IOPE UV Defense Sun Protector EX SPF 39
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 39 · 5 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
“While protecting the skin from sun damage and environmental agents, it also treats signs of aging from UV rays while strengthening the skin's barrier to assist the development of even healthier skin.”
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 toneNo ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“While protecting the skin from sun damage and environmental agents, it also treats signs of aging from UV rays while strengthening the skin's barrier to assist the development of even healthier skin.”
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 · 11 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:
glycerin, glucose.
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, butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Propanediol~5.4–6.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolHomosalate9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about HomosalateOctocrylene9%
- 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 salicylate4.5%
- 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 salicylateButyloctyl salicylate~4.1–5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
More about Butyloctyl salicylateGlycerin~3–3.7%
- 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 GlycerinButylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprateButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane2.5%
- 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 methoxydibenzoylmethaneDiphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone~1.9–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Help improve the product's texture
More about Diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethiconeDimethicone~1.7–2.1%
- 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 DimethiconeTrisiloxane~1.4–1.7%
Silica~1.5–1.8%
Cyclopentasiloxane~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxaneTrimethylsiloxysilicate~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps create a nice product consistency and support the delivery of other ingredients
More about TrimethylsiloxysilicateVp/eicosene copolymer~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve the product adherence to the skin, for example, to pro-long the protective effect of sunscreens. Can be irritating to very sensitive skin
More about Vp/eicosene copolymer1,2-hexanediol~0.55–0.8%
Behenyl alcohol~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Non-drying alcohol that helps water and oil mix together. Also serves as an emollient
More about Behenyl alcoholGlyceryl stearate~0.55–0.8%
- 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 stearatePeg-100 stearate~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateC14-22 alcohols~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that helps stabilize product formulations
More about C14-22 alcoholsPolyacrylate-13~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the product formulation
More about Polyacrylate-13Cetyl alcohol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholPotassium cetyl phosphate~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphateParfum~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumPolyisobutene~0.3–0.55%
C12-20 alkyl glucoside~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about C12-20 alkyl glucosideButylene glycol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Butylene glycolDisodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.15–0.3%
Polysorbate 20~0.15–0.3%
Sorbitan isostearate~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan isostearateGossypium herbaceum extract~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Glucose~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Could be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function
More about GlucoseTocopherol~0.05–0.15%
- 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 TocopherolIngredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Butyloctyl salicylate, Glycerin, Butylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone, Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Silica, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Vp/eicosene copolymer, 1,2-hexanediol, Behenyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, C14-22 alcohols, Polyacrylate-13, Cetyl alcohol, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Parfum, Polyisobutene, C12-20 alkyl glucoside, Butylene glycol, Disodium edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan isostearate, Gossypium herbaceum extract, Glucose, Tocopherol
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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.
| IOPEUV Defense Sun Protector EX SPF 39YOUR PRODUCT | SkinCeuticalsLight Moisture Uv Defense SPF 50 | La Roche-PosayAnthelios Face and Body Melt-In Milk Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 50% | 50% |
| Price | $32.00 | $40.00+$8.00 | $20.89−$11.11 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 7 | 6 of 7 |
| Key difference | — | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 39 | SPF 50 | SPF 60 |
| Drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
We believe that "IOPE - UV Defense Sun Protector EX SPF 39" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredients listed. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream. This product prevents early signs of aging by protecting against sun damage (all broad spectrum sunscreens do that).
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 2.50% (declared), butyloctyl salicylate 4.10% - 5.00%, octisalate 4.50% (declared), homosalate 9.00% (declared) and octocrylene 9.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 32.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 6
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