Local skincare brand Sukee Skin Essentials is under fire for its less-than-pleasant way of dealing with an honest negative review. In early October, content creator Jose Bryant Correa a.k.a. Wear Sunscreen on TikTok tested out the Sukee Skin Essentials UV Defense Sunscreen. His verdict? “It’s a big no for me,” according to his caption. But Sukee CEO and its online live sellers weren’t about to take that lying down. Here’s what happened.

The honest review that started it all

@jbvcorreait’s a BIG NO for me 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹♬ original sound – Wear Sunscreen 🌞

Correa listed the reasons why he wouldn’t recommend the local sunscreen despite it being affordable: It isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it produces a white cast so opaque he likened it to paint, and he isn’t sure if the SPF 50+ claim is legit. Plus, it keeps pilling too.

“This is one of the worst sunscreens na nakita ko sa TikTok,” said Correa. “Hindi ko alam kung kaninong skin tone ito babagay but for me, as someone na hindi super puti, this is not for me. Again, kung okay naman sa’yo to, continue using it.”

Sukee CEO and online sellers fire back

@talaga543 2 beses ng nadelete pero di papapigil #sukeesunscreen #wearsunscreen #daddylouie #trendingissue #issue #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #sukee #sukeeskinessentials ♬ Oh No – Kreepa

Instead of addressing the issue and looking into their formulation, Louiejay Baloc, Sukee CEO, along with several of his brand’s online sellers, chose to discredit Correa. In a now-deleted series of TikTok videos, Baloc’s camp made demeaning comments against the content creator. The group laughed at Correa’s physical appearance and even said that he has dirty skin that’s why the sunscreen keeps pilling.

“Imposible namang honest review. Hindi na, below the belt ka na,” said a salty Baloc.

In a separate live selling video, one of Sukee’s online sellers even referred to Correa as “Barney.”

Other content creators attempt to review Sukee Sunscreen

@jadhaily trying out the VIRAL sukee sunscreen on a moreno skin + physical or mineral sunscreen vs chemical sunscreen! which one is for you? #BeautyPH #LongerVideos #LearnItOnTikTok ♬ Quirky Suspenseful Indie-Comedy(1115050) – Kenji Ueda

As it turns out, Correa wasn’t the only one who didn’t like Sukee sunscreen. After his video, other TikTok content creators attempted to make their own reviews. One of which is Jadh Ong who attempted to try the sunscreen which claims to be “invisible” on the skin. On his moreno complexion, the white cast became more pronounced.

“Meron siyang titanium dioxide which means this is a physical or mineral sunscreen so meron talagang white cast,” said Ong after reading the sunscreen’s ingredients list.

Ong also explained that physical or mineral sunscreens only sit on the surface of your skin. And since Sukee sunscreen seems to be of the type, it’s naturally going to produce a white cast fit for a white lady. That being said, the standard two fingers of sunscreen application is virtually impossible to wear. Hence, the brand’s claim to be “invisible” isn’t adding up.

Netizens side with John Bryant Correa a.k.a. Wear Sunscreen

After Baloc blatantly engaged in an online hate campaign against Correa for his honest review, folks on TikTok showed their support for the latter.

“As a fan of ate Wear Sunscreen, she is the most trusted skincare or beauty care influencer that I know. She’s always honest in her reviews,” read one comment.

“Grabe naman tong si Louie e ang ayos ayos pa nang pananalita at pagkakasabi ni Wear Sunscreen don e,” said another.

“Bawal na ba ngayon mag honest review?” asked another TikTok user.

Netizens find creative ways to use Sukee sunscreen

@freddieuniverse_ Ayunnnn!! May purpose pala talaga sya guys kayo naman sobra kayo eh #sukeesunscreen ♬ original sound – Freddie royo

And if siding with Correa isn’t enough, TikTok users also started listing different ways their tubes of Sukee sunscreen could still work (just not as skincare). One netizen attempted to fill the cracks in their wall with the sunscreen.

“Ang tagal kong problema ‘tong dingding na ‘to, sunscreen niyo lang pala yung solusyon!” said TikTok user Freddie Royo.

Others gave hilarious suggestions in various comments sections:

“Actually, Sukee sunscreen the best for students. Pwede gawing liquid eraser,” said one.

“Ewan ko bat nila binabash ung Sukee sunscreen eh sobrang effective naman nya. Nakatipid nga kami eh, mahal kasi ng Boysen,” joked another.

“Let’s not bash Sukee. They don’t deserve this. Sobrang helpful nito to be your all-purpose cream alternative ngayong Pasko,” said yet another.

Sukee Sunscreen sellers issue an apology

Due to the backlash, the sellers were forced to upload videos of them apologizing to Correa:

@serzanty PUBLIC APOLOGY SUKEE SUNSCREEN VIRAL #viral #fyp #sunscreenviral #daddylouie #jbvcorrea #sukee #daddylouielangsakalam #sunscreenreview ♬ Storytelling – Adriel

Meanwhile, Baloc himself also uploaded a video addressing the mess and issuing his version of an apology:

@talaga543 Replying to @isat0kki here’s daddy louie’s side and apology #daddylouie #sukeeskinessentials #sukee #trendingissue #issue #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #wearsunscreen #sukeesunscreen ♬ original sound – Talaga – FordaGoGoGo

In the video, Baloc claimed Correa was deleting comments where users praised Sukee sunscreen and even blocking some of Baloc’s online sellers.

“Sabi ko pipigilan ko yung sarili ko. Ayokong pumatol. Kasi nga ayokong bumalik kung ano yung ugali ko talaga kasi baboy talaga yung ugali ko […] before. Alam ko na yung mangyayari, ako talaga at the end ‘yung magiging masama,” said Baloc.

“Humihingi ako ng sorry sa inyo. Marami man akong nasaktan, maraming mga live sellers. Lalo na si Wear Sunscreen, nasaktan man kita or ilang mga viewers rito, mga supporters na nasaktan ko, humihinigi ako ng pasensya. Galing sa puso ko yan,” he added.

No more official store

With all the flak it’s getting, it seems as if Sukee thought it better to hide in the meantime. The sunscreen disappeared from the Philippine market. It isn’t available on TikTok shop anymore. However, you can still grab a tube from resellers on Shopee, if your curious about its powers of painting white walls.

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