Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Sun protection
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Key actives
Product Summary
We do not recommend "Skinbetter Science - sunbetter SHEER SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick" because it does not provide good UVA protection. UVA sun rays don't burn the skin, but they still lead to photoaging and hyperpigmentation.
It contains good moisturizing ingredients and can double as a hydrating day cream.
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. These are the sun protection ingredients in this sunscreen: butyloctyl salicylate 1.50% - 2.20%.
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 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.
Moisturizing
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, dimethicone.
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).
An emollient that helps soften the skin. Often used to stabilize other ingredients, for example, sunscreen
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 type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
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
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Help soften the upper layer of the skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
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
Sun protection
This product does not offer good protection against UVA rays.
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 synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 60/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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Key Actives
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
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
An emollient that helps soften the skin
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
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. Often used to stabilize other ingredients, for example, sunscreen
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
Potential irritants
A plant extract that can contain an irritating essential oil. Might have some anti-oxidant effect, but evidence is lacking
Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen), evenly disperse pigements and create a nice product consistency
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
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 help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
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.
Comedogenic ingredients
An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
All ingredients
Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen), evenly disperse pigements and create a nice product consistency
The same compound that is used safely in dental implants and bone cements. In cosmetics, it is used to improve the consistency of products
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
A synthetic ester of salicylic acid that is used to help disperse pigments and boost effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients. It is able to absorb UV light (working as an organic, or chemical filter), but is not approved as a sunscreen ingredient on its own
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
A type of lipid similar to ceramides naturally present in skin. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and supports the skin barrier function to keep it hydrated. Can help to prevent inflammation in skin
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
Used to stabilize product formulations and create a nice product texture
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
An emollient that helps soften the skin. Often used to stabilize other ingredients, for example, sunscreen
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
Is used to enhance product texture and can help to optically mask skin imperfections
A type of silicone that helps to create nice product texture and is used as an anti-foaming agent
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
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 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.
Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin
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
A plant extract that can contain an irritating essential oil. Might have some anti-oxidant effect, but evidence is lacking
Ingredient list view
1,2-hexanediol, Acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, Alumina, Bis-vinyl dimethicone/dimethicone copolymer, Bisabolol, Brassica campestris sterols, Butyloctyl salicylate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Caprylyl glycol, Cerium oxide, Cetylhydroxyproline palmitamide, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, Disteardimonium hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexyldecanol, Himanthalia elongata extract, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Laureth-25, Laureth-3, Octyldodecyl neopentanoate, Ozokerite, Phenethyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Phenyl trimethicone, Plankton extract, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Polymethyl methacrylate, Prunus armeniaca kernel oil, Silica, Simethicone, Sodium chloride, Stearic acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl acetate, Tribehenin, Vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, Water, Zingiber officinale root extract
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
- Safety Assessment of Alumina and Aluminum Hydroxide as Used in Cosmetics
- α-(-)-Bisabolol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Ameliorates Skin Inflammation
- Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicylate, Isocetyl Salicylate, Isodecyl Salicylate, Magnesium Salicylate, MEA-Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Potassium Salicylate, Methyl Salicylate, Myristyl Salicylate, Sodium Salicylate, TEA-Salicylate, and Tridecyl Salicylate
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenethyl Alcohol
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A review of recent research