Shinzu'i Whitessentials Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 35 Pa+++
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Shinzu'i Whitessentials Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 35 PA+++ is a chemical sunscreen built on an older filter set of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, avobenzone and Octocrylene. The serum format wears light with a balanced finish and low white cast, and its low breakout-trigger reading suits most skin types. It can feel slightly tingly, so go gently around the eyes. With a score of 61.1 and moderate protection, it is a reasonable lightweight daily option rather than a high-protection choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
44
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #7, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 35, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, 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
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Medium
64
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Humectant polyols
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 4.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
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
- ✨ Allantoin
Full ingredient list (36)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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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
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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10 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
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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16 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
21 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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27 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Does this Shinzu'i serum sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is generally low. As a chemical serum sunscreen with no mineral filters, it wears with a balanced finish and should not leave a visible cast.
What SPF is the Shinzu'i Whitessentials Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 35 Pa+++?
It is rated SPF 35 PA+++, which the catalog classes as moderate protection. That suits daily wear, though it is below the SPF 50 level many prefer for strong sun.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses an older filter set of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, avobenzone and Octocrylene.