PRODUCT REVIEW

Almay Smart Shade CC Primer, SPF 15 Lift

Works for:

based on ingredients and %

Moisturizing

Doesn't work for:

based on ingredients and %

Sun protection

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Niacinamide 0.65% - 1%Tocopherol 0.65% - 1%

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Product summary

"Almay Smart Shade - CC Primer, SPF 15 Lift" offers broad spectrum protection. It means that it protects from both UVA and UVB rays (you can remember UVB as "burning" sunlight - they cause sunburn. You can remember UVA rays as "aging" - they do not lead to sunburn, but they cause photodamage and contribute to early signs of skin aging and hyperpigmentation). On the negative side, the SPF of this product is not high enough. We recommend to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily.

Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream.

Sunscreen filters

This product is a mineral sunscreen. It uses titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for sun protection. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide almost never irritate even the most sensitive skin and eyes, but can leave a white cast.

Irritation risk

There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this 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 12.49$ in the United States.

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What can the product work for?

Works for

Moisturizing

Does not work for

Sun protection

Moisturizing

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, thermus thermophillus ferment.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, methicone.

methicone 0.65% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A type of silicone that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduces the water loss from the skin surface

phenyl trimethicone 3.7% - 4.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture

thermus thermophillus ferment 0.75% - 1.15%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Might be helpful in neutralising free radicals in skin and have some hydration properties

Sun protection

This product offers broad spectrum sun protection, but it is weak. We recommend to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30.

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.

zinc oxide 3.3%

Irritation risk:

UVA I protection: UVA II protection: UVB protection: Photo stable: Ingredient type Mineral

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

titanium dioxide 29% - 35%

Irritation risk:

UVA I protection: UVA II protection: UVB protection: Photo stable: Ingredient type Mineral

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

iron oxides 0.2% - 0.35%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

niacinamide 0.65% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemish, Anti-aging, Reduces irritation, Reduces redness, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial

Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production

tocopherol 0.65% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-oxidation, Moisturizing, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-aging

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

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Potential irritants

polymnia sonchifolia root juice 0.7% - 1.05%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

A plant extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might have some anti-oxidant properties

peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone 3.1% - 3.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Cleansing

A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together

Comodogenic ingredients

polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate 0.65% - 1%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Works for: Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

All ingredients

titanium dioxide 29% - 35%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

zinc oxide 3.3%

Irritation risk:

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

water 12% - 14%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

Ingredient list view

Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phenyl trimethicone, Peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Glycerin, Boron nitride, Adipic acid/neopentyl glycol crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene glycol, Disteardimonium hectorite, Dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, Alumina, Dimethicone crosspolymer, Methyl acetylglycyrrhetinoyl hydroxyprolinate, Thermus thermophillus ferment, Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Polymnia sonchifolia root juice, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Unknown, Hydrolyzed triticum monococcum seed extract, Maltodextrin, Sodium chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, Methicone, Xanthan gum, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Isopropyl titanium triisostearate, Polymethyl methacrylate, Sodium citrate, Dipropylene glycol, Sodium benzoate, Tetrasodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Mica, Ci 77891, Iron oxides, Ci 77491, Unknown

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		84%	86%	86%	85%	85%	85%	84%	84%	84%	83%	83%
SPF	SPF 15	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 30	SPF 50	SPF 30	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 30	SPF 50	SPF 50
Key ingredients	niacinamide cyclopentasiloxane +9 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +5 more Other: adenosine ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +3 more	Common: niacinamide titanium dioxide +4 more Other: panthenol phytosphingosine +7 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +4 more Other: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid caprylic/capric triglyceride +1 more	Common: niacinamide glycerin +4 more Other: ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate adenosine +7 more	Common: niacinamide cyclopentasiloxane +3 more Other: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate kappaphycus alvarezii extract +5 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +4 more Other: butyrospermum parkii butter cocos nucifera fruit extract +7 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +5 more Other: adenosine ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +1 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +5 more Other: adenosine ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +3 more	Common: niacinamide glycerin +2 more Other: caprylic/capric triglyceride glycogen +3 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +3 more Other: bisabolol butyloctyl salicylate +3 more	Common: niacinamide dimethicone +3 more Other: betaine bisabolol +7 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	polymnia sonchifolia root juice Has skin benefit? tetrasodium edta Has skin benefit? +6 more	ci 19140 Has skin benefit? parfum Has skin benefit? +7 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? polysorbate 60 Has skin benefit? +12 more	propylene glycol Has skin benefit? phenylpropanol Has skin benefit? +12 more	alcohol Has skin benefit? pentylene glycol Has skin benefit? +5 more	buddleja officinalis flower extract Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +6 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? citric acid Has skin benefit? +5 more	melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil Has skin benefit? parfum Has skin benefit? +7 more	ci 19140 Has skin benefit? parfum Has skin benefit? +7 more	benzyl alcohol Has skin benefit? citric acid Has skin benefit? +7 more	sodium salicylate Has skin benefit? sodium citrate Has skin benefit? +9 more	benzoic acid Has skin benefit? potassium sorbate Has skin benefit? +9 more
All ingredients	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +42 more	water Has skin benefit? cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? +40 more	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +44 more	water Has skin benefit? c12-15 alkyl benzoate Has skin benefit? +39 more	water Has skin benefit? caprylyl methicone Has skin benefit? +33 more	water Has skin benefit? cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? +43 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +42 more	water Has skin benefit? titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? +43 more	water Has skin benefit? cyclopentasiloxane Has skin benefit? +40 more	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +26 more	water Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +30 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? water Has skin benefit? +39 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Almay Smart Shade CC Primer, SPF 15 Lift

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Sunscreen filters

Irritation risk

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Moisturizing

Sun protection

Honesty check

How honest is this product?

Buy now

US Retailers

Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

User reviews (0)

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

Sources