Sofina Jenne UV Day Protector SPF50+ PA+++

The Sofina brand falls under Kao's conglomerate, one of the oldest and largest cosmetic companies in Japan. My earliest memories of Sofina consist of my sister's Holy Grail facial wash in our elementary school days. She is a fuss-free beauty product gal, but surprisingly she always asked for this particular Sofina wash (perhaps replaced by the current Sofina Cleanse line) when our mother visited Hong Kong. It came in a tiny, simple white tube, but it was a really superb face wash. I can still remember the lovely scent, which I've never been able to find in other products.

From that experience, I gathered a very good impression of the brand. Sofina is famous for its Perfect UV sunscreen, which I can attest is really a great sun protection product. The brand is also known for base makeup (the discontinued popular Raycious is now replaced by Primavista) and gentle skincare that caters even to those with sensitive skin. The Very Very UV Cut sunscreen, from Sofina's Very Very line, used to be a grand favorite of mine. In 2010, Sofina released the Jenne line to replace Very Very. A short introduction taken from its website states:

"Sofina Jenne is a new skin care series developed specifically for women in their 20s. It retains ceramide, which tends to be insufficient in the inner skin, and promotes its functionality, leading to a fresh skin that retains moisture. 
Sofina Jenne proposes skin care most appropriate for skin properties in the 20s with the concept "Beautifying your skin in the 20s more than ever before.""

The lineup consists of eight products ranging from cleanser, lotions, sunscreens, and moisturizer. There are three types of sunscreens available and I opted for the UV Day Protector offering smooth finish and highest sun protection. I was discouraged by my dermatologist to use sunscreens other than Vanicream SPF 60 or Avene Mineral Cream SPF 50, but both are so greasy that I had to put powder on every day to prevent either products from sliding off my face. I really did not want to be putting on makeup on a daily basis, so even when this Jenne sunscreen contained alcohol, I forged ahead and took the plunge.

From what I gathered in its website, here are some details of the product:

"Moisturizer for daytime use to protect skin from UV rays and dryness for application after lotion in the morning
Retains hydration during daytime and helps maintain foundation longer
"ADVAN" UV-barrier technology*3 to protect a deeper layer of the skin from damage
ADVAN: anti-damaging uv-A network
• Formulated with ceramide care ingredient (moisturizer)*4
• Formulated with rosemary extract (moisturizer)
• Blends into the skin transparently
- Available for use as a makeup base
- Oil free
- Non-acnegenic formula
- Delicate floral-fruit scent
- Color free
[Type Comfortable application]
SPF24 Ⅰ. Non-greasy, light finish  Ⅱ. Non-greasy, moisturized finish
SPF50+ Non-greasy, smooth finish"

It comes in a simple white tube that is typical Sofina style. The lace imprint is a very nice touch in my opinion. I love every bit of it. 

The 30ml bottle is rationed to be good for three months. 

The dropper brings to mind a baby's milk bottle. Most Sofina milky sunscreens feature this design -- Sofina Very Very UV Cut, Sofina Rise UV Cut Milk, Sofina Beaute, and Sofina Perfect UV come to mind. The cap is designed as a frosted cover. This bottle is so handy it fits in my palm. There are also small metal balls inside the container to facilitate mixing better. Since this is a milky type sunscreen, shake, shake, and shaking it more is the method.

It comes out as a very liquid white fluid (this is commonplace for most Japanese milky sunscreens). Only about 2cm wide of product is necessary for the entire face. There is a nice flowery smell that accompanies this sunscreen. It spreads easily over skin and dries to a matte, invisible finish. There are no oily residues or white cast. Granted, I use a serum (as a veil of protection) underneath before applying any sunscreen. So far (fingers crossed), it gave me no problems at all, so I guess my doctor's warnings were just a bit over-cautious. I guess if your skin is not in any raw condition, this sunscreen is great to try, especially as it also doubles as moisturizer and makeup base. It kept my face shine-free throughout the day. I only have to blot my nose area once and that's it. I don't even use any kind of makeup over this sunscreen. I haven't tanned at all since using this which means it is also very effective in blocking off UV rays. In the morning, it's just serum + Jenne UV Day Protector and my face is good to go for the entire day.

Keep in mind also that Sofina introduces a range of products for different age groups, and the Jenne line is especially made to address concerns of women in their 20s; so for other age groups there are better options such as the Sofina Beaute line (30s), Grace Sofina line (40s), Sofina Whitening and Alblanc (whitening), etc.

Some more info.

Above is the ingredients list. The English translation can also be found in RatzillaCosme.

IOPE Moisture Skin Cleansing Foam

Iope, Korea's first cos-medical brand is an anti-aging line targeted toward women in their late 20s, and is one under Amore Pacific's wide umbrella of products. It is not as broadly distributed outside Korea like Etude House, Laneige, and Sulwhasoo are.  I got this sample tube of Iope Moisture Skin Cleansing Foam from a massive Laneige haul from Korea two years ago (thank you, S).

It comes in soft, smooth white tube with a blue screw-cap cover. (The full-sized product looks like it has a flip-top cover.) The design emphasizes simplicity and a dermatological/clinical approach.

The opening is small and allows controlled dispensing of product. I use this as a nighttime cleanser. The white thick, creamy product cleanses my skin well even without using an oil-based cleansing product beforehand. On a make-up free face (only sunscreen), this does a good job, but it won't be enough with full makeup on. The first time I used this, I saw a brightening effect after patting my face dry. This glow doesn't come all the time anymore since I started using it as an everyday cleanser. I get the brightening perk two out of ten times these days (not sure what activates it). In any case, it only lasts only about two minutes if it does happen. My face feels squeaky clean without the drying feeling after use. The amount of product is also important; one has to find his/her ideal. I used too little once and it didn't clean my face properly. But whenever I hit the right amount, it lathers satisfyingly (with some water) and cleanses great.

I would recommend this as a follow-up cleanser for those who want to double cleanse, and it's also good as a daily/nightly one-step cleanser for face with only sunscreen and skincare products, but NOT with makeup (it won't be enough on its own).