Beware fake Biore Watery Essence

[HyperStella]

I got badly sunburnt on my face the other week and I think it’s because my Biore suncream is fake. I have used this product for several years, and have bought from various sellers on amazon and eBay with no problem til now. I just wanted to post some pics so that you know not to rely on this product if it looks similar to mine. In all pics, the dodgy one is on the left. Even the colour is different (white not yellow). I feel a little foolish for not noticing.

Also, any advice what I should do about this? I have contacted the amazon seller and they are investigating but should I do anything else? I’m pretty cross as I’m so careful with my facial sunscreen what with being in my 40s and using acids and scrubs. I have been using this during the recent hot weather and as well as the sunburn I have a faint melasma coming

I guess it could be a very old product rather than fake

That looks just like the one I use. Worried it's fake now

Thanks, OP - this is useful.

I have the one on the left...

@HyperStella it’s definitely a fake. I got one too from eBay. It may not necessarily be the sellers fault. Apparently all the real and fakes are dumped off in the same box at the amazon warehouse so you may have just been unlucky.

Don’t recommend buying on amazon again.

Also the fake one smells of mayonnaise and glue if anyone is trying to identify a fake.

The real should smell like citrus and faintly of alcohol.

Really want to get this, but the reviews on amazon turned me off. Seems there's a lot of fakes around.

Weird. I have the left hand side design which I bought when I was in Japan. It seems fine...

But that was about a year ago so old stock may be correct.

@cinammonbuns any idea of a reliable source please? I love this product

I would like a reliable source please

I have the one on the left, however, it looks like the actual cream on the right and smells of citrus. Also haven’t burnt yet.

The left hand with the brush script is the 2018/19 version: www.kao.com/global/en/news/products/2018/20181219-001/

Yours may also be fake of course!

I buy it from Yesstyle to give my skin a break from Purito Green Level, which I prefer in general.

You can order it form amazon.jp (it is actually straight from japan so no fakes). You just log in with your amazon uk details.

I ordered during peak CV time when international shipping times were supposed to be at the worst and it came within a week (including a bank holiday weekend). Couldn’t recommend it more.

I ordered it with 3 other things to reduce shipping costs. It came to about £10 including shipping for the large version (85g) or the sunscreen.

@superram yes yours may be real. The packaging on the left is copying one version of the real packaging. The real one has had some packaging redesigns.

If it smells like citrus then it’s probably real.

I think I’ve got a fake too! Been using this stuff for years but I just opened a new one this morning, it’s the same packaging as the one on the left, the cream is white, not citrusy and there also wasn’t a foil cap. Urgh, off to order another one I guess. I’m glad you posted this as I’d probably not have noticed if I hadn’t been on the lookout for differences!

Ooh just checked and mine seems to be ok! Phew
But really useful for future orders! Thanks

I ordered mine through the Guardian/Sali Hughes column link - it looks like the fake one on the left, but smells ok?

Personally, I would only buy creams online from high street shops, eg Boots or Superdrug online or a reputable decent company and NOT Ebay or Amazon. I usually buy in person, such as in a shop or department store (pre-shutdown) however now, I would stick to the well known and reputable companies!

Does anyone have any alternative suggestions to this sunscreen? I’ve always really loved it but can’t be doing with ordering and potentially getting fakes. I’d rather just find something I can get from boots or similar.

I think I might try the Avene factor 50 once my biore has run out
I have really sensitive skin and love the other avene stuff so will give it a go

I use Isdin Photo Ultra Age Repair. I have rosacea and react to a lot of products but this is really good. I top it up with a powder sunscreen on top.

I have this and it's lovely, but not cheap:
frezyderm

Were you using it while swimming or were you sweating alot when you used it? Just be aware that Biore is marketed as a daytime sunscreen basically for home to office. It's not waterproof, sweatproof or suitable for sustained periods in the sun, on the beach etc. Its basically a city block. Just thought I'd mention it in case you were in and out of a pool when you burned, it may not be fake in that case
La Roche Posay Anthelios is fantastic if you are looking for an alternative

Frezyderm, avene and LRP are nothing like Biore WE tbh

They might not be the same - it's just a suggestion. I use the frezyderm for the same thing as I used my BWE - sunscreen that I can use on my face that has a nice texture and doesn't give me an acne breakout.

I had one tube of BWE but the worry that it might be fake, and waiting weeks for it to get here after ordering it, put me off getting it again.