Shiseido Future Solution Lx Total Protective Emulsion Spf 20
52/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Shiseido Future Solution LX Total Protective Emulsion is a luxury SPF 20 emulsion with an older chemical filter set: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. It finishes matte with low white cast and a low breakout tendency, but it may sting sensitive eyes more than most. SPF 20 delivers only moderate protection, and with a score of 52.1/100 it leans more skincare than dedicated sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
48
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- β7.5 UVB coverage saturated
- β6.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
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Health safety
Low
3
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
18
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Volatile alcohol at #39
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Hydrogenated Polydecene at #9, heavy oil
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Glyceryl Stearate SE at #30, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Low
78
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE)
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Behenic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #49, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- +35 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Talc)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Talc)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 3 Volatile alcohol at #7
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 7 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (49)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 3 heavy oil
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10 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
11 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
15 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
pH adjuster
-
18 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
29 PPG-17
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
32 Behenic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
33 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
37 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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39 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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40 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
43 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
45 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
46 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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48 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
49 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
What SPF is the Shiseido Future Solution LX emulsion?
It is SPF 20, which provides only moderate protection. It is a luxury skincare emulsion with sun protection added rather than a high-SPF sunscreen.
Does the Shiseido Future Solution Lx Total Protective Emulsion Spf 20 sting the eyes?
It may. Its sting rating is high, so it could irritate sensitive eyes more than most, something to keep in mind when applying near the eye area.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is chemical, using an older filter set of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. It scores 52.1/100.