We are worried that "L'ESSENTIAL - D5 Brightening Sunscreen" might not be able to provide reliable sun protection because it uses a single UV filter (zinc oxide) in a relatively weak concentration.
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream.
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 sunscreen contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the 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.
The product retails for 16.72$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
This product contains antioxidants (madecassoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
A fruit extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties
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
It contains soothing and nourishing plant-based ingredients such as pear, melon, rose and houttuynia cordata extracts.
Source: Yesstyle
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:
cyclomethicone, 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: cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: madecassoside
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A blue-colored ingredient that is traditionally used as a colorant. It has anti-inflammatory properties. For example, it is successfully used to treat diaper rash for new borns. It can help support the skin barrier by reducing inflammation
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
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
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
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
This product contains madecassoside. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works. The biggest anti-aging effect in this product comes from sun protection. Sun damage is the main factor causing early signs of skin aging. We, however, do not recommend using this product as a sunscreen because the protection it offers is not strong enough).
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
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
This product uses a single UV filter (zinc oxide) in a relatively low concentration and might not be able to provide a reliable sun protection.
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
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 60/100.
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() L'ESSENTIAL D5 Brightening Sunscreen | Current | $16.72 | |
![]() Make P:rem UV Defense Me. Blue Ray Sun Fluid SPF50+ PA++++ | 53% | $41.69 |
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 antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the 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
Helps thicken the product consistency
A blue-colored ingredient that is traditionally used as a colorant. It has anti-inflammatory properties. For example, it is successfully used to treat diaper rash for new borns. It can help support the skin barrier by reducing inflammation
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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 preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
A plant extract. Might have some antioxidant properties
A fruit extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties
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
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the 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 type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
A blue-colored ingredient that is traditionally used as a colorant. It has anti-inflammatory properties. For example, it is successfully used to treat diaper rash for new borns. It can help support the skin barrier by reducing inflammation
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
Helps to create a nice silky product texture
A type of silicone that helps oil and water mix well together. Helps to disperse other ingredients, e.g. pigments, evenly in a formulation
An emollient that can also help water and oil mix together, as well as prevent bacteria growth in products
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
Used to stabilize product formulations and create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
A plant extract. Might have some antioxidant properties
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A fruit extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties
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
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
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc oxide, Caprylyl methicone, Polyglyceryl-3 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Propanediol, Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, Disteardimonium hectorite, Guaiazulene, Cyclomethicone, Magnesium sulfate, Sorbitan caprylate, Polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl polyglyceryl-3 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, C30-45 alkyl cetearyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Glyceryl caprylate, Butylene glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Caprylyl glycol, Musa sapientum fruit extract, Rose extract, Pyrus communis fruit extract, Prunus domestica fruit extract, Glycerin, Cucumis melo fruit extract, Hedera helix leaf/stem extract, Tocopherol, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Houttuynia cordata extract, Pentylene glycol, Plankton extract, Madecassoside, Rosa hybrid flower extract, Arginine ferulate

