Lancaster Sun Protective Water SPF30
Works for
1 of 1 advertised claim delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 7 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-agingNot advertised by the brand · 2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong evidence
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 evidence
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 · 4 ingredients credited for this claimStrong evidence
This product contains antioxidants (dimethylmethoxy chromanol, ubiquinone) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 8 ingredients credited for this claimGood evidence
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.
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: squalane, diisopropyl adipate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy9 strong irritants: Isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate, Benzyl salicylate + 7 more — patch-test recommendedHigh 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%
Dicaprylyl carbonate~5.2–6.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
More about Dicaprylyl carbonateDiisopropyl sebacate~4.4–5.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
More about Diisopropyl sebacateDiisopropyl adipate~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Diisopropyl adipateOctocrylene~3.3–4%
- 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 OctocryleneIsoamyl p-methoxycinnamate~2.5–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Amiloxate or Neo Heliopan E1000. A UV filter. It is effective against UVB and UVA II rays. Not available in the US. It can be irritating
More about Isoamyl p-methoxycinnamateHomosalate~2.1–2.6%
- 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 HomosalateGlycerin~1.5–1.9%
- 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 GlycerinButyloctyl salicylate~1.2–1.4%
- 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 salicylatePhenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Ensulizole. A UV filter that is effective against UVB rays. Does not protect against UVA light. It is photostable and can be used to help stabilize other sunscreen ingredients. It is water-soluble meaning that it can help create lighter sunscreen formulations
More about Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acidButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~1.1–1.4%
- 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 methoxydibenzoylmethaneBis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine~0.8–1.2%
- 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 triazineAlcohol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholBenzyl salicylate~0.45–0.7%
Citral~0.4–0.6%
Citronellol~0.4–0.6%
Dimethylmethoxy chromanol~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Dimethylmethoxy chromanolDisodium edta~0.35–0.6%
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Geraniol~0.3–0.5%
Hexyl cinnamal~0.25–0.45%
Limonene~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneLinalool~0.2–0.4%
Mauritia flexuosa fruit oil~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Mauritia flexuosa fruit oilSodium chloride~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideSodium hydroxide~0.2–0.4%
Squalane~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
More about SqualaneTocopherol~0.2–0.35%
- 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 TocopherolTocopheryl acetate~0.2–0.35%
- 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 acetateUbiquinone~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Coenzyme Q10. It helps neutralize free radicals in skin, improves skin hydration and might be helpful agains fine lines and wrinkles. It can be an allergen
More about UbiquinoneParfum~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCi 15850~0.1–0.15%
Ci 26100~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
Ingredient list view
Water, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Diisopropyl sebacate, Diisopropyl adipate, Octocrylene, Isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Glycerin, Butyloctyl salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, Alcohol, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Dimethylmethoxy chromanol, Disodium edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Hexyl cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Mauritia flexuosa fruit oil, Sodium chloride, Sodium hydroxide, Squalane, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl acetate, Ubiquinone, Parfum, Ci 15850, Ci 26100
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Product summary
The ingredient list suggests that "Lancaster - Sun Protective Water SPF30" can provide reliable sun protection. 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).
Its formula is also hydrating, so you might not need an additional moistruizer during the day. This product prevents early signs of aging by protecting against sun damage (all broad spectrum sunscreens do that).
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: tinosorb s 0.80% - 1.20%, avobenzone 1.10% - 1.40%, butyloctyl salicylate 1.20% - 1.40%, homosalate 2.10% - 2.60%, amiloxate 2.50% - 3.10%, octocrylene 3.30% - 4.00% and ensulizole 1.40% - 1.70%.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this product to be high. 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 24.30$ up to 42.80$ in the United States and for 31.00£ 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 8 studies and safety reviews.
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