this review is for the gel version.
Let me preface this by saying I hate sunscreen. Most sunscreens I've tried are insanely greasy and have that strong sunscreen smell which I'm not fond of. I haven't tried much but I don't think I need to try anything else. I live in Indonesia and this is one hell of a hot place to live because it's pretty much summer all year round.
This sunscreen is the sh*t, people. It's very, very light. Very fluid-like, absorbs quickly and mattifies like a dream. No matter how often I reapply, I won't get greasy. It really has no sunscreen smell, it doesn't break me out and it doesn't leave a white cast on my face (I have medium-dark skin). Most importantly, it's cheap to boot. It's only $5 and it's easy to find. It makes applying sunscreen a breeze. I highly recommend this if you have oily/normal-oily skin.

I got this sunscreen as a replacement for my beloved Sofina Lucent UV, which I used for years until it was discontinued. For those of you who have used the Sofina, this is slightly more hydrating (as in, it adds some moisture but not oils).
It is less product for the money than Sofina (and not cheap if you live in the US and have to ship from Japan), but if you're looking for a matte, non-greasy sunscreen that is waterproof, it's worth the money.
I actually like this better than the Sofina, as it could be drying on my combo skin in the winter (also, I use Retin A, which makes my skin dryer). I am super acne-prone and this hasn't added to the problem at all. YMMV.
It doesn't have fragrance, so far as I can tell, but it does have a very slight powdery smell from the zinc (if you've used a physical ss like blue lizard, it's the same smell). Leaves my skin matte.
Remember to use a cleansing oil to thoroughly remove this ss, as it contains lots of silicones!

I have the "Skincare Sarasara Milk" version of this sunscreen, which comes in a bottle identical to the picture except it's pink. It is supposedly bursting with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and collagen, but it's still a very light formula. It also has light reflecting shimmer (not disco ball -- very fine shimmer) which brightens the complexion. The formula has more alcohol in it than my trusty Anessa, so it dries quicker, but it somehow felt heavier on my skin. I also noticed that when I bought a tube of the Biore perfect milk and used that for a few days, my breakouts cleared up -- I'm almost always breaking out so I didn't really have a particular culprit in mind, but this was apparently it! I guess all those moisturizing ingredients weren't for me. For reference, I also compared the ingredients to my new Biore, and the Biore has the added protection of titanium dioxide which this doesn't have, so better protection too! Therefore, this unfortunately is going in the trash. I would recommend this only for those with fairly dry skin that isn't breakout prone, who want a nice brightening makeup base.

This sunscreen is almost too good to be true. No white streak, super matte and dirt cheap (where I live, it is sold at U$3). However, it breaks me out and puts tons of blackheads on my face - even though the ingredient list seems to be harmless, (only the collagen might be troublesome but i guess it is used at a very low percentage). I already use an oil-cleanser/make up remover/baby oil to remove it. I thought I found my HG sunscreen but it's not this one then.

This is coming from someone who absolutely hates sunscreen: this stuff is awesome. I bought it at 7-11 in Japan and it's followed me from Tokyo to Hawaii to LA. It was strong enough to prevent my pale skin from burning after three hours at the beach in Hawaii, but light enough that I don't even feel it there. I also have the Skin Aqua Moisture Gel, which I like a lot less.

Wow, this is my HG sunscreen for face, as I wear it everyday now. For body, I use Neutrogena SPF85 (too greasy on face). I've been wearing this for a month now, and no breakouts! (Sometimes I sleep with it on & it doesn't clog poes.) The texture is very watery and runny, which makes it a little difficult to apply. But to prevent from wasting product, I squeeze it directly at my face, 2 spots on the cheeks, one on the forehead, a line along the nose, and one on the chin and upper lip. Like applying moisturizer, I spread it evenly on my face. This doesn't leave my face greasy or oily at all, in fact it doesn't feel as if I'm wearing sunscreen. Very lightweight! Which is kinda a problem at the beginning because I forget which area I applied it on, then I reapply on the area again. So that's why I apply it directly now, instead of squeezing it on to my hands, then spreading it on the face.
Rated 3 for packaging because the bottle is small. continued >>

I bought this for $6 in Taiwan. (BTW, Taiwan has a lot of mentholatum-brand sunscreens). Sasa.com is too expensive, but just recently, since it looks like they raised the prices. Perhaps MUA skinboard increased their popularity and they are ca$hing in.
This is watery like Sofina. I really like the smell, which is a bit medical, but mostly neutral. I use an oil-cleanser since it is an asian sunscreen, and they tend to be sweat/water-resistant to a powerful degree.
A really lovely, effective and cheap product. Too bad its in Taiwan!

