We believe that "Drunk Elephant - Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30" 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 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.
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive 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.
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Drunk Elephant" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
The product retails for 29.00£ in the United Kingdom, for 34.00$ in the United States and for 45.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Skin Type Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily Skincare Concerns Fine Lines and Wrinkles, Dark Spots, and Dullness and Uneven Texture Formulation Lightweight Cream Highlighted Ingredients , Sunflower Shoot Extract A powerful ingredient that helps neutralize free radicals and exhibits strong antiglycation properties.
Source: Sephora
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).
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Contains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
It is a mineral sunscreen. In other words, it contains non-organic UV filters. It will probably not sting your eyes but might leave a white cast.
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.
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
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
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 90/100.
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Averages from community submissions.
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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
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
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
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
Green algae extract that might contain antioxidant astaxanthin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can help support the skin barrier
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In crystal form, it can work as a gentle exfoliant, gentler than the salt scrub. Helps stabilize the emulsion
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
An emollient that helps to soften the skin. It has a high contetn of oleic acid that might weaken the skin barrier. Might have some anti-oxidant properties. It might be somewhat helpful against hyperpigmentation.
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Green algae extract that might contain antioxidant astaxanthin
Contains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to gluten
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Used to improve stability of the formulation
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
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
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
An emollient that helps to soften the skin. It has a high contetn of oleic acid that might weaken the skin barrier. Might have some anti-oxidant properties. It might be somewhat helpful against hyperpigmentation.
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
Green algae extract that might contain antioxidant astaxanthin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can help support the skin barrier
Contains AHAs that exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin due to the sugar content
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to gluten
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
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
Dissolves other ingredients. It does not have additional skin benefits compared to plain water
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In crystal form, it can work as a gentle exfoliant, gentler than the salt scrub. Helps stabilize the emulsion
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
Used to improve stability of the formulation
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
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
Zinc oxide, Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Pentylene glycol, Glycerin, Steareth-2, Propanediol, Steareth-21, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Cetearyl alcohol, Silica, Sclerocarya birrea seed oil, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Chondrus crispus extract, Haematococcus pluvialis extract, Helianthus annuus sprout extract, Vitis vinifera juice extract, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Raspberry seed oil/tocopheryl succinate aminopropanediol esters, Hydrolyzed wheat protein, Tocopheryl acetate, Tocopherol, Sea water, Acetyl glucosamine, Cetearyl glucoside, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Glycine, Sucrose, Lecithin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan gum, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Caprylhydroxamic acid, Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium dehydroacetate, Iron oxides, Ci 77491
