Review: Rohto Mentholatum – Hada Labo UV White Gel SPF 50+ PA++++

Where to buy: Yesstyle offer it (affiliate link) HERE

Volume: 90g

Price: £14

Made in: Japan

Good for: I do think dry / combo skins will prefer this over oily skins (does give you a dewy look, especially if you add a lot (which you should).

Description: A lightweight cream-type moisturising Sunblock. The website states that this is an amazing 7-in-1 hydrating gel that replaces all steps of your skincare and can be used as a makeup primer. Personally I would still use a toner and a serum underneath. Yes this could be used as a makeup primer as this feels like a cream and does not ball up.

Contains (what they say): highly effective and photpstable chemical and physical UVB and UVA filters: Octinoxate, Parsol SLX, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Titanium oxide. They also say it contains a vitamin-c derivative (to work as an antioxidant to help boost sun protection). NOTE: What I like personally about this Sun block is that it contains 2 types of hyaluronic acid to provide the skin with some hydration while wearing. The reason why I like this is because I find a lot of sunblocks quite drying.

Who would like this?: Those with Dry skins and combo skins who want some hydration/moisture to their skin as a makeup primer OR someone who doesn’t like a long skincare regime in the morning so want to minimise their steps by perhaps removing their serum or moisturiser step and going straight into their sunblock.

White cast?: Nope. No white cast. (Note – I have an olive skin tone).

Packaging: Plastic tube with a screw cap. Did not come with a spatula.

Directions: Apply a suitable amount to cleansed skin. Pat in until fully absorbed. 

NOTE: The company state that this product is great for those who don’t like a long regime and state that this product can be placed straight after cleansing and ‘replace’ your toner, serum, moisturiser while protecting and hydrating the skin for the rest of the day (and of course providing SPF care). I think you could do this, but personally I would at least need to tone. I think even, especially for dry skins – a serum would still be needed. Perhaps oily skins would find it easier to minimise their steps when using this as it is like a moisturising/hydrating cream.

How I use it: I have my own spatula, so scoop the cream and I apply onto my neck and my face. This rubs in fine. I use a lot and this still rubs in fine.

Stings my eyes?: No, this didn’t sting my eyes. Even when I workout. This also doesn’t emulsify and drip down my face when I sweat in white liquid.

Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (hydration) NOTE: This contains, silicones which doesn’t bother me at all – I thought perhaps it would ball up a lot – it does depending on what products you use underneath.

UVA/UVB Filters: Octinoxate, Parsol SLX, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, titanium oxide

(Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoatePolysilicone-15Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine)

Full Ingredients: Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Ethanol, BG, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Penthylene Glycol, Polysilicone-15, Dimethacrylic Acid Glycol Cross Polymer, Bisethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C derivative), hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, hexyl diethylaminohydroxybenzoylbenzoate, polysilicone-13, phenoxyethanol, carbomer, TEA, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, EDTA-2Na, butyl carbamic acid iodide Propynyl, (Acrylate / Alkyl Acrylate (C10-30)) Crosspolymer, Titanium Oxide, Acrylics Copolymer Ammonium, Hydrous Silica, Hydroxide AL, Hyde Gen dimethicone, methyl paraben

NOTE: Skincarisma have a full breakdown of this product / ingredients list: HERE

Texture: This feels like a cream – like a face cream. Easy to rub in. But does give a dewy look on the skin i.e. this is NOT mattifying. This may ball up on you depending how much you use and what products you underneath. This takes the same kind of time to absorb as a regular cream does.

Fragrance?: Not strong at all. Not nauseating or heavy. Phenoxyethanol (fragrance / preservative), Triethanolamine (Masking, Surfactant, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent).

Good under Makeup: Have not used this under makeup as I don’t really wear it. The company states that this can be used as a primer. A subscriber of mine said that it balled up under their foundation. I do think it all depends on the product you use underneath and what foundation you use.

How long have I been using this?: 4 weeks

Overall Effect: A hydrated, smooth skin. I use this as a moisturiser in the morning.

What I like:

• No strong fragrance
• No white cast
• Does not emulsify when I sweat
• Did not sting my eyes
• Absorbs the same way a cream does, so not ridiculously fast, but good enough
• Can be used as a primer
• Does not ball up
• Spreads easily
• Not sticky

What I don’t like:

• Unsure about the UVA protection (My friend Cyrille Laurent on Instagram expressed this issue) – he recommends the Anessa Sun gel instead
• Didn’t come with a spatula
• Not great for oily skins, especially in hot and humid weather – this is because you may be inclined to use less to enable the skin to breath more HOWEVER with sunblock I absolutely think applying more than usual is way better than applying less than usual – so it may encourage oily skins or skins in hot and humid weather to apply less.
• I’m not 100% sure on whether I like sunblocks in tubs or tubes better. I think I prefer tubes.
• This does give me a shine / dew so I can sometimes look sweaty (and I’m not very oily at the moment)
• This may ball up depending on what products you use underneath.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: A good moisturiser which just so happens to be a sunblock! I like it when my sunblock doesn’t stink of that classic sunblock smell, this doesn’t give me a headache or make my skin feel like it can’t breath. Yes it gives a shine and a dew BUT everything else about the texture, smell and feel of this has been good. Once again, dry skins in drier weather may appreciate this more.

Would I repurchase?: I would, if it didn’t give me as much as a shine/dew (i’m very picky about this) – so I still prefer my Missha Aqua Sun Gel (blue bottle). But I may repurchase this perhaps during the very cold and dry months.