Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
- Sun protection
- Evens skin tone
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Key actives
Product Summary
We believe that "COSRX - Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-up Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because 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 also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product helps prevent early signs of aging.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses a mixture of both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") UV filters. The organic filters in the product are: tinosorb s, uvinul a plus and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses titanium dioxide.
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be low. 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.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "COSRX" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 18.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
This product can also 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.
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
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
Anti-blemish
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
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
Helps water and oil mix together. Has anti-bacterial properties that might be helpful in preventing blemishes
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) Relieves skin damage and barrier disruption caused by missed UV rays. Helps to prevent pigmentation.
Source: Cosrx
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).
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
• Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) Helps relieve sensitive skin (dryness and acne) Protects and prevents skin damage from UV rays.
Source: Cosrx
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Can support skin barrier function and reduce inflammation in skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
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
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but data on its effectiveness is lacking. While the majority of the content is plain water, it can contain some goodies like vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and humectants that help attract water into the skin
Sun protection
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.
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
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
Tinosorb S. One of the most effective broad spectrum sunscreen ingredients. Protects from both UVA and UVB rays. It is photostable. Unfortunately, not approved by FDA (US) yet.
Uvinul A Plus. A new generation broad spectrum sunscreen that offers an effective protection especially in the UVA range. It is stable in formulations. Unfortunately, is not approved by the FDA (US) yet
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
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against 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. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 90/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 COSRX Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-up Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ | Current | $18.00 | |
Manyo Galactomy Sérum Solaire SPF50+ PA++++ | 82% | $17.89 | |
Bellflower Watermelon Fresh Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ | 82% | $10.43 | |
 JUMISO Waterfull Hyaluronic Acid Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ | 81% | - | |
 CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide | 81% | $18.49 | |
 ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel | 80% | $22.95 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Potassium salicylate, Glycerin, Water, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, Methyl trimethicone, Niacinamide, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77891, Diisopropyl sebacate, Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, 1,2-hexanediol, Unknown, Aloe barbadensis leaf water, Homosalate, Butylene glycol, Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, Unknown, Potassium phosphate, Cetearyl alcohol, Tromethamine, Glyceryl stearate, Behenyl alcohol, Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, Xanthan gum, Sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Hydrogenated lecithin, Poly c10-30 alkyl acrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic acid, Aluminum hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, Palmitic acid, Iron oxides, Ci 77491, Disodium edta, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron oxides, Ci 77492, Sodium hyaluronate, Allantoin, Myristic acid, Cyanocobalamin, Lauric acid, Tocopherol
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
- Opinion on Homosalate - Scientific Committee on Consumer Products
- Safety Assessment of Tromethamine as Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Alumina and Aluminum Hydroxide as Used in Cosmetics
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- The fatty acid profile of the skin surface lipid layer in papulopustular rosacea
- Topical vitamin B12--a new therapeutic approach in atopic dermatitis-evaluation of efficacy and tolerability in a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial
- Superiority of a vitamin B12-containing emollient compared to a standard emollient in the maintenance treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health