Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18 is a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters Homosalate, Octisalate, and Avobenzone. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast, and is low on stinging and pore-clogging, with okay makeup compatibility. The SPF 18 and older filter set give only weak protection, and the score is 49.0/100, so it is best for light, incidental sun rather than extended exposure.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
7
- +3.6 Homosalate at #30, UV filter
- +2.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #31, UV filter
- +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #32, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- Γ0.72 Avobenzone without a photostabilizer
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #30 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #32, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β4 Essential oils (Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Sinensis Oil)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Avobenzone at #32, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Homosalate at #30, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Octisalate at #31, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Stearic Acid at #5, rich gel-network thickener
- β5 Stearyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
π
Fungal acne
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β30 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- β23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil)
- β38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate)
- β10 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- β10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
- +11 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
π
Fabric stains
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Avobenzone at #32, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
π§
Moisture
Nourishing
LightNourishing
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #16, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 3 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil)
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Stearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Aloe vera
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
- β¨ Allantoin
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (32)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- β 10 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 30 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 2 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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13 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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14 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
15 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
17 Resveratrol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
18 Ubiquinone
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Plant oil, an emollient
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Plant oil, an emollient
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30 Homosalate
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 3.6 UV protection
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 2.4 UV protection
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
Is SPF 18 enough?
Protection is weak at SPF 18 with older filters, so it suits light, incidental sun rather than extended exposure. The score is 49.0/100.
Is the Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18 mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using older-generation Homosalate, Octisalate, and Avobenzone.
Does the Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. The chemical filters absorb clear on most skin tones.