in - I've been using this product for the last 3 years and don't have any plans to change sunscreens.

For any people out there who are struggling to find a SS that does not break you out try this one! I tried so many - L'oreal, simple, l'occitanne . . . all of them made me wake up covered in little bumps (I think they're called milia) the day after using them and made my spots much worse. As I'm a redhead SS is really important for me and this one ticks all the boxes:
high spf / pa
not greasy
does not cause break outs
can be used around eyes (even on eyelids) without stinging eyes
acts as a primer for foundation.
Just be sure to use an oil cleanser to remove in the evening to make sure you get it out of your skin and so not cause spots, but this is necessary for all SSs.
This has protected me from the sun all summer, one application in the morning seems to last all day - even on the beach in brighton. Will try this when on holiday and also try Chanel SS and update then.
EDIT: I still think this is an amazing SS as I used it in Hawaii and didn't get burnt once. However I have stopped using it as my everyday sunscreen. I stopped using this for a few weeks and found I was getting fewer spots and found when I reintroduced it my skin immediately got a bit worse again. It is still the best high-factor SS I've found and would not hesitate to use it if I'm somewhere sunny but for grey overcast england I decided to switch to something that is less work as I am not keen on oil cleansing. If you live somewhere sunny and do not mind oil cleansing then I still definitely recommend this.

good stuff. really inexpensive! i bought mine from beautykat, and it came in pretty quick. the product itself mattifies your skin like no other. idk about the "dryness" that everyone here talks about. it goes on gloriously with my moisturizer and my bb cream is set the whole day, and mind you I dont stop walking for about 8 hours as a nurse. Its gets quite sweaty. BUT NOT MY FACE :) everything remains in place as it should. as far as the "sunblock" properties, I cant tell you much about it because Im usually indoors. but this product is glorious!!!!!!!! does not clog my pores, does not cause my face to be extra oily/dry or anything. will definitely buy again. sure beats the crap out of my laneige sunblock :)

I switched to this sunscreen after Shiseido spf 55 got dc'd. I am SOOO glad I did! It blows away shiseido! It is so mattifying (but not drying), Is a great primer for under makeup and the protection is perfect for me. a PPD of 8-10. It doesnt sting my eyes at all and leaves no white cast.
I buy this at bobodave.com and have had no problems. They are pretty quick in shipping also.
I will definetly re-purchase this SS. I will probably sooner than later because now my husband is on to me and has started using it and then in turn, is also using my DHC Cleansing oil to remove it! LOL
Its really a nice, cosmetically elegant sunscreen!

This sunscreen is a godsend for my incredibly oily skin. Nothing I've tried has ever really controlled the oil, and the one product that worked (Cosmedicine Medi-Matte) caused me horrible cystic pimples. This sunscreen gives my skin a nice matte look and hasn't broken me out at all. I love that I can use it as a substitute for a primer as I hate to put loads of products on my face. I only have to blot my face 1-2x a day, which is a huge improvement from my usually hourly blot (ugh!). I wish this was sold at a b&m store, but it works so well that I don't mind the hassle of online ordering. continued >>

This sunscreen doesn't break me out like so many others from Aveno, Neutrogena, etc. It is similar to Clarins which I used to use but less expensive. The downside is there isn't an expiration on it anywhere so I don't know if the product is still any good. I have to buy it online and I'm never sure if those online sites are selling expired products or not. I'll probably go back to Clarins so that I know I'm getting an unexpired product. The plus side is that it goes on sheer - there is a white cast but you have to work it in downward strokes not circular and it eventually disappears. I had it on overnight and it didn't break me out at all so I like that it is very sheer.

Love it! I got the pink-toned one and it blends well with my skin. This is the best sunscreen/primer for oily skin! The only downside is that I have to order it online since it is an Asian Brand.

After using this sunblock, I finally understood why Sofina is a cut above the rest. Not only does it provide excellent PPD coverage but it also feels beautiful, silky and moisturizing! I used to use Neutrogena which resulted in a super greasy and super sticky feel to my face (not to mention that thick white cast). When I put this on, I immediately marveled at how it just blended into my skin (I felt like I had nothing on!), it was matte (but not drying) and just looked SO perfect! I am so glad I found this.
Sofina Lucent is clearly superior on all counts, price be damned!

The texture of this gorgeous Japanese cream feels less like sunscreen and more like a milky veil. Within a few seconds of smoothing it all over my face quite thickly, it feels as if my skin is naked. I use it 365 days per year over my moisturizer. I am quite pale and even after extensive sun exposure my face hardly ever gets any color unless I wash it off beforehand.
If youre looking for something cheaper and easier to get your hands on, I've heard Laroche Posay's Ultra Flude SPF 60 is similar.

Have to disagree with most people on this site.
The Sofina perfect UV breaks me out. I have the Nuance up version with a slightly pink cast.
My skin is sensitive, acne prone and easily blocked. This gives instant rash/breakout. Not so with the Kanebo media primer interestingly enough so something in this does not agree with me.
Will use it on my legs..

This is the BEST sunscreen I have ever used. I have been using it for 5 years. Most sunscreen are greasy but this one is not. My face gets quite oily in the summer (the sunscreen itself + hot temperature + humidity), but Sofina can keep my face stay matte almost till the end of the day. It also works very well as a makeup base.

