Urban Skin Rx SheerGlow™ Even Tone Daily Defense Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 30 · 2 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 toneNo ingredient credited for this claimStrong evidence
“SheerGlow™ Even Tone Daily Defense Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30”
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-agingNo ingredient credited for this claimStrong evidence
“SheerGlow™ is a lightweight SPF 30 moisturizer that provides 100% mineral sun protection to shield your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays that cause hyperpigmentation and early skin aging.”
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 · Dimethicone, Glycerin + 3 moreGood evidence
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, caprylyl 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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, dimethicone.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Citrus reticulata peel oil, Citrus grandis fruit extractMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Zinc oxide11.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant
More about Zinc oxideWater~45–55%
Butyloctyl salicylate~9.6–11.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Butyloctyl salicylateCaprylic/capric triglyceride~5.3–6.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideGlycerin~3.1–3.8%
- 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 GlycerinDimethicone~2.5–3%
- 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 DimethiconeUndecylcrylene dimethicone~1.9–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Cetearyl olivate~1.7–2%
Polyester-8~1.6–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize product formulations and individual ingredients (for example, sunscreens). Can be an allergen
More about Polyester-8Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax~1.3–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together. Could be an allergen (beeswax)
More about Polyglyceryl-3 beeswaxCarthamus tinctorius oleosomes~1.1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Carthamus tinctorius oleosomesSorbitan olivate~0.75–1.15%
Propanediol~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolPolyhydroxystearic acid~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation
More about Polyhydroxystearic acidPotassium cetyl phosphate~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphateCaprylyl glycol~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolHydrolyzed wheat protein/pvp crosspolymer~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Xanthan gum~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumBisabolol~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about BisabololCaprylhydroxamic acid~0.15–0.3%
Sodium gluconate~0.15–0.25%
Citrus reticulata peel oil~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil used for fragrance. Can be an allergen and irritant
More about Citrus reticulata peel oilCarthamus tinctorius seedcake extract~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Citrus grandis fruit extract~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Ingredient list view
Zinc oxide, Water, Butyloctyl salicylate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Undecylcrylene dimethicone, Cetearyl olivate, Polyester-8, Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax, Carthamus tinctorius oleosomes, Sorbitan olivate, Propanediol, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Caprylyl glycol, Hydrolyzed wheat protein/pvp crosspolymer, Xanthan gum, Bisabolol, Caprylhydroxamic acid, Sodium gluconate, Citrus reticulata peel oil, Carthamus tinctorius seedcake extract, Citrus grandis fruit extract
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Product summary
Based on the ingredient list, we assess that "Urban Skin Rx - SheerGlow™ Even Tone Daily Defense Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30" 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 is a "mixed" sunscreen in the sense that it uses both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") sun filters. Here are the organic filters this product uses: butyloctyl salicylate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses zinc oxide.
Irritation risk
This sunscreen contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit 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.
Price
The product retails for 34.00$ 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 12 studies and safety reviews.
- 1A review of inorganic UV filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxideonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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