Missha Essence Sun Spf 45 P+++
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Missha Essence Sun SPF 45 P+++ is a hybrid sunscreen blending classic cinnamate and salicylate with modern filters Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S, plus Ensulizole. The essence wears lightweight with a balanced finish, keeps white cast low, and is gentle with low sting and low pore-clogging risk. It works okay under makeup. Protection rates as excellent and the overall score of 82 makes it one of the top performers in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
90
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- β21.7 UVB coverage saturated
- β1.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
π₯
Eye sting
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β4 Ensulizole at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Volatile alcohol at #43
- β8 Fragrance
π
Fungal acne
High
13
- +100 Starting score
- β50 5 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β37 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #6, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 2 Volatile alcohol at #43
- β 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 0.5 Volatile alcohol at #43
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate-13)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +6 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (50)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- β 13.3 UV protection
- β 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- β 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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25 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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31 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Botanical extract
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Botanical extract
-
Solvent base, the water phase
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Botanical extract
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43 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Is Missha Essence Sun SPF 45 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen, blending classic cinnamate and salicylate with modern filters Uvinul A Plus and Tinosorb S, plus Ensulizole. It is rated SPF 45 P+++.
Does the Missha Essence Sun Spf 45 P+++ leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low, so it generally wears without an obvious whitening effect. The essence feels lightweight with a balanced finish.
Is this sunscreen good?
Its overall score is 82 out of 100 with excellent protection, one of the top performers in its group. Its pore-clogging risk is also low.