Best sunscreens in Malaysia
A cardinal rule of skincare – and one that our Asian mums have force-fed us since we were primary school kids – is that sunscreens are to be worn every. Single. Day. And that fact is non-negotiable. Sun protection is crucial, and in a scorcher of a place like Malaysia, you’ll want to make sure your skin is slathered up with SPF.
While we have already included a few of our top Korean SPF picks in our list of best Korean skincare you can get in Malaysia, there’s a whole lot more options that you can get your hands on in Malaysia.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a lightweight serum-like one that won’t paint your face white or a mattifying one that won’t slide off your face in mere hours, we got you covered with this list of the best sunscreens in Malaysia.
Table of Contents
- Best sunscreens in Malaysia
- What is SPF?
- What sunscreen is the best in Malaysia?
- – For lightweight everyday wear –
- 1. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen
- 2. Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
- 3. Anua Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen
- 4. LAGOM Cellus Sun Gel
- – For dry & dehydrated skin –
- 5. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
- 6. Shiseido Perfect Sun Protector Lotion
- 7. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
- 8. Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
- – For oily/combination skin –
- 9. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen
- 10. Make P:rem UV Defense Me Calming Sun Cream
- 11. Celimax Pore + Skin Clarifying Daily Sunscreen
- – For sensitive skin –
- 12. Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Moisturizing Sunscreen
- 13. Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
- 14. Haruharu wonder Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen
- – For toning up & brightening-
- 15. Beplain Sunmuse Tone-up & Correcting Sunscreen
- 16. Innisfree Vitamin C Tone Up Sunscreen SPF50+
- 17. Torriden Balanceful Cica Tone Up Sun Cream
What is SPF?
If you’re a newbie in the world of sun protection, there are several things to take note of when shopping for the right sunscreen for your skin.
First, let’s talk sun protection factor, or SPF, which guards your skin against UVA and UVB rays. SPF 30 is the minimum recommended formula for harsh heat in a country like Malaysia. Meanwhile, SPF of 50 or higher would provide more protection against the rays.
What sunscreen is the best in Malaysia?
Whether you have oily, dry, combination or sensitive skin, or you’re looking for something to brighten, hydrate, mattify or simply provide fuss-free everyday protection, there’s an SPF out here in Malaysia for you.
We broke down some of the important deets of each type of sunscreen to use that will be best for you, and brands to get below:
– For lightweight everyday wear –
1. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen
Image credit: Kokoro Japan
Biore’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen is weightless, effective, and affordable – it’s no wonder this is a holy grail sunscreen for many for years and years.
This Japanese water-based sunscreen is infused with Royal Jelly Extract to smooth and brighten the skin, and hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. Texture-wise, it is so lightweight that it’s nearly undetectable when applied to the skin, making it a perfect sunscreen base for makeup applications with a dewy finish.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM35
Get this sunscreen at Watsons & Guardian.
2. Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum
Image credit: Skin1004
If the thought of slathering on sunscreen every morning makes your skin feel heavy before the day has even begun, SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum might just change your mind. True to its name, this SPF has a lightweight, serum-like texture that spreads effortlessly across the skin and sinks in quickly, leaving behind a fresh, dewy finish without the dreaded greasy feeling.
The formula combines Centella Asiatica and hyaluronic acid, with the brand’s Hyalu-Cica blend helping to soothe and hydrate the skin while you get your daily dose of sun protection. It also leaves little to no white cast, making it an easy pick for everyday wear, even if you’re layering it under makeup.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM89
Get this sunscreen at Watsons & Sasa.
3. Anua Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen
Image credit: Skin Cupid
Another one that gives you plenty of hydration without the tell-tale white cast: Anua Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen is one to have on your radar. Its creamy yet lightweight texture spreads easily across the skin and blends in without much fuss, leaving behind a comfortable, moisturised finish rather than a greasy film.
The formula is also packed with skin-loving ingredients, including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, to help keep skin hydrated while supporting a smoother, more even-looking complexion.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM79
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
4. LAGOM Cellus Sun Gel
Image credit: Olive Young
LAGOM Cellus Sun Gel is a lightweight alternative that feels more like a skincare step than a traditional SPF. Its gel-like texture glides easily across the skin and absorbs quickly, leaving behind a fresh, moisturised finish without making your complexion look overly shiny.