WOW WOW WOW. i am blown away by this product. Japan has really got something going on with their sunscreens, and am anxious to try the Shiseido Anessa to see how that compares.
This is unlike ANY american sunscreen you will ever find.
If you have oily skin, this is a gosend. It dries matte on application! and, on top of that, it control oil for at least five hours. AMAZING. for a sunscreen?!
the praise does not stop there. it provides EXCELLENT coverage, and the reason why i bought it was because I wasn't sure how great my Devita is (as it doesn't specifically say SPF on my organic devita). my skin is perfectly white after a week with this on.
also, your skin is super soft when it dries, making my concealer go on so smoothly.
price is decent on ebay, and the packaging is just as adorable as my Devita (in appearance as the top is clear too!) but better because you don't have to dip your fingers in it!
the consistency is runny, almost watery like Clarins.
The quality is unbeatable. HG for sure.
continued >>

I couldn't find my bottle of Sofina Lucent this morning & had a few moments of panic before I remembered where I'd left it. And that's when I knew it was love, lol.
I ordered this as a replacement for the Shiseido SPF 55 Lotion, which has been discontinued and reformulated. All the things I liked about the Shiseido are better with the Sofina, and the things I didn't like but tolerated are absent. Sofina is a thin, milky fluid that is very silicon-y in feel. It dries down very matte after a few minutes, however, and leaves a softness behind rather than remaining slick-feeling. No white-cast, but gives a diffuse finish that sorta blurs minor imperfections in my skin. My skin looks better *with* it on than without.
It has some oil absorbing capabilities, and my t-zone is much less oily during the day, but it doesn't dry out or flake around the area around my nose, mouth and chin like the Shiseido did. It makes a great base for make-up, and my concealor lasts pretty much all day. No stinging for me, fragrance-free, and it is very, very waterproof (oil-cleanser to remove is a must- I use albolene wiped off and followed with Aveeno Ultra-Calming foaming cleanser).
My only complaint, and it is a minor one, is that it is that you need to take some care with the application. It's a little slow to dry, and because it slides so easily over your skin you have to take care to apply it evenly over your skin without moving it off your skin in the process (I do a combination of smoothing and patting). I am easily able to wear the full 1/4 tsp on my face and 1/4 tsp on my neck (and can actually layer a little more on in a second application).
I ordered the sample size from ichibankao and am definitely will repurchase. continued >>

this is simply the best sunscreen ever for oily skin, my search thank God is over, I love it under makeup or alone. I have never used anything like it. it is light, non greasy and not irritating. I will never go back to anything else. Japan is light years ahead of us in the US in the sunscreen department!

this is a milky sunscreen. the texture is watery, absorbs quickly, dries without a sticky finish. no scent -which is the best part. its very expensive for a small bottle and you have to buy this online if you live in the usa.
but this is a great sunscreen for around town or everyday. however if you are hiking or doing sports- this does not give you the same protection as the shiseido ultimate spf 50 or the anessa perfect smooth spf 50.
i have compared the 3 and unfortunately with the sofina i tanned a little after a few hours in tropical heat.

LOVE. Pure love. I've tried countless sunscreens but this is The One. It mattifies, it really protects, and best of all, it doesn't break me out like 99% of sunscreens out there. I tried Shiseido 55 lotion recently and not only did it break me out, by the end of the (granted, sunny day) day snowboarding, I was sporting a goggle tan. Not cool. The sofina seems to do a great job protecting my skin from the sun and doesn't feel like oil on my face. I have repurchased several times, and will continue to. I sort of wish it was easier to find but ordering from bobodave is relatively painless and the shipping's always free.

Sofina Perfect UV White Protect SPF50+ PA+++
I normally hate wearing sunscreen because most sunscreens leave my face looking and feeling oily or greasy. A number of sunscreens I've tried have also made me break out and have clogged pores. Amazingly, Sofina sunscreen has done neither. It has a wonderfully smooth, milky texture and fragrance-free, unlike Shiseido sunscreens (which are often compared to Sofina sunscreens). This sunscreen also stays on all day and is waterproof, but the great thing is that you can't even feel it on your skin after the first few seconds of putting it on! continued >>

I said that I would not purchase this again, but I may actually do so. I adore the finish that this gives. It's like a primer and sunscreen in one. It's very expensive and difficult to obtain in the US, which I'm not happy about. It's not overly fragranced, which is another plus. It's very light and absorbs easily. This honestly is the first product which helped me understand what people mean by cosmetically elegant.
All this being said, I'm pretty sure this gives me blackheads, which is really disappointing considering how much I like it. I don't think I can wear it every day, but I do plan on wearing it for special occasions, especially those where I need sunscreen and would like a primer, too, which is why I won't rule out repurchasing. I may see what happens when I wear it now that I've given up on MMU, as I have a feeling that may have been contributing to the clogs.

Extremely mattifying, no need to blot for hours but very drying for my skin (oily combo sensitive) and for my mothers skin (normal). As with all Sofina sunscreens, the texture is milky and siliconey/smooth and applies well on the skin but it accentuates the flakies and balls up prettty bad. Also, theres alcohol in the s/s, so it stings the skin upon application. It leaves a white cast on the face and is noticeable in photos too.