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AKT Therapy Lip Balm + Face Stick SPF 30
AKT Therapy

AKT Therapy Lip Balm + Face Stick SPF 30

SPF 30Efficacy60/100IrritancyMedium·1 UV filter
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Works for

1 of 2 advertised claims delivered

Sun protection
SPF 30 · 1 UV filter · Broad spectrum
Weak protectionLow zinc dose
SPF 30Broad spectrumMineral filters

This product uses a single UV filter (zinc oxide) in a relatively low concentration and might not be able to provide a reliable sun protection.

This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.

UV spectrum
UVB290–320 nmUVA II320–340 nmUVA I340–400 nm
Zinc Oxide
FilterCoverageWhat it doesEst. amount
Zinc Oxide Mineral UVBUVA Photo-stable A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant13%
Reef-safe
No oxybenzone or octinoxate — the two filters banned in Hawaii, Florida Keys and Aruba.
Moisturizing
Hippophae rhamnoides oil, Beeswax + 5 more
Good evidence
What the product description says
“Cocoa Butter is an antioxidant powerhouse, and is also rich in fatty acids, providing deep hydration.”
Source: Carbon Beauty

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: beeswax, cocos nucifera oil.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

Hippophae rhamnoides oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighA good emollient. Contains various ingredients including vitamins and fatty acids that could work in the skin to neutralize free radicals and minimize moisture loss - if enough of these compounds is able to penetrate the skin in an active form.~2.1–3.2%
BeeswaxKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~4.1–6.2%
Cocos nucifera oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~2.9–4.3%
Theobroma cacao seed butterKey active· EmollientEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect~0.5–1.15%
Persea gratissima oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function~1.3–1.9%
Ricinus communis seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency~1–1.6%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.1–0.35%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Calendula officinalis flower extract, Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Calendula officinalis flower extractA plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritatingHigh~23–35%est.
Hippophae rhamnoides oilA good emollient. Contains various ingredients including vitamins and fatty acids that could work in the skin to neutralize free radicals and minimize moisture loss - if enough of these compounds is able to penetrate the skin in an active form.High~2.1–3.2%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~1.3–1.9%est.
Persea gratissima oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier functionMedium~1.3–1.9%est.
Ricinus communis seed oilA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistencyMedium~1–1.6%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~2.9–4.3%est.
Theobroma cacao seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect3/5~0.5–1.15%est.
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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Zinc oxide13%
UV filterKey active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

More about Zinc oxide
Calendula officinalis flower extract~23–35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating

More about Calendula officinalis flower extract
Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil~5.5–8.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil
Beeswax~4.1–6.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Beeswax
Cocos nucifera oil~2.9–4.3%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil
Hippophae rhamnoides oil~2.1–3.2%
Key activeIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A good emollient. Contains various ingredients including vitamins and fatty acids that could work in the skin to neutralize free radicals and minimize moisture loss - if enough of these compounds is able to penetrate the skin in an active form.

More about Hippophae rhamnoides oil
Parfum~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Persea gratissima oil~1.3–1.9%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function

More about Persea gratissima oil
Ricinus communis seed oil~1–1.6%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-inflammatory

A plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency

More about Ricinus communis seed oil
Theobroma cacao seed butter~0.5–1.15%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-dandruff

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect

More about Theobroma cacao seed butter
Mixed
Not recognized
Tocopherol~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-agingAnti-inflammatoryMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Ingredient list view

Zinc oxide, Calendula officinalis flower extract, Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil, Beeswax, Cocos nucifera oil, Hippophae rhamnoides oil, Parfum, Persea gratissima oil, Ricinus communis seed oil, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Unknown, Tocopherol

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Carbon Beauty
$20.00
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Product summary

We are worried that "AKT Therapy - Lip Balm + Face Stick SPF 30" might not be able to provide reliable sun protection because it uses a single UV filter (zinc oxide) in a relatively weak concentration.

Sunscreen filters

This lip sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen. It uses zinc oxide for sun protection. Zinc oxide almost never irritates the skin or stings eyes, but it can leave a white cast.

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this lip product to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails for 20.00$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 15 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  2. 2
    Risk assessment of zinc oxide, a cosmetic ingredient used as a UV filter of sunscreensncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen productsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Ultraviolet Protection Properties of Commercial Sunscreens and Sunscreens Containing Zno Nanorodsiopscience.iop.org
  5. 5
    ZnO nanoparticles and organic chemical UV-filters are equally well tolerated by human immune cellsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Topical application of Calendula officinalis (L.): Formulation and evaluation of hydrophilic cream with antioxidant activitypdfs.semanticscholar.org
AKT Therapy Lip Balm + Face Stick SPF 30
AKT TherapyLip Balm + Face Stick SPF 30
Buy at Carbon Beauty$20.00Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy at Carbon Beauty$20.00Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.