Christian Dean Secret Tone Up Sun Cream
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Christian Dean Secret Tone Up Sun Cream is a chemical-led formula using an older filter blend of Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. As a tone-up cream it leaves a visibly high white cast by design, with a matte finish and a somewhat heavier feel. It generally does not sting and has a low pore-clogging rating, and it sits okay under makeup. With a score of 61.5/100 and good protection, it suits those who want the brightening tone-up effect.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
65
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +18 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −11.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −8.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #13, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
65
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −17 6 declared fragrance allergens; EU-banned: Butylphenyl Methylpropional
👻
White cast
High
19
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +9 Tone-up product, visible whitening is the point
🔥
Eye sting
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #13, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 5 declared fragrance allergens
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −6 Cera Alba at #8, wax film
- +14.5 Volatile silicone at #3, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
70
- +100 Starting score
- −30 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- +0 Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate at #32, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
12
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #13, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #35, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 12 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #6, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #33, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 11 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Cetyl Ethylhexanoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (43)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → 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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → dewy slippy emollient ester
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 18 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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18 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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35 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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36 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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38 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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39 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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42 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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43 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does Christian Dean Tone Up Sun Cream leave a white cast?
Yes, white cast is rated high, which is intentional for a tone-up cream that brightens the complexion. Expect a visible lightening effect, so blend it well if you want a more natural look.
Is the Christian Dean Secret Tone Up Sun Cream mineral or chemical?
It is a mixed formula using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide alongside chemical filters like Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It is not a pure mineral product.
Is it good?
It has good protection and a score of 61.5/100. It suits those who specifically want the brightening tone-up effect, with a matte finish and a somewhat heavier feel.