Parasol HeliaTech Sunscreen Spf 45
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Parasol HeliaTech Sunscreen SPF 45 is a hybrid sunscreen pairing Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low, with a low-sting, low-clogging profile. It works okay as a makeup base. Protection is good, while the 61.2/100 score places it mid-pack.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
65
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +45.6 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +11.4 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor at #7, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- −12.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −1.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
☢️
Health safety
Low
4
- +100 Starting score
- −80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #10, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −18 Sensitizing preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone)
- −4 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor)
👻
White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Tinosorb M at #6, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
🔥
Eye sting
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Isopropyl Palmitate at #18, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
High
27
- +100 Starting score
- −30 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate)
- −41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #10, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
- → 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
- → 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (28)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
4 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 12 may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
-
Legacy UV filter (4-MBC)
- ↑ 11.4 UV protection
- ↓ 80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) (regulatory/evidence concern)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
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12 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
26 PEG-90
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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27 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Does the Parasol HeliaTech Sunscreen Spf 45 leave a white cast?
White cast is reported as low and the finish is balanced, so it generally wears clear. It also stays lightweight.
Is the Parasol HeliaTech Sunscreen Spf 45 good overall?
Protection is good at SPF 45, but the 61.2/100 score places it mid-pack. It works okay as a makeup base.