Shiseido Syncro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation Spf 30
49/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation SPF 30 is a makeup product with sun protection, combining the chemical filter ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate with titanium dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, keeps white cast low, and is designed to work well as a base since it is itself a foundation. Protection is rated weak, which is typical for a tinted foundation worn at thin coverage, and its score of 49.0 reflects that. Treat it as a cosmetic top-up rather than your primary sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Weak
30
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- β2 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π»
White cast
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 5.8% declared
- +12.6 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.4 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 5.8% declared
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Isopropyl Myristate at #14, heavy comedogenic ester
π
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
π
Fabric stains
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #37, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate at #20, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 4 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (38)
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.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 18 5.8% declared
- β 10 5.8% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
-
7 PEG-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
16 Nacre Powder
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Supporting ingredient
-
22 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
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
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
30 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
32 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
33 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
34 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
37 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
38 Mica
Colorant or pigment
Is Shiseido Synchro Skin enough sun protection on its own?
Protection is rated weak, which is typical for a foundation worn at thin makeup-level coverage. It is generally best treated as a top-up over a dedicated sunscreen rather than your only SPF.
Does the Shiseido Syncro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation Spf 30 work as a makeup base?
Yes. It is itself a foundation, so makeup-base performance is rated good, with a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It uses a mix, pairing the chemical filter ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate with titanium dioxide.