The formula is also infused with LAGOM’s Cellupin Complex, alongside hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, to help keep skin feeling supple and moisturised throughout the day.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM82
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
– For dry & dehydrated skin –
5. Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
Image credit: Terrain
When a brand labels their sunscreen as “unseen”, you best believe that people will be eager to challenge that notion. Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen did exactly that. And also delivered.
The ingeniously formulated sunscreen has a gel-like consistency that dries down on the skin to give a perfectly iridescent sheen. It is also pretty much invisible, making it the ideal sunscreen for all skin tones and types of complexions. Besides fighting off harmful rays, this sunscreen also hydrates the skin like a beast, with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and niacinamide.
Fans of the product claim that it performs amazingly as a makeup primer too. So if you’re feeling a little lazy to don a full makeup, slather this sunscreen on and you’ll be rocking the perfect “no-makeup makeup” look.
SPF: 50
Price: From RM118
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
6. Shiseido Perfect Sun Protector Lotion
Image credit: Shiseido
The Shiseido Perfect Sun Protector Lotion is an adorable darling that fits perfectly in your travel pouch or purse. Its application is a breeze too – the light gel texture goes on the skin like butter, lays completely clear on the skin, and dries down to give a natural velvety finish.
Made with Shiseido’s SynchroShieldRepair™ Technology, the sunscreen is designed to maintain its protective veil when exposed to warm and humid places – ahem, Malaysia – while helping to support the skin’s barrier. It also contains Hypotaurine, an antioxidant ingredient that helps protect skin from oxidative stress caused by environmental factors.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM210
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
7. Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
Image credit: Round Lab
Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen is an easy one to get behind. The formula is built around birch sap, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, with birch sap helping to replenish moisture while multiple hydrating ingredients keep skin feeling soft and comfortable throughout the day. It also contains allantoin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to help soothe the skin, making this a particularly nice pick for dry or easily irritated complexions.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM142
Get this sunscreen at Watsons & Guardian.
8. Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream
Image credit: StyleKorean
We love a good product with a good steal, and one that marries affordability with efficacy is the Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream. The sunscreen contains a whopping 5,500ppm of aloe vera leaf extract, meaning you can rely on it to not only protect your skin from sunlight exposure, but also provide a barrier of powerful moisture layer that’s also deeply soothing. Talk about a king multitasker.
Some users claim that the sunscreen leaves a slight greasy film after application, but for its efficacy, a little extra effort to blot them away with some blotting sheets is nothing.
SPF: 50
Price: RM50
Get this sunscreen at Watsons.
– For oily/combination skin –
9. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen
Image credit: Neutrogena
For its price point, the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen does wonders. Its hero and active ingredient helioplex is a broad spectrum formulation for UVA and UVB protection – meaning that it offers high SPF that blocks out damaging UV rays like no other.
The oil-free and non-comedogenic formula also ensures a non-greasy texture that will not clog your pores.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM51.30
Get this sunscreen at Watsons, AA Pharmacy & Neutrogena stores.
10. Make P:rem UV Defense Me Calming Sun Cream
Image credit: Ms Dumbo Beauty
Make P:rem UV Defense Me Calming Sun Cream pulls off the impossible by coupling mineral filters with a weightless consistency.
With this sunscreen, a little goes a long way – a pea-sized dollop or two is good enough to cover the entire face, without leaving a tacky, white film. The product also contains bamboo sap for moisturising effects, as well as moringa seed extract for skin-purifying benefits.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM85
Get this sunscreen at Guardian.
11. Celimax Pore + Skin Clarifying Daily Sunscreen
Image credit: @celimax.global via Instagram
If your T-zone tends to get shiny before lunchtime, Celimax Pore + Skin Clarifying Daily Sunscreen could be the SPF your oily or combination skin has been waiting for.
The formula contains 5% niacinamide to help brighten and refine the appearance of pores, alongside 1% tranexamic acid to target the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone. There’s also 1% panthenol to provide some soothing hydration, while silica helps give the lightweight formula a less greasy feel.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM79
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
– For sensitive skin –
12. Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Moisturizing Sunscreen
Image credit: Olive Young
Dr. Jart+ is well-known as one of the first Korean skincare brands to make an impact globally, so there is a fair amount of expectation for Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Moisturizing Sunscreen to deliver. And deliver it did.
Unlike its popular mineral sunscreen counterpart, this one has a lightweight, moisturising texture that spreads easily across the skin without leaving behind a chalky white cast. It also leaves the complexion looking fresh and dewy rather than overly shiny, making it an easy layer under makeup or on its own for everyday wear.
