Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 50+ Sunscreen Duo
Works for
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 4 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.
Evens skin toneNot advertised by the brand · Camellia sinensis leaf extractWorks well
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-agingNot advertised by the brand · Camellia sinensis leaf extract, TocopherolWorks well
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.
MoisturizingSide benefit the brand mentions · Diisopropyl sebacate, Dimethicone + 11 moreWorks
“98% said their faces felt moisturized after 4 hours”
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, 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: dimethicone, isododecane.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Camellia sinensis leaf extract, TocopherolMay help
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis leaf extract) 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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Sd alcohol 40-b, ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
1 of 1 community members would buy it again.
Love it
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane2.3%
- 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 methoxydibenzoylmethaneHomosalate10%
- 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 HomosalateEthylhexyl salicylate5%
- 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 salicylateOctocrylene5%
- 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 OctocryleneWater~45–55%
Diisopropyl sebacate~6.3–7.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
More about Diisopropyl sebacateTalc~5.8–7.1%
Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer~4.5–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps thicken the product consistency
More about Methyl methacrylate crosspolymerDimethicone~3.5–4.3%
- 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 DimethiconePeg/ppg-9/2 dimethyl ether~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sd alcohol 40-b~1.7–2.1%
- 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 Sd alcohol 40-bLauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethiconeTriethylhexanoin~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about TriethylhexanoinGlycerin~1.1–1.3%
- 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 GlycerinDextrin palmitate~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Dextrin palmitateSucrose tetrastearate triacetate~0.7–1.1%
Isododecane~0.6–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
More about IsododecanePpg-3 dipivalate~0.55–0.85%
Trimethylsiloxysilicate~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps create a nice product consistency and support the delivery of other ingredients
More about TrimethylsiloxysilicateSilica~0.7–1.05%
Sodium chloride~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chloridePeg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin. It also forms a protective on its surface to reduce water loss
More about Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl etherSaxifraga sarmentosa extract~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Camellia sinensis leaf extract~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractSophora angustifolia root extract~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
Ppg-17~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Disteardimonium hectorite~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
More about Disteardimonium hectoriteCalcium stearate~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Isostearic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture
More about Isostearic acidPalmitic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it
More about Palmitic acidTrisodium edta~0.3–0.55%
Alcohol~0.3–0.6%
- 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 AlcoholSilica dimethyl silylate~0.4–0.65%
Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that create a smooth product finish and can create an optical soft-focus effect on the skin. Helps to thicken the product consistency
More about Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymerPeg-6~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to dissolve other ingredients and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Peg-6Bht~0.3–0.55%
Tocopherol~0.3–0.55%
- 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 TocopherolButylene glycol~0.3–0.55%
- 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 glycolStearic acid~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidSodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Syzygium jambos leaf extract~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polysilicone-2~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Methylparaben~0.15–0.3%
Parfum~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIron oxides~0.2–0.35%
- 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 oxidesIngredient list view
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Diisopropyl sebacate, Talc, Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Peg/ppg-9/2 dimethyl ether, Sd alcohol 40-b, Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Dextrin palmitate, Sucrose tetrastearate triacetate, Isododecane, Ppg-3 dipivalate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica, Sodium chloride, Peg/ppg-14/7 dimethyl ether, Saxifraga sarmentosa extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Sophora angustifolia root extract, Ppg-17, Disteardimonium hectorite, Calcium stearate, Isostearic acid, Palmitic acid, Trisodium edta, Alcohol, Silica dimethyl silylate, Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, Peg-6, Bht, Tocopherol, Butylene glycol, Stearic acid, Sodium metabisulfite, Syzygium jambos leaf extract, Polysilicone-2, Methylparaben, Parfum, Iron oxides
Compare prices
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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.
| ShiseidoUltimate Sun Protector SPF 50+ Sunscreen DuoYOUR PRODUCT | SkinCeuticalsSport UV Defense SPF 50 | EucerinAge Defense, Lightweight Sunscreen Lotion For Face, SPF 50 | Face Reality SkincareBrilliant Defense SPF 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 46% | 46% | 46% |
| Price | — | $42.00 | $32.08 | $42.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 9 | 6 of 9 | 5 of 9 |
| Key difference | — | Artemia Extract | Butyloctyl Salicylate | Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 | SPF 50 |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Kiehl's Super Fluid Daily UV Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50+Daylogic Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, we assess that "Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 50+ Sunscreen Duo" 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).
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 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. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 2.30% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 10.00% (declared) and octocrylene 5.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
We assess the overall irritancy of this sunscreen 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.
What our users say
Based on 1 review 100% recommend this product- As for the white cast, it did not leave a noticeable white residue for the reviewer.
- When it comes to using this sunscreen under makeup, the user found that it pills under a foundation.
- As for using this sunscreen in the eye area, the reviewer reported that it does not sting eyes.
Price
The product retails for 48.50$ 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 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
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