HABA • UV Protect • Sunscreen

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* iammao on 11/12/2009 2:23:00 PM more reviews by iammao

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I bought this on a whim during HABA's debut promotion here in Shanghai. I wanted a sunblock that was gentle enough to use on my eye area.

Most western brands don't do sunblock for the eye area while most Japanese sunblock that claim to be ok for eye area were mostly made up of alcohol.


I didn't want something heavy like a stick sunblock, though I was about to buy one until I bought the HABA UV Protect.


But this sunblock has been a dream to use so far. It's been smooth, providing quality and sufficient emollients while not being particularly shiny.

I've been using this almost daily for a week now around my eye area. No breakouts, no millia. Take note that I break out very easily from sunblock.

I've proceeded to use this on the rest of my face after HABA's 3 step skin care.


Texture: Smooth due to small amounts of silicone present. Non-oily, goes on well, doesn't disturb eye concealer application and staying power. On rest of face, it goes on smooth, amazingly light and leaves a very light dewy texture you would expect from a drop of HABA squalane. Depending on the weather, you may even get a matt glow. You can matt it down with powder or leave it as it is without it looking horrid. It has a very gentle lavender scent that does not smell synthetic.


This is a link to the ingredients list and its comedogenic factor. http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_595a17036.html

Few products in this world can be truly non-comedogenic. But this sunblock ranks lowest in comedogenic products compared to La Roche Posay UVIDEA which claims to be non-comedogenic yet still break me out terribly.

Application: I've tried two application methods - smoothing it over my skin and with 'printing' it all over with light presses. Both work fine. Although if you rub, really hard it may ball up. Like all sunblocks, please remove this with an oil cleanser, a soft muslin cloth and warm water to avoid residue. Please read my review on cleansing oils for my cleansing methods.


Colour: I'm usually very sensitive to white cast from sunblocks but I've not noticed a significant one from this. Having said that, it is autumn-winter now, and my skin is at about NC20/Nars Deauville. I'm not sure if it will leave a white cast on darker tones.



Background Info: I've had the worst luck with sunblocks. I've gone from multiple La Roche Posay lines to Australian brands and to Japanese brands. While the EU brands often left me with breakouts due to emollients, the Japanese brands killed my skin with the amount of alcohol and talc in their sunblock.


The closest sunblock that has kept me relatively breakout free and non-drying was Australian brand Kit Cosmetics' 30spf. But I still had problems with it being a little too emollient and needed a dusting of powder to keep it fresh during the day.


I also tan during the summer but always with spf. I have very few sun spots for someone who tans due to that but my eye area is showing up with some bad sun spots which is why I wanted so much to get a good sunblock for my eye area.


Verdict: This is the first sunblock that has been a dream to use. It is comfortable, non-oily and doesn't leave a shiny film. Yet you can feel the squalane and glycerin working its emollient properties.

This is working really well for my dehydrated and oily skin during this autumn-winter season. Keep in mind Shanghai is very humid even during the winter (50%-80% humidity). I've not broken out from using this on my face. So far this is a HG for eye area with no stinging or irritation.


I will be in Singapore in Dec and will update this review after I have tested it in humid tropical weather. Though I suspect it may fare well considering how my regular all weather sunblock now feels less comfortable compared to this during this gentle Shanghai autumn. But I'm curious seeing how other users have complained about it feeling oily.


While I feel this is HG material, I'm giving it 4 lippies until I get to test this in a tropical climate. Meanwhile, I'm really loving this! This is the first sunblock I actually look forward to using.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bubblysteph on 5/17/2008 6:25:00 AM more reviews by bubblysteph

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Received a few sample packets and I used once on my face only - this is greasy and oily. It simply sits on my skin and is not absrobed. My mom has the same conclusion as mine though she has dry skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Pickiis on 8/7/2003 5:11:00 AM more reviews by Pickiis

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

lucky i received this as a sample. it makes my face look very white, very un-natural. i agree that its oily, but its good coz i hav dry skin. but this sunscreen feels very sticky on my face.

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gelc on 7/17/2003 6:25:00 AM more reviews by gelc

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Oilly. I've combination skin.

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