"Skinbetter Science - sunbetter SHEER SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick" 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.

Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream.

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: 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.

What can the product work for?

Works for

Moisturizing

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).

caprylic/capric triglyceride 1.4% - 2.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

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

phenyl trimethicone 0.2% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture

octyldodecyl neopentanoate 0.35% - 0.85%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An emollient that helps soften the skin. Often used to stabilize other ingredients, for example, sunscreen

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.

butyloctyl salicylate 1.5% - 2.2%

Irritation risk:

UVA I protection: UVA II protection: UVB protection: Photo stable: Ingredient type Organic

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

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Helps prevent sunburn if used as directed with other sun protection measures to decrease the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Source: N/A

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.

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).

tocopherol 0.15% - 0.6%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

bisabolol 2.6% - 3.9%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Reduces irritation, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidation

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

cetylhydroxyproline palmitamide 0.85% - 1.3%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Reduces irritation, Anti-inflammatory

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

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Potential irritants

phenethyl alcohol 0.2% - 0.75%

Irritation risk:

A fragrance. Can be irritating

zingiber officinale root extract 0.05% - 0.25%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that can contain an irritating essential oil. Might have some anti-oxidant effect, but evidence is lacking

Comodogenic ingredients

himanthalia elongata extract 0.4% - 0.9%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

hydrogenated vegetable oil 0.4% - 0.95%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium

Works for: Moisturizing

An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

All ingredients

1,2-hexanediol 23% - 35%

Irritation risk:

A preservative

acrylates/dimethicone copolymer 5.1% - 7.7%

Irritation risk:

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

alumina 4.7% - 7%

Irritation risk:

The same compound that is used safely in dental implants and bone cements. In cosmetics, it is used to improve the consistency of products

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

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		23%	21%	20%	20%	18%	18%	18%	18%	17%	17%
SPF	SPF 56	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 45	SPF 30	SPF 50	SPF 30	SPF 50
Key ingredients	bisabolol butyloctyl salicylate +6 more	Common: butyloctyl salicylate caprylic/capric triglyceride +2 more Other: arginine beeswax +3 more	Common: bisabolol butyloctyl salicylate +2 more Other: niacinamide dimethiconol +5 more	Common: bisabolol butyloctyl salicylate +2 more Other: niacinamide dimethiconol +3 more	Common: butyloctyl salicylate caprylic/capric triglyceride +2 more Other: niacinamide ascorbyl glucoside +5 more	Common: caprylic/capric triglyceride dimethicone +1 more Other: paraffinum liquidum cetyl dimethicone +7 more	Common: bisabolol bisabolol +2 more Other: camellia sinensis extract camellia sinensis leaf extract +7 more	Common: caprylic/capric triglyceride dimethicone Other: carnosine glycerin +4 more	Common: butyloctyl salicylate caprylic/capric triglyceride +1 more Other: glycerin titanium dioxide +1 more	Common: bisabolol butyloctyl salicylate +1 more Other: carthamus tinctorius seed oil glycerin +3 more	Common: caprylic/capric triglyceride phenyl trimethicone Other: stearyl dimethicone titanium dioxide +1 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	zingiber officinale root extract Has skin benefit? phenethyl alcohol Has skin benefit? +10 more	phenylpropanol Has skin benefit? tocopheryl acetate Has skin benefit? +10 more	trilaureth-4 phosphate Has skin benefit? tocopheryl acetate Has skin benefit? +5 more	trilaureth-4 phosphate Has skin benefit? lauryl peg-8 dimethicone Has skin benefit? +4 more	phenylpropanol Has skin benefit? pyrus malus fruit extract Has skin benefit? +9 more	chlorphenesin Has skin benefit? peg-30 dipolyhydroxystearate Has skin benefit? +6 more	hexylene glycol Has skin benefit? caprylyl glycol Has skin benefit? +4 more	propylene glycol Has skin benefit? benzyl alcohol Has skin benefit? +9 more	caprylyl glycol Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycrylene Has skin benefit? +6 more	coco-glucoside Has skin benefit? polyhydroxystearic acid Has skin benefit? +6 more	tocopheryl acetate Has skin benefit? tetrasodium edta Has skin benefit? +5 more
All ingredients	1,2-hexanediol Has skin benefit? acrylates/dimethicone copolymer Has skin benefit? +38 more	ethylhexyl salicylate Has skin benefit? titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? +34 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? allantoin Has skin benefit? +30 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? allantoin Has skin benefit? +26 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? allantoin Has skin benefit? +33 more	water Has skin benefit? dimethicone Has skin benefit? +31 more	bisabolol Has skin benefit? ubiquinone Has skin benefit? +31 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? +36 more	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +18 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? aloe barbadensis leaf juice Has skin benefit? +18 more	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +19 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Skinbetter Science sunbetter SHEER SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Sunscreen filters

Irritation risk

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Moisturizing

Sun protection

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Honesty check

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Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

Sources