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Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40

65/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40 is a chemical sunscreen spray using older-generation filters: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene. It has a balanced, lightweight feel with low white cast and works well under makeup, but the spray format and filter mix make it prone to stinging the eyes. Pore-clogging risk is low. With good protection and a score of 64.9/100, it is a convenient spray for everyday and body use.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 60
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’10 Volatile alcohol at #5
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 99
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’1 Palmitic Acid at #22, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Low 80
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Lecithin)
  • βˆ’2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Light
LightNourishing
  • ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #5
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
  • β†’ 1 1 emollient lipids (Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Dimethyl Silylate)
  • ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #5
  • ← 3 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate, Caprylyl Methicone)
  • β†’ 4 2 emollient lipids (Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Good
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
  • β†’ 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #5), fast, even canvas
  • β†’ 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • β†’ 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

Full ingredient list (28)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    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
  5. 5 Alcohol Denat

    Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes

  6. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  7. 7 Triethylhexanoin

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  8. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 3 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
  9. 9 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  10. 10 Caprylyl Methicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  11. 11 Silica Dimethyl Silylate

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  12. 12 Dipropylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  13. 13 PPG-3 Dipivalate

    Supporting ingredient

  14. Botanical extract

    • 1 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  15. Supporting ingredient

  16. 16 Lecithin

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  17. 17 Licorice Extract

    Botanical extract

  18