BIOTHERM SUN CARE FACE SPF30
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 7 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
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.
Anti-agingTocopherolStrong evidence
“Life Plankton strengthens skin's natural defense and protect against age, environmental aggressions and lifestyle attacks while strenghtening skin's self-protection function and preventing attacks on skin cells.”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · No ingredient credited for this claimStrong evidence
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · Dimethicone, Glycerin + 7 moreGood evidence
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, caprylyl glycol.
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, diisopropyl sebacate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy5 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Parfum + 3 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Glycerin~4.5–5.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinAlcohol denat.~4.2–5.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Octocrylene~3.6–4.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneEthylhexyl salicylate~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~2.5–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneDiisopropyl sebacate~1.6–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
More about Diisopropyl sebacateDimethicone~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeZea mays starch~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Used to thicken the product's consistency
More about Zea mays starchPropylene glycol~0.9–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolEthylhexyl triazone~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Uvinul T. A UV filter. Effective against UVB rays. It is photostable. Can increase water resistance properties of the sunscreen. Unfortunately, not approved by the FDA (US) yet
More about Ethylhexyl triazoneTriethanolamine~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolaminePotassium cetyl phosphate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphateParfum~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumSynthetic wax~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize product formulations and thicken product consistency
More about Synthetic waxStearic acid~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidTitanium dioxide~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Titanium dioxidePalmitic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it
More about Palmitic acidPeg-100 stearate~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateGlyceryl stearate~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateDrometrizole trisiloxane~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Mexoryl XL. A UV filter. Effective in the UVB and UVA range. It is stable. Unfortunately, not approved in the US yet
More about Drometrizole trisiloxanePhenoxyethanol~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTerephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Ecamsule, Mexoryl SX. A UV filter. Is effective mostly against the UVA rays. It is legally marketed in the US with the FDA approval since 2006, even though the ingredient is not on the official FDA list of the approved sunscreen active ingredients. It is photostable
More about Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acidCaprylyl glycol~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolAcrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerTocopherol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 TocopherolXanthan gum~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumDisodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Aluminum hydroxide~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to add opaque (non-transparent) appearance to formulations. Can be used to coat other ingredients for even dispersion. This is a different ingredient compared to the ones used in antipersperants (aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate)
More about Aluminum hydroxideLinalool~0.15–0.25%
Vitreoscilla ferment~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Myristic acid~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic
More about Myristic acidGeraniol~0.1–0.15%
Citral~0.05–0.1%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol denat., Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl sebacate, Dimethicone, Zea mays starch, Propylene glycol, Ethylhexyl triazone, Triethanolamine, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Parfum, Synthetic wax, Stearic acid, Titanium dioxide, Palmitic acid, Peg-100 stearate, Glyceryl stearate, Drometrizole trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, Caprylyl glycol, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Xanthan gum, Disodium edta, Aluminum hydroxide, Linalool, Vitreoscilla ferment, Myristic acid, Geraniol, Citral, Unknown
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Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "BIOTHERM - SUN CARE FACE SPF30" can offer reliable sun protection. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream. This product prevents early signs of aging by protecting against sun damage (all broad spectrum sunscreens do that).
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. The UV filters in this sunscreen are: avobenzone 2.50% - 3.10%, mexoryl xl 0.45% - 0.70%, octisalate 3.20% - 3.90%, uvinul t 1.10% - 1.40%, octocrylene 3.60% - 4.40% and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid 0.45% - 0.65%.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this sunscreen to be high. 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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