Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-oxidation
- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Sun protection
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
We are worried that "MARA - Algae + Zinc Sea Kale Sunscreen Serum" might not be able to provide reliable sun protection because it uses a single UV filter (zinc oxide) in a relatively weak concentration.
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen 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 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.
Price
The product retails for 52.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (rubus idaeus seed oil) 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.
A plant oil that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Hydrates and keeps skin glowing without any white residue
Source: Bluemercury
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, helianthus annuus seed oil.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
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
An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function
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
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Protects against photo aging, sun damage.
Source: Bluemercury
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.
This ingredient rubus idaeus seed oil might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
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).
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Sun protection
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 60/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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Key Actives
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
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 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
A plant oil that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in 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
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function
Potential irritants
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
A plant oil that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in 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
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
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 plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
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
A plant oil that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in 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
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
Ingredient list view
Zinc oxide, Moringa oleifera seed oil, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Unknown, Rubus idaeus seed oil, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Cannabis sativa seed oil, Persea gratissima oil, Alaria esculenta extract, Aster tripolium extract, Crambe maritima leaf extract, Citrus aurantium amara flower oil, Polyhydroxystearic acid
- A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
- Risk assessment of zinc oxide, a cosmetic ingredient used as a UV filter of sunscreens
- Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products
- Ultraviolet Protection Properties of Commercial Sunscreens and Sunscreens Containing Zno Nanorods
- ZnO nanoparticles and organic chemical UV-filters are equally well tolerated by human immune cells
- Moringa oleifera seed oil: Composition, nutritional aspects and health attributes
- Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health
- Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Care
- Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egypt
- Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
- Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countries
- Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil: Analytical and phytochemical characterization of unsaponifiable fraction
- Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as a Resource for Green Cosmetics
- Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils