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3W Clinic Intensive UV Sun Cream

3W Clinic Intensive UV Sun Cream

74/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

3W Clinic Intensive UV Sun Cream is a hybrid formula combining chemical filters with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for broad-spectrum defense. It wears with a balanced finish and stays lightweight, with a medium white cast that may show slightly on deeper skin tones. It does not commonly sting and is low for pore-clogging, but it is a poor base under makeup. With a 74.1 score and excellent protection, it is a capable everyday cream best worn on its own.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Excellent 92
  • +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
  • +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
  • +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
  • +13.3 Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
  • +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
  • +32.8 Zinc Oxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
  • +13.2 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #15, UV filter
  • βˆ’44.1 UVB coverage saturated
  • βˆ’9.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

High 64
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 70
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Medium 43
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’12 Zinc Oxide at #10
  • βˆ’35 Titanium Dioxide at #6
  • βˆ’10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Low 70
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 68
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’8 Zinc Oxide at #10
  • βˆ’16 Titanium Dioxide at #6
  • βˆ’2 Cera Alba at #14, wax film
  • βˆ’6 Paraffinum Liquidum at #5, heavy oil
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 60
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
  • βˆ’23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
  • βˆ’5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

Low 70
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #8, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
  • βˆ’10 Titanium Dioxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
  • βˆ’5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • β†’ 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
  • β†’ 1 1 strong humectants (Betaine)
  • β†’ 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • β†’ 5 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Poor
PillsPrimer
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
  • ← 8 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
  • ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
  • ← 6 High mineral load at #6 greys under foundation
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +2 1 water-locking waxes
How we rate water resistance β†’

Full ingredient list (29)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 18 UV protection
    • ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 16 β†’ nourishing the anchor humectant
  4. 4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)

    • ↑ 7.6 UV protection
    • ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
  5. 5 Paraffinum Liquidum

    Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin

    • ↑ 6 heavy oil
    • 5 β†’ dewy occlusive
  6. 6 Titanium Dioxide

    Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)

    • ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
  7. Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Amiloxate)

    • ↑ 13.3 UV protection
  8. Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
  9. 9 Cetyl Alcohol

    Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind

    • 0.5 β†’ nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
  10. 10 Zinc Oxide

    Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 32.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
  11. 11 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 5 minor malassezia feeder
  12. 12 Glyceryl Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  13. 13 Polysorbate 60

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  14. 14 Cera Alba

    Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin

    • ↑ 2 wax film
    • ↑ 2 wax water lock
  15. 15 Ethylhexyl Triazone

    Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 13.2 UV protection
  16. 16 PEG-100 Stearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  17. 17 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  18. 18 Aloe Vera Extract

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  19. Botanical extract

  20. 20 Panax Ginseng Extract

    Botanical extract

  21. 21 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  22. 22 Betaine

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant
  23. 23 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  24. 24 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  25. 25 Triethanolamine

    pH adjuster

  26. 26 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  27. 27 Ci 19140

    Colorant or pigment

  28. 28 Yellow 6

    Colorant or pigment

  29. 29 Fragrance

    Fragrance

Does 3W Clinic Intensive UV Sun Cream leave a white cast?

White cast is medium. Because it includes titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, some residue may show, and it can be slightly more visible on deeper skin tones.

Is the 3W Clinic Intensive UV Sun Cream good under makeup?

It is generally a poor base under makeup, so it is better worn on its own. The balanced finish and lightweight feel still make it comfortable for daily use.

Is it mineral or chemical?

It is a hybrid sunscreen. It blends chemical filters with the mineral filters titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for broad-spectrum coverage.

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