Faces Canada Sun Defence Lotion SPF 40
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Faces Canada Sun Defence Lotion SPF 40 is a chemical sunscreen using an older-generation filter set with avobenzone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and octocrylene alongside titanium dioxide. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast. The formula is low for pore-clogging and low for sting. Protection is rated moderate and the overall score is mid-range, making it an everyday lotion that is fine but not class-leading.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
49
- +30 Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #6, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #22, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −2.2 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #22
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #25, butter/occlusive fat
- +1 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Laureth-7)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #22, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (32)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
UV filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 Avobenzone, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
18 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
23 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
24 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
27 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
32 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
Does Faces Canada Sun Defence Lotion SPF 40 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low, with a balanced, lightweight finish. It is a chemical lotion using an older-generation filter set.
Is the Faces Canada Sun Defence Lotion SPF 40 good for acne-prone or sensitive skin?
It is rated low for pore-clogging and low for sting, so it is generally gentle, though only an okay makeup base.
Is it good overall?
Protection is rated moderate and the overall score is mid-range, so it is fine for everyday wear but not class-leading.