Garancia Metamorphosing Red Sunscreen Water Sun Protect SPF30
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 3 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-aging1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“Its formula is a unique combination of 3 organic UV filters, plant protectors against blue light (2 extracts of red algae + pongamia) and an anti-oxidant to fight against the degradation of skin elastin and skin aging.”
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 support
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).
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 3 ingredients credited for this claimModerate support
This product contains antioxidants (haematococcus pluvialis extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 10 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
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:
arginine, 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: arginine, coco-caprylate/caprate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Coco-caprylate/caprate~22–33%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
More about Coco-caprylate/caprateWater~12–18%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~5.1–7.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateTributyl citrate~3.6–5.4%
Disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate~3.3–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Neo Heliopan AP. A UV filter. Effective against UVA II rays. It is stable. It is water-soluble, which helps to create lightweight sunscreen formulations. Unfortunately, not approved by FDA (US) yet
More about Disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonateBis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine~2.5–3.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazineEthylhexyl triazone~2.1–3.1%
- 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 triazonePongamia glabra seed oil~1.3–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Pongamia glabra seed oilPropanediol~1.2–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolPentylene glycol~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolCapryloyl glycerin/sebacic acid copolymer~0.85–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Capryloyl glycerin/sebacic acid copolymerArginine~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
More about ArginineBifurcaria bifurcata extract~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dunaliella salina extract~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A green micro-algae extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but solid evidence is lacking. It helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Dunaliella salina extractHaematococcus pluvialis extract~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Green algae extract that might contain antioxidant astaxanthin
More about Haematococcus pluvialis extractOlea europaea fruit oil~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation
More about Olea europaea fruit oilGlycine max oil~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tocopherol~0.2–0.75%
- 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 TocopherolDecyl glucoside~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Decyl glucoside1,2-heptanediol~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Caprylyl glycol~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolParfum~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumAcetyl tyrosine~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium benzoate~0.1–0.3%
Potassium sorbate~0.1–0.35%
Citric acid~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidIngredient list view
Coco-caprylate/caprate, Water, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Tributyl citrate, Disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, Ethylhexyl triazone, Pongamia glabra seed oil, Propanediol, Pentylene glycol, Capryloyl glycerin/sebacic acid copolymer, Arginine, Bifurcaria bifurcata extract, Dunaliella salina extract, Haematococcus pluvialis extract, Olea europaea fruit oil, Glycine max oil, Tocopherol, Decyl glucoside, 1,2-heptanediol, Caprylyl glycol, Parfum, Acetyl tyrosine, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Citric acid
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Product summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "Garancia - Metamorphosing Red Sunscreen Water Sun Protect 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 also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product. 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. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: tinosorb s 2.50% - 3.80%, neo heliopan ap 3.30% - 4.90% and uvinul t 2.10% - 3.10%.
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 sunscreen 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 from 18.09£ up to 19.11£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
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