My skin used to be in great condition as long as I didn’t put anything on it. But since I’ve been taking birth control pills to relieve menstrual pain, I started developing more and more dark spots as a side effect. The reason: hormones in birth control pills can stimulate melanin production and lead to hyperpigmentation.
So at this age, I’ve finally committed to taking sun protection seriously.
This is my go-to daily Sunscreen ”Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence” from Japan! Ever since my best friend recommended it, I’ve been hooked. It feels so smooth and light that I honestly forget I’m even wearing sunscreen! It’s now available on Amazon.se, but I’ve never had to repurchase it myself because my best friend always brings it back for me as a souvenir when returning from Japan. Thank you!
Today I want to introduce an amazing sun stick – perfect for reapplying sunscreen after wearing makeup, for short trips outside or even as a primer! While searching for a popular, affordable products with cute packaging that I could buy from an Online Pharmacy in Sweden, I came across this perfect match for me: a Korean beauty item from TOCOBO that’s also well-loved in Japan! ↓
TOCOBO
Cotton Soft Sun Stick
This product gave me everything I was looking for! Here’s a list of the benefits in order of importance to me:
- The simple and cute packaging makes me want to carry it in my bag.
- Vegan-certified and gentle on the skin due to low skin irritation.
- High UV protection with SPF 50+.
- Feels smooth and light, like wearing nothing at all.
- Can also be used as a primer.
I bought it from apotea.se, but the delivery took a whole week – so another online shop might be a better option. (Apotea used to be fast, but lately their shipping has gotten really slow.)
I also got a lip balm! Since my lips started getting sunburned too, I decided to buy it this time. It’s colorless and claims to provide 24-hour hydration, so I thought it would be good and gave it a try.
Just to be fair, I’ll also share a product that didn’t work out for me!
🤦🏻♀️ Here’s a product that I tried but it didn’t suit me:
Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar
It barely made it into the Japanese rankings of Recommended sun sticks for 2025 and the product description said it wouldn’t be sticky. But for me, it felt sticky, made my skin look oily and shiny, and worst of all, caused breakouts – so I stopped using it after just one try.
I wasn’t really interested in cosmetics at all before, but because of the dark spots in my face, I didn’t want to make others feel uncomfortable – that’s just not okay! Since I’m not that into skincare, I’ve been buying products with cute packaging to keep myself motivated. So, with this cute sun stick I found, I’m hoping my sun protection goes well this summer. I’ll report back again soon!
This is how we make our Nordic Life Colorful! Enjoy your day!