Kanebo TIFFA suncreen SPF50 PA+++

i decided to try this product out after reading a couple of reviews comparing it to Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protection Face & Body Lotion SPF 55 PA+++, which is my HG sunscreen. (I like the face & body version better because it's thinner/more lotiony feeling than creamy, and because you get more product for your money.) but... since i love trying out new products, i decided to give my HG a challenge with the Kanebo TIFFA sunscreen. i bought two kinds -- the TIFFA Silky Look and the Regular. (it comes in Regular, Silky, and Pearl.)

first impressions: omg, the bottle is so small (25 mL)! i knew how many mLs were in the bottle when i was ordering it, but it was when i actually had it in my hand that i realized how small it was. lets just say it's VERY airline friendly. LOL

application was very smooth. i have to agree with other reviewers that it's very similar to the Shiseido Face & Body SPF50 PA+++. TIFFA is actually a little bit more watery in my opinion -- its almost like latering your face with whole milk. but as with almost all sunscreens, there is an intial stage of greasy feeling as you're putting it on. HOWEVER, this disappears in less than a minute, leaving your face ready for primer and makeup!

overall, its a very good sunscreen but i'm not sure if it beats my HG. the performance is equivalent to the Shiseido (which says a lot). the price, however -- not so sure. Kanebo TIFFA costs approx $10 for a 25 mL (0.845 oz) bottle. Shiseido Face & Body costs $37 for a 3.3 oz (97.6 mL) bottle. that makes TIFFA slightly more expensive per oz/mL than Shiseido if you do the math. the only other thing to consider is - since TIFFA isn't readily available in the U.S., you may end up spending more for it w/ shipping costs from overseas companies (e.g., sasa.com).

the verdict: i like it but i'm not going to go out of my way to buy it if i run out. i'll restock only if i find a uber good deal online.

Price: $9.90 -11.00 (minus shipping)
Where to Buy: sasa.com, ebay
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Tip: good for people who normally don't like wearing sunscreen!

NOTE: just to refresh your memory about what SPF, PA, and +++ mean:

all sunscreens in the U.S. indicate a sun protection factor (SPF). SPF is a measurement of how much protection the product offers from UVB rays (the rays that cause sunburn). A few sunscreens (mostly asian brands) also list a "PA" ranking, which refers to the amount of protection you're gettting from UVA rays (the rays that cause aging and long-term skin damage). PA rankings are listed as PA+, PA++ or PA+++. The more +'s, the more protection from the harsh rays.** For my full shpiel on sunscreen and SPF, check out my previous sunscreen post.

(content edited from mayoclinic.com)