SKIN&LAB Fre-C Sun Lotion SPF50+ PA++++
Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 50 · 5 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 tone1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“SPF 50+ PA+++ formulation also has Centella extracts and Vitamin C to brighten skin.”
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 · 3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
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.
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:
saccharide hydrolysate, 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 unsaponifiables, salvia hispanica seed extract.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: ParfumMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Dibutyl adipate~6.7–8.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
More about Dibutyl adipateHomosalate~4.8–5.8%
- 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 HomosalatePropanediol~3.1–3.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolEthylhexyl salicylate~3.3–4%
- 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 salicylateEthylhexyl triazone~2.6–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Uvinul T. A UV filter. Effective against UVB rays. It is photostable. Can increase water resistance properties of the sunscreen. Unfortunately, not approved by the FDA (US) yet
More about Ethylhexyl triazoneButylene glycol~1.7–2.1%
- 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 glycolButyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~2–2.5%
- 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 methoxydibenzoylmethane1,2-hexanediol~0.75–1.1%
Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine~1.5–1.8%
- 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 triazinePentylene glycol~0.75–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolPolymethylsilsesquioxane~0.65–1%
- 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 PolymethylsilsesquioxaneAmmonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Increases thickness of a product. Texture enhancer for oil-in-water emulsions
More about Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymerSaccharide hydrolysate~0.5–0.7%
Parfum~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumOctyldodecanol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
More about OctyldodecanolHydroxypropyl methylcellulose stearoxy ether~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker product formulation
More about Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose stearoxy etherAcrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerEthylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.6%
Tromethamine~0.3–0.55%
Curcuma longa root extract~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can contain an active compound curcumin, that may have some anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin, but solid research is lacking and the typical concentration used in skincare products is too low. Can be an irritant
More about Curcuma longa root extractPortulaca oleracea extract~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Portulaca oleracea extractCentella asiatica extract~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that has been shown to be able to reduce inflammation in skin, support restoration of skin barrier function, as well as support collagen production. Contains active compounds called centelloids: asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Might be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It can be itself be irritating though.
More about Centella asiatica extractHouttuynia cordata extract~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Salvia hispanica seed extract~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that typically contains linolenic and linoleic acids that help soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
More about Salvia hispanica seed extractEchium plantagineum seed oil~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant oil that because of its high content of alpha-linolenic acid help support skin barrier function and moisturize the skin
More about Echium plantagineum seed oilAscorbic acid~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidCardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties but evidence is missing
More about Cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extractHelianthus annuus seed oil unsaponifiables~0.15–0.25%
- 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 oil unsaponifiablesTocopherol~0.1–0.2%
- 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 TocopherolIngredient list view
Water, Dibutyl adipate, Homosalate, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Ethylhexyl triazone, Butylene glycol, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, 1,2-hexanediol, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, Pentylene glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, Saccharide hydrolysate, Parfum, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose stearoxy ether, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Curcuma longa root extract, Portulaca oleracea extract, Centella asiatica extract, Houttuynia cordata extract, Salvia hispanica seed extract, Echium plantagineum seed oil, Ascorbic acid, Cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract, Helianthus annuus seed oil unsaponifiables, Tocopherol
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Product summary
We assess that "SKIN&LAB - Fre-C Sun Lotion SPF50+ PA++++" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. 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).
It also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product helps prevent early signs of aging.
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: tinosorb s 1.50% - 1.80%, avobenzone 2.00% - 2.50%, octisalate 3.30% - 4.00%, uvinul t 2.60% - 3.20% and homosalate 4.80% - 5.80%.
Irritation risk
This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide 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.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 17 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Safety Assessment of Tromethamine as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
- 4
- 5Portulaca oleracea (purslane)mdedge.com
- 6
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