Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Sun protection
- Anti-aging
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
Based on the ingredients included, we believe that "Yves Saint Laurent - YSL Beauty Pure Shots UV Protection Airthin UV Defender" can offer 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).
It also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product has an anti-aging benefit.
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. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: tinosorb s 0.60% - 0.90%, avobenzone 1.70% - 2.10%, mexoryl xl 2.00% - 2.50%, octisalate 2.60% - 3.20%, homosalate 4.80% - 5.80% and octocrylene 3.70% - 4.50%.
Irritation risk
There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be high. 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- When it comes to comedogenicity, the reviewer found that it does not clog pores.
- 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 38.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
SPF 50+ DAILY LIGHTWEIGHT URBAN PROTECTION Harmful UVA rays are known to accelerate skin ageing with a direct effect on wrinkles and pigmentation.
Source: Feelunique
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.
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
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
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
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
SPF 50+ DAILY LIGHTWEIGHT URBAN PROTECTION Harmful UVA rays are known to accelerate skin ageing with a direct effect on wrinkles and pigmentation.
Source: Feelunique
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).
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
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
Sun protection
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.
Mexoryl XL. A UV filter. Effective in the UVB and UVA range. It is stable. Unfortunately, not approved in the US yet
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
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.
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.
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
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
YSL introduces AIRTHIN UV DEFENDER SPF 50+, the ultimate hydrating skin protector.
Source: Feelunique
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: dimethicone, caprylyl glycol.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Sugar extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the 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
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin while creating a non-greasy feel on the skin. Helps to dissolve other ingredients
Helps dissolve other ingredients and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
Can have some moisturizing properties due to its sugar content
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 silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Sun protection | |
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 90/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (1)
Averages from community submissions.
How would you describe the finish?
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How much white cast does it leave?
How much does it sting eyes?
How much does it pill under makeup?
How much does this product clog pores?
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Yves Saint Laurent YSL Beauty Pure Shots UV Protection Airthin UV Defender | Current | $38.00 | |
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Imperfections Corrective Gel-Cream SPF50+ | 90% | $20.00 | |
Garnier Green Labs Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum Cream, Fragrance Free, with SPF 30 and Niacinamide Vitamin B3 + Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil | 87% | - | |
 Vichy Aqualia Thermal UV Defense Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 30 | 86% | $32.00 | |
 LABIOTTE UV Veil Cooling Sun Fluid | 85% | $14.10 | |
 Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer With Sunscreen Spf 35 For Sensitive, Combination Skin, 3 Ounces | 85% | $14.92 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Dicaprylyl ether, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Nylon-12, Drometrizole trisiloxane, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Styrene/acrylates copolymer, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Glycerin, Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, Peg-32, Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Caprylyl glycol, Peg-8 laurate, P-anisic acid, Poly c10-30 alkyl acrylate, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Disodium edta, Limonene, Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Saccharum officinarum extract, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citrus limon peel extract, Pyrus malus fruit extract, Malus domestica fruit extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Parfum
- Opinion on Homosalate - Scientific Committee on Consumer Products
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Amended Safety Assessment of Acrylates Copolymers as Used in Cosmetics
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use
- Sodium anisate
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Niacinamide - mechanisms of action and its topical use in dermatology
- Gehring, W. (2004). Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 88–93. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x
- Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extracts