Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 1 UV filterBroad spectrum
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.
Evens skin tone3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Dark Spots”
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).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy17 flagged ingredientsMedium risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.1–7.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideDicaprylyl carbonate~4.4–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonatePentylene glycol~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolGlycerin~2.5–3%
- 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 GlycerinSteareth-2~2–2.4%
Propanediol~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolSteareth-21~1.5–1.8%
Polyhydroxystearic acid~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Polyhydroxystearic acidCetearyl alcohol~1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholSilica~1.1–1.3%
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf extractChondrus crispus extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispus extractHaematococcus pluvialis extract~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Green algae extract that might contain antioxidant astaxanthin
More about Haematococcus pluvialis extractHelianthus annuus sprout extract~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can help support the skin barrier
More about Helianthus annuus sprout extractVitis vinifera juice extract~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Vitis vinifera juice extractHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilSimmondsia chinensis seed oil~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oilRaspberry seed oil/tocopheryl succinate aminopropanediol esters~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hydrolyzed wheat protein~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to gluten
More about Hydrolyzed wheat proteinTocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Tocopheryl acetateTocopherol~0.25–0.5%
- 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 TocopherolSea water~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dissolves other ingredients. It does not have additional skin benefits compared to plain water
More about Sea waterAcetyl glucosamine~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Acetyl glucosamineCetearyl glucoside~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture
More about Cetearyl glucosideSodium stearoyl glutamate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamateTetrahexyldecyl ascorbate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateGlycine~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function
More about GlycineSucrose~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about SucroseLecithin~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used mostly for creating emulsions - helping oil and water mix together. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about LecithinTriethoxycaprylylsilane~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
More about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneXanthan gum~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumTrisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve stability of the formulation
More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateCaprylhydroxamic acid~0.2–0.35%
Mica~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Creates an illusion of smoother and more radiant skin tone. Adds shimmer to the skin by reflecting light
More about MicaTin oxide~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation
More about Tin oxideCaprylyl glycol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolPhenoxyethanol~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTitanium dioxide~0.1–0.2%
- 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 dioxideIron oxides~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- 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
More about Iron oxidesIngredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Pentylene glycol, Glycerin, Steareth-2, Propanediol, Steareth-21, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Cetearyl alcohol, Silica, Unknown, 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, Mica, Tin oxide, Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium dioxide, Iron oxides
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Drunk ElephantUmbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30YOUR PRODUCT | NEOSTRATASheer Hydration SPF 40 | Cell Fusion CLaser UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 52% | 51% |
| Price | $34.00 | $34.99+$0.99 | $22.00−$12.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 11 | 3 of 11 |
| Key difference | — | Avobenzone | Ceramide Np |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Medium |
| SPF | SPF 30 | SPF 40 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
We believe that "Drunk Elephant - Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Sunscreen filters
It is a mineral sunscreen. It uses zinc oxide for sun protection. Zinc oxide almost never irritates the skin or stings eyes, but it can leave a white cast.
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
What our users say
Based on 1 review 100% recommend this product- As for the white cast, the reviewer reported a noticeable whitish residue.
- When it comes to using this sunscreen under makeup, the user found that it pills under a foundation.
- As for using this sunscreen in the eye area, the reviewer reported that it does not sting eyes.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Drunk Elephant" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails for 29.00£ in the United Kingdom, for 34.00$ in the United States and for 45.00CA$ in Canada.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 23 studies and safety reviews.
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