Allantoin
What Allantoin is & what it does
A gentle soothing agent that helps calm visible irritation and supports a smoother skin surface. It is widely tolerated and common in formulas aimed at sensitive skin.
What is Allantoin and what does it do in sunscreen?
Allantoin is a gentle soothing agent. In a sunscreen it helps calm the look of irritation and supports a softer, smoother skin surface, which is why it turns up so often in formulas aimed at sensitive skin. It is a supporting comfort ingredient rather than a UV filter or active.
Is Allantoin safe?
Yes. Allantoin is a well-established soothing ingredient with a long record of gentle use, and it is not flagged as an allergen in our data. It is used at low levels and is widely tolerated, including in products made for sensitive and baby skin.
Does Allantoin clog pores?
Generally no. Allantoin is a lightweight, water-friendly soothing agent rather than an oil or wax, and it is not flagged as comedogenic. It is an unlikely pore-clogging culprit and is commonly found in formulas marketed as suitable for blemish-prone skin.
Is Allantoin natural or synthetic?
Both versions exist. Allantoin occurs naturally in plants such as comfrey, but the form used in cosmetics is usually made synthetically so it is pure and consistent. The molecule is identical either way, and the synthetic source is generally suitable for vegan formulas.
What else is Allantoin called?
On the label it appears simply as Allantoin, its INCI name. It is sometimes associated with comfrey extract, since that plant is a natural source, but in most products the listed ingredient is the purified allantoin itself.
Sunscreens with Allantoin
We rate 1033 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:
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Avoskin The Great Shield Sun-Essence SPF 50 PA++++ (2022)
96/100
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VT Airy Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
96/100
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Avoskin Your Skin Bae Shield Of Sun Essence SPF 50 PA++++
96/100
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For Skin's Sake Weightless Sunscreen SPF50 Pa++++
96/100
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rovectin Calming / Sensitive Lotus Sun Cream SPF 50+/pa++++
96/100
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Mediheal Moisture UV Cut Sun Cream Hyaluronate SPF 50+
96/100
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Torriden Dive-in Watery Moisture Sun Cream
96/100
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GAMAL The Green Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++
96/100
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SkinMaster Pink Tone Up Sun Cream SPF50
96/100
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JUMISO Niacinamide 3+ Tone-up Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++
95/100