Me: 22, very sensitive combination skin - oily nose/chin, dry cheeks/forehead.

The product: About $12 per 40g from sasa.com or ichibankao.com. Yes, this is a small tube - 40 grams is only slightly more than 1 ounce. It's about the size of your average bottle of vitamin C serum. This is a very, very runny fluid that is thankfully fragrance-free.

My experience: The main thing I love about this miracle sunscreen is being able to slap it on in the morning and leave the house without having to check myself compulsively in the rearview mirror to make sure there aren't any white streaks leftover. This is gloriously, wonderfully matte and low-maintenance. It takes absolutely NO rubbing at all for it to sink in - in fact, rubbing it will do nothing but cause more liquid to come off on your fingers. There is not even a momentary hint of a white cast. I HAVE found that despite the moisturizing/hydrating ingredients in the Mentholatum UV Moisture Milk (like hyaluronic acid) it does feel a teensy bit dry (not necessarily drying, but my face can feel a little uncomfortable without lotion), but I have no problems using a moisturizer first. It will mattify no matter what you've applied under it, unlike my previous sunscreen (Natural Instinct SPF 30) which never set as well over a moisturizer.

There are only a couple things I don't like about this sunscreen. One, it is extremely milky and it's tricky to apply the full 1/4 teaspoon without losing any. I always get some stuck in my cuticles or underneath my fingernails or running down my hands/chin. As this is a fairly expensive sunscreen for me, knowing I'm losing some is kind of a bummer. Two, it has to be ordered from Asia and thus you are at the whim of the very few stores that carry it and ship internationally. But it really is worth the hassle of slow shipping. This is a sunscreen for all the sunscreen-haters out there who have ever used and hated sticky, itchy, burning, shining, whitening, greasy sunscreens. continued >>

This is now my favorite everyday sunscreen! one of the best pa+++ sunscreens! absolutely no white cast where others do! I've tried quite a few Jap sunscreens ( Anessa, Allie, Kiss Me, etc) I wouldn't use this for outdoors or for a long day cause it has some chemical block that will breakdown eventually~ I will use Kiss Me Daily Comfort SPF50 for that~

Mentholatum Sunplay Skincare UV Moisture Milk spf 50 PA+++
I really like the thin consistency of this ss....is wonderful under mu...dries matte....very light.
But alas, I will probably not reorder....it was a little more than I wanted to pay for 42 g....appx. $17.00 (including shipping), but I reserve the right to change my mind! :-) Another reason that I will probably not reorder is that although my face is not sensitive, my neck is. I am trying to find a physical ss that I can use on both my face and neck instead of having two.
I have never tried it for like a day at the beach, but it was wonderful under mu....If you have no problems with chemical ss and you have more $$$ than me, this is a great one!

Mentholatum SunPlay Skincare UV Moisture Milk SPF50+ PA+++ has a runny, milky-gel texture that is moisturizing and dries matte. It is not at all sticky and does not leave a white cast or streaks. It's also fragrance-free and fairly waterproof. No sensitivity or breakouts, either! Since my skin is dry, I like that it is much *less* drying than other Japanese sunscreens. I would not recommend this for those with very oily skin.

The bottle is 42 grams (40 mL) for about US$11 from sasa.com (not including shipping), which I find to be very reasonably priced. (Be warned, though, that shipping from sasa.com takes awhile!) The bottle is small, with a twist-off cap and a nozzle applicator. There are mixing balls inside to (presumably) disperse the mineral filters evenly.

I've tried to obtain ingredients from the company, but have received no response. Thus, I am not certain what the specific sunscreen filters are (there seems to be a discrepancy regarding ingredients). It does contain antioxidants, which is nice.

I really ♥ the texture and finish of this sunscreen. My makeup goes on so beautifully, and my face is not shiny at all! Unfortunately, my skin is *very* prone to pigmentation, and I have a small patch of melasma from when I was on BCP. I used this suncreen for about three weeks in May, and I think my patch is becoming darker. :( Sadly, I won't be using this in the summer. I may try using it in the winter when the sun has set by the time I leave work.

