Physicians Formula healy f
Works for
0 of 1 advertised claim delivered
Sun protectionSPF 20 · 2 UV filters · Partial spectrumWeak protectionSPF under 30
This product does not offer good protection against UVA rays.
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 12 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:
sodium hyaluronate, butylene 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: helianthus annuus seed oil, peg-10 dimethicone.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Sorbitan sesquioleate, Retinyl palmitate + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Octinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritating
More about Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateWater~45–55%
Cyclopentasiloxane~7.5–9.2%
- 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 CyclopentasiloxanePeg-10 dimethicone~5.5–6.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that works to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce its water loss
More about Peg-10 dimethiconeIsododecane~4–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
More about IsododecaneButylene glycol~2.7–3.3%
- 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 glycolAcrylates/polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate copolymer~2.1–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Propanediol~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolCyclohexasiloxane~1.5–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneCetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeIsodecyl neopentanoate~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin. It also forms a protective on its surface to reduce water loss.
More about Isodecyl neopentanoatePolymethylsilsesquioxane~1–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that improves product texture and helps dissolve other ingredients. Can form a non-greasy film on the skin to prevent moisture loss
More about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilDisteardimonium hectorite~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
More about Disteardimonium hectoriteMagnesium sulfate~0.65–1%
Schinziophyton rautanenii kernel oil~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Phenoxyethanol~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolDisodium stearoyl glutamate~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together and workd as a cleanser
More about Disodium stearoyl glutamateCaprylyl glycol~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolEthylene brassylate~0.45–0.7%
Dimethicone/bis-isobutyl ppg-20 crosspolymer~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to create a nice product texture
More about Dimethicone/bis-isobutyl ppg-20 crosspolymerSilica~0.6–0.9%
Sorbitan sesquioleate~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used to help oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Sorbitan sesquioleateEvodia rutaecarpa fruit extract~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Hexylene glycol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolCellulose gum~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create thicker product consistency and stabilize emulsions
More about Cellulose gumTetrahexyldecyl ascorbate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateTocopheryl acetate~0.35–0.65%
- 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 acetateAluminum hydroxide~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is used to add opaque (non-transparent) appearance to formulations. Can be used to coat other ingredients for even dispersion. This is a different ingredient compared to the ones used in antipersperants (aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate)
More about Aluminum hydroxideRetinyl palmitate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
More about Retinyl palmitateRhodiola rosea root extract~0.35–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium hyaluronate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateBht~0.25–0.5%
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractTocopherol~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 TocopherolIron oxides~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear
More about Iron oxidesTitanium dioxide~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin
More about Titanium dioxideCi 77891~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Ingredient list view
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Peg-10 dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene glycol, Acrylates/polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate copolymer, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, Isodecyl neopentanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Disteardimonium hectorite, Magnesium sulfate, Schinziophyton rautanenii kernel oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium stearoyl glutamate, Caprylyl glycol, Ethylene brassylate, Dimethicone/bis-isobutyl ppg-20 crosspolymer, Silica, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene glycol, Cellulose gum, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Tocopheryl acetate, Aluminum hydroxide, Retinyl palmitate, Rhodiola rosea root extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Bht, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Tocopherol, Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77891
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Product summary
"Physicians Formula - healy f" does not provide enough UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage the skin, leading to early signs of aging and pigmentation issues.
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses a mixture of both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") UV filters. The organic filters in the product are: octinoxate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses titanium dioxide.
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 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 for 11.48$ 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 17 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 4
- 5Safety Assessment of Magnesium Sulfate as Used in Cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6Fragrance material review on ethylene brassylatesciencedirect.com
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