This Anessa sunscreen is the only one that was not upgraded in 2022, which is great because I bought it last year and forgot about it. After weeks of testing, I am ready to share my thoughts. 

The sunscreen contains exclusively chemical filters. There is also a considerable amount of moisture-retaining agents like glycerine. The key feature of the formula is its high content of skincare ingredients, among them tranexamic acid, which prevents sun damage and discolouration, skin-soothing liquorice root extract, and other antioxidant-rich plant extracts. The product contains alcohol, but there are no side effects to it. Instead, it feels rich and moisturising. The sunscreen has a pleasant, citrusy scent. 

I must say that this sunscreen has left me disillusioned. Upon application, for the first 45 minutes, it looks terrific, it acts like a second skin, a bit shiny in the T-zone and completely unnoticeable in the U-zone. However, after a couple of hours of wear, the seemingly perfect sunscreen turns into an oil slick, making my face unattractively lustrous. And that’s the outcome with only about a quarter of a teaspoon of the product. Blotting in-between applications doesn’t cut through the grease. If laid in more substantial amounts (above 2g), the sunscreen doesn’t set and leaves a shiny coating on the surface. Despite having a translucent finish, the sunscreen turns into a milky white fluid when mixed with sweat and exacerbates the unattractive finish.

I wouldn’t recommend this suncream; there are many other more affordable options that do a better job on the market. Ultimately, it’s a basic, beach type sunscreen. The only thing that makes it unique is the inclusion of tranexamic acid and various plant extracts. But, you could also buy a good sunscreen and use it over a serum with tranexamic acid. If you plan to get this Anessa sunscreen, I suggest applying it on bare skin or prepped with a watery toner or essence; otherwise, the sunscreen will not dry down properly and shift around.

Ingredients: COSDNA

The Anessa Whitening UV Sunscreen Gel SPF 50+ is available from Yesstyle.com [aff].