Since it is PA+++, the PPD is at least 8. Many people are fine with this, so if you're one of those lucky ones, I encourage you to try this as it is a very lovely sunscreen. However, I do not recommend it for those who are very prone to pigmentation (like me). continued >>

I really like this product. I use several sunscreens but this is the one I use when i have to be in the sun for a period of time. it goes on easily, dries matte and does not dry out my skin. it also can be reapplied and stays matte, which is great when i am attending baseball and football games or just spend the afternoon outside. I got it from sasa.com. The only thing I have to worry about is ordering enough at one time so that I am never without it.

I bought this at sasa for a total of $13.50 (shipping included). It's way smaller than I thought. It's matte and not drying. I still do use a moisturizer under it because my face is super dry. It's very milky, doesn't leave a white cast, yet I'm wondering what percentage of physical sunblock this contains. I'm thinking about saving this for the summer since it's a bit too expensive for me.Update: I spoke too soon, under the sun my face burns (I have photosensitive skin due to chem peels a year ago)!! Ahh! But it is a good matte, non drying sunscreen. I won't repurchase

This is my HG sunscreen for the winter. I got this in the summer time (see my review for Allie Perfect Sunscreen) and found it was too heavy for me since the Japanese summers are super humid. I left it in my drawer untouched for months, and when the weather got drier I tried it again and it is perfect! It doesn't break me out or clog my pores, and the finish is beautiful and mu looks great on top. It has a runny milky texuture that is typical for most Japanese sunscreens. Compare to Sofina this is less chalky and more gel like. Unlike the typical Japanese sunscreen which tends to be very matte and can be drying in the winter, this one provides just the right amount of hydration as it contains hyalunic acid, without any greasiness or shine. The price is also great, I paid for about $7 for 40ml. For those who live outside of Japan I think you can order it from Sasa. This was reformulated in 2008 and Sasa only carries the older version as of the time that I wrote this review.

EDIT 24 FEB '09: Still loving this! I use it every day. I have found further info on the active ingredients and have posted this below.

This is a Japanese sunscreen that I've been using for a couple of weeks now and I think this is The One. I was a big fan of Shiseido SPF55 Lotion but was finding it a little too drying on my skin in cooler months. I have been looking for something similar to the Shiseido that will still mattify my face (I get a really oily t-zone) but won't make it feel tight and uncomfortable. This one is meeting all my requirements and I'm really excited about it!

The texture is similar to other Japanese sunscreens I've tried - a pale, runny milk. This is sweat/water resistant, fragrance free and alcohol free. This works really well under my makeup and keeps my skin matte yet comfortable all day.

The packaging is an attractive pale blue plastic bottle with small nozzle to help you control how much product comes out. The cap seems quite secure and I could see this travelling well. I paid approximately AUD$14 for 42g at www.sasa.com and I think this is a good price.

Verdict: Excellent. This is everything I require in a sunscreen! If your skin is combination with some sensitivity or dryness, I would recommend this to you.

I'm no expert on sunscreen so I will refer you to a post on the skincare board by Haruka about the acitve ingredients: http://www.makeupalley.com/m_78623470

Haruka also kindly translated the ingredients list and I will post that here for reference:
water, cyclopentasiloxane,, octinoxate, zinc oxide, isonoyl isononanoate, polymethylsilsesquioxane, BG, glycerin, silica, lauroyl lysine, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed collagen, panthenol, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, tocopheryl acetate, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, triethoxylsilylethyl polydimethylsiloxyethyl hexyl dimethicone, acrylates/polytrimethyl siloxymethacrylate copolymer,, lauryl PEG-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl diomethicone, EDTA-2Na, methylparaben, propylparaben.

This is the description of the product on Sasa:
--Light sunscreen moisture milk which protects and hydrates skin against harmful sunlight
--Contains effective moisturizing ingredients, Hyaluronic acid and Collagen, which help keep skin soft and moisturized even after long hours of sunlight
--Enriched with carrot extract, Vitamin B1,B2 and C, to maintain smooth and healthy skin
--Effective protection against harmful UVA and UVB
--Low irritation, suitable for daily outdoor activities

ETA: I found this ingredients list at this Cosmetics Ingredients Collection blog:
http://blog.tianya.cn/blogger/post_show.asp?idWriter=0&Key=0&BlogID=575356&PostID=14716503
It varies slightly from the above and am posting it here for you to make up your own mind... See below

Active ingredients:
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6.48%
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate 0.72%
Zinc Oxide 5.94%
Other ingredients:
Water, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopherol Acetate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cyclopentasiloxane/Silica/Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone/Methicone/Triethoxysilyethyl Polydimethyl Siloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate (and) Cyclopentasiloxane,Triethylhexanoin, Panthenol continued >>