CANMAKE vs Bioré UV: Which Japanese Sunscreen Works Better Under Makeup?

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Both of these are well-known Japanese drugstore sunscreens, and both, according to their own brands, can double as a makeup base. That’s actually where the comparison gets interesting: they’re not just competing on SPF, they’re built around different ideas of what a sunscreen should do for your skin before foundation goes on. CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV is a tinted, all-in-one gel; Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence is a colorless, fast-absorbing essence. Here’s what we could confirm about how each one is meant to work under makeup.

At a Glance: CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV vs Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence

Key Differences

The most obvious difference is color. CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV comes in several tinted shades in addition to a clear version, and the brand markets it as a moisturizing makeup base with UV protection that helps foundation “sit better and last longer.” Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence is colorless, and Kao’s own retail page also describes it as usable as a makeup base, but without any tint or tone-up claim attached. If you want a single step that adds a bit of color correction along with sun protection, CANMAKE’s format is doing more of that job. If you want an invisible layer that doesn’t affect the color you’re building with foundation on top, Bioré UV’s clear essence stays out of the way.

The UV filter approach also differs. Based on third-party ingredient data, CANMAKE combines chemical filters with mineral filters (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), while Bioré UV’s ingredient list we reviewed shows chemical filters only, with no mineral filters present. We did not find data comparing how these specific formulas perform under makeup, so we’re not drawing a conclusion about which filter type wears better, only noting that the underlying chemistry is different.

Alcohol content is another point worth flagging. Bioré UV’s ingredient list places ethanol fairly high, which is common in lightweight Japanese sunscreens and likely contributes to its fast-absorbing finish, but it’s also a detail some readers with alcohol-sensitive skin want to know. CANMAKE’s alcohol-free status is claimed by third-party retailers rather than confirmed on the brand’s own Japanese site, so we’re treating that specific claim as not verified.

Wearing Them Under Makeup: What We Could Confirm

Both brands’ own pages describe their product as functioning as a makeup base, so “does it work under makeup” isn’t really a point of difference, both are designed with that use case in mind. What we could find on the reader experience side is more limited: individual reviewers for both products reported that foundation applied smoothly on top without pilling, based on search-result summaries of blog reviews we did not independently fetch in full, so we’re treating these as informal, unverified reports rather than a tested comparison.

For Bioré UV specifically, some individual reviewers mentioned giving the essence sixty to ninety seconds to settle into skin before applying foundation, and noted that pilling was more likely if a rich moisturizer was layered underneath and makeup was applied too quickly afterward. We didn’t find an equivalent tip circulating for CANMAKE in the sources we reviewed, though that may simply reflect what search results surfaced rather than a real difference in how the two products behave. Neither of these represent a systematic test, so we’d treat both as helpful anecdotal tips rather than guarantees.

Key Ingredients and UV Filters

CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV lists ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate among its chemical filters and zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as mineral filters, per the third-party ingredient database we reviewed; CANMAKE’s own Japanese site lists a partial ingredient set before truncating with “and more,” so we were not able to confirm the complete list against the brand’s own page.

Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence relies on a set of chemical filters, including ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl triazone, and two additional UV-filtering compounds, per the ingredient list we reviewed, with no mineral filters present in that list. Kao’s official newsroom describes the current formula’s key moisturizing ingredients as hyaluronic acid and a vitamin C derivative.

Neither brand publishes filter concentrations on the pages we checked, so we can’t compare UV-filter strength ingredient by ingredient, only which filters are present.

Official How-to-Use Instructions

CANMAKE’s official directions say to apply the gel after cleansing, using it in place of lotion, serum, moisturizer, and a makeup base in one step, and to reapply every two to three hours for continued protection.

Kao’s official product page for Bioré UV says to apply it after your regular skincare routine, smoothing on a small amount at a time, and to reapply after sweating to maintain protection. Kao’s own caution notes advise against use if you have sensitive skin prone to reactions, and to stop use and consult a doctor if irritation occurs.

Who Each Sunscreen May Suit

CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV Is Likely a Good Fit If…

You want to combine sun protection, hydration, and a light tone-up or color-correcting step into one product, and you’re comfortable testing shades to find one that matches your skin. It may suit readers who want fewer steps before foundation.

Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Is Likely a Good Fit If…

You want a colorless sunscreen that won’t affect the shade of foundation applied on top, and you don’t mind a formula that contains alcohol. Its widely reported fast-absorbing, non-sticky finish may suit readers who prefer a very lightweight feel under makeup. Readers with alcohol-sensitive or very dry skin may want to check the full ingredient list first, per Kao’s own caution notes.

Price, Size, and Buying Notes

CANMAKE’s official Japanese site lists the Mermaid Skin Gel UV at ¥770 (tax included) for 40 g. CANMAKE’s official US site lists it at $12.00 for the same size, without an SPF/PA claim on the US packaging. It’s also sold through other retailers, including a European specialty shop at €18.95, where labeling and pricing can vary.

Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence didn’t have a confirmed official price for the current reformulated tube at the time of our research; a Japanese price-comparison site listed a 50 g size at around ¥840. In the US, Target listed a 1.7 oz size at $13.78 on sale ($24.12 regular price), with the packaging marked “imported.”

Both products are widely available at Japanese drugstores and through international retailers, but exact pricing, package size, and even labeled SPF can vary by region, so we’d recommend confirming the specific listing before buying either one.

Our Verdict

Both of these sunscreens are designed, by their own brands, to double as a makeup base, so the choice mostly comes down to color and texture preference rather than one being definitively “better” under makeup. CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV adds a tinted, tone-up option into the mix, with a hybrid chemical-mineral UV filter, while Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence stays colorless and leans on an all-chemical filter system with a widely reported fast, watery finish. Individual reviewer reports for both suggest foundation can go on smoothly without pilling, though neither claim is backed by controlled testing we could verify. If you want a bit of color correction built in, CANMAKE is the more direct pick; if you’d rather keep your base completely neutral and don’t mind an alcohol-containing formula, Bioré UV is the safer bet on that front. Readers with reactive or alcohol-sensitive skin should look closely at CANMAKE’s unconfirmed alcohol-free claim and Bioré UV’s confirmed ethanol content before choosing either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do both of these work as a makeup base?

Yes, according to each brand’s own site. CANMAKE’s English-language product page describes the Mermaid Skin Gel UV as a moisturizing makeup base with UV protection, and Kao’s official Japanese page for Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence states it also works as a makeup base (“化粧下地にも”). Neither claim has been independently tested by us.

Which one is more likely to pill under foundation?

We don’t have controlled test data for either. Individual reviewers for both products generally reported no pilling, and some Bioré UV reviewers specifically mentioned waiting sixty to ninety seconds after application before applying foundation to avoid it. We’d treat both as generally well-tolerated under makeup based on available reports, with the usual caveat that results depend on your skin and how much product you use.

Is the SPF the same in the Japan and US versions?

Not exactly, based on what’s shown on packaging. CANMAKE’s Japan-market site lists SPF50+ and PA++++, while CANMAKE’s US site doesn’t display an SPF or PA rating, citing US regulatory compliance. For Bioré UV, we weren’t able to confirm whether the US retail listing reflects the same UV filter formula as the current Japan version. If a specific, labeled SPF matters to you, we’d recommend prioritizing the Japan-market packaging for either product.

Does either contain alcohol?

Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence does. Ethanol appears fairly high in the ingredient list we reviewed. For CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV, third-party retailers describe it as alcohol-free, but we could not confirm this directly on CANMAKE’s own Japanese site, so we’re treating that specific claim as not verified.

Where can I buy them, and how much do they cost?

CANMAKE’s Mermaid Skin Gel UV is available through CANMAKE’s official Japanese site (¥770 for 40 g) and CANMAKE’s official US site ($12.00 for the same size, without SPF/PA labeling), plus other retailers. Bioré UV’s Aqua Rich Watery Essence is sold through Kao’s official channels and Japanese drugstores, and in the US through retailers like Target (around $13.78–$24.12 for 1.7 oz). We recommend checking the current listing for your region before purchasing either one.

Sources

• CANMAKE official English product page — source used for product information or editorial context (verified August 8, 2026).
• CANMAKE official Japanese product page — source used for product information or editorial context (verified August 8, 2026).
• Kao official Bioré product page — source used for product information or editorial context (verified August 8, 2026).