NOV UV Milk EX SPF32 PA+++

I have mentioned on my last sunscreen group review that I am always on the hunt for the next best physical sunscreen, now that summer (during which nothing works except for the greasy Anessa) is over, I can finally switch back to cosmetically elegant and less potent formula. Nov is a brands that I spotted at select drugstores while travelling in Japan, I didn't pay much attentionbecause let's face it, it's impossible to keep track and haul "all teh things" while travelling in sunscreen-lala-land.  After coming back to US and randomly browsing Weibo, a user (personal account, not some influencer) mentioned how this is such a non-taxing formula on her irritable skin. 

I had no choice but getting one ($10 markup...ouch) for research purposes. It's regularly 2000yen a piece for 35g of products. In terms of unit price it's somewhat expensive (Anessa is 2800yen for 50ml) but from my past experience, you get what you pay for, at least when it comes to Japanese sunscreen. 

The box is a paper one in matching Tiffany teal, the top says it's a sun protection milk without any UV absorbing agent(Free of chemical sunscreen). While NOV doesn't sound too familiar, it's owned by Noevir which has it's own (more expensive) skincare line. If it doesn't ring a bell, the corporation also has Sana (Excel and those soybean skincare lines) under its umbrella.

Nov UV milk ex comes in a easily squeeze bottle with small opening. The product is easy to carry and has no fragrance detected (I can't smell anything).

The ingredient list is very short and I can only recognize Zinc Oxide. Even though cyclopentaxilosane is the second ingredient (after water) the sunscreen doesn't have a dry-oily texture. 

Instead, the UV milk squeezes out like a light gel, it's a little moisturizing and calming but it absorb fully into an invisible, somewhat mattifying (yet not drying) finish. It's evens out skintone a little (but isn't a full on geisha cast) and the dry, smoothing texture is perfect for concealer and powder on top.

The formula form a protective film quickly and stays on for a whole day. As with many physical sunscreen, I feel I need some oil formula to fully break it down (even though it's not marked as waterproof). The texture should be good for oily skin or when you have many moisturizing layer underneath. Sometime, I use a tiny bit on top of the forever-greasy Anessa so it helps drying down the finish a bit. 

It should be good for my (oilier) skin during summer but the protection is too low for my lifestyle. I think this is a wonderful formula that I can commit to everyday, I just wish the SPF is higher. 

There is a little base control primer and it's seems to have more silicone and an brightening yellow tone (you know how many yellow foundation by western brand are dulling on pale Asian skin, the NOV primer does the opposite). Since the sunscreen milk offer enough of that natural, tone evening effect. I don't find the primer that helpful. I suppose I can use it for the eyelids, to balance out the dark circle.