The formula is packed with skin-loving ingredients too, including niacinamide and a blend of hydrating ingredients, which help keep skin feeling soft and moisturised throughout the day.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM85
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
13. Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk
Image credit: myeppo
Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk is one that fussy SPF-users rave about and loyal fans swear by.
This well-acclaimed sunscreen now comes with Triple Defense Technology, which helps strengthen its UV protection veil against heat, sweat and water – particularly handy for anyone spending time outdoors in Malaysia’s hot and humid weather. The formula also contains 50% skincare ingredients to help keep skin moisturised while protecting it from UV rays, so you’re getting more than just sun protection in every application.
This particular milky version has a smooth and runny consistency that spreads along the skin well, making it suitable for people with dry skin.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM135
Get this sunscreen at Watsons & SASA.
14. Haruharu wonder Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen
Image credit: Haruharu Wonder
If your skin is easily irritated by sunscreen, Haruharu wonder Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen is the kind of gentle SPF worth keeping on your radar. Unlike many chemical sunscreens, this one relies on non-nano zinc oxide as its sole UV filter, providing broad-spectrum protection while being specifically clinically tested for sensitive skin. It has a lightweight cream texture that leaves a smooth, satin finish, though you may notice a slight white cast initially before it blends in.
The formula also packs in plenty of skin-soothing and moisturising ingredients, including black rice-infused oil, heartleaf extract, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate and ceramide NP. Black rice helps provide antioxidant care, while heartleaf is there to soothe and moisturise skin, making this a particularly appealing option when your complexion is feeling a little temperamental.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM84
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
– For toning up & brightening-
15. Beplain Sunmuse Tone-up & Correcting Sunscreen
Image credit: Olive Young
A Korean SPF that checks all the boxes, Beplain Sunmuse Tone-up & Correcting Sunscreen has a creamy lotion-like consistency and ample slip, helping it glide smoothly on your skin during application. While the sunscreen is light and moisturising on the skin, it does not leave your face looking like a grease factory. Instead, you’ll find a healthy subtle glow once the sunscreen dries down.
The sunscreen is also formulated with purple carrot extract, which is rich in antioxidants and helps protect the skin from environmental stressors. If you’re looking to shave a step off your morning skincare routine, its moisturising formula can also double as a hydrating base, while the tone-up finish gives your complexion a brighter, more even appearance without needing a separate makeup base.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM84
Get this sunscreen at Sephora.
16. Innisfree Vitamin C Tone Up Sunscreen SPF50+
Image credit: Innisfree
We said this before and we’ll say it again – Korean brands are truly the golden standard when it comes to extra soothing sunscreens. Here’s yet another coveted one: Innisfree’s Vitamin C Tone Up Sunscreen SPF50+.
While its texture is slightly creamier than your typical lightweight chemical sunscreen, it spreads easily across the skin and leaves behind a subtle tone-up effect that helps brighten and even out your complexion. The formula is also infused with Vitamin C derivatives to help improve the appearance of dull skin, alongside niacinamide and green tea extract to support a healthy-looking complexion.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM91
Get this sunscreen at Watsons & Innisfree stores.
17. Torriden Balanceful Cica Tone Up Sun Cream
Image credit: @torriden via Instagram
If your idea of , Torriden Balanceful Cica Tone Up Sun Cream helps in brightening your complexion in a more effortless way than piling on another layer of makeup. This lightweight sunscreen uses a subtle green-toned colour correction to help counter the appearance of redness and sallowness, leaving your complexion looking more even and naturally brighter, rather than obviously “whitening” your skin.
It’s not all about the instant glow either. The formula contains niacinamide for brightening, alongside Torriden’s 5D Cica Complex, panthenol and allantoin to help soothe and moisturise the skin. It’s also fragrance-, oil- and paraben-free.
SPF: 50+
Price: RM101
Get this sunscreen at Watsons.
Best sunscreens to get in Malaysia
If you were oblivious about the importance of wearing broad-spectrum sunscreens before reading this article, you should be well aware by now that sunscreens are more than a necessity – it is a part of a lifestyle.
To help you out on your daily sunscreen application, we have compiled this list of the best face sunscreens that you can get in Malaysia that does all that SPF magic – glides on your skin like a dream, layers your makeup amazingly, never burns your eyes, and most importantly, prevents the unrelenting Malaysian sunrays from damaging your skin.
Cover image adapted from: myeppo, Shopee & Glow Recipe UK
This article was first published on 19th March 2024, and updated on 1st October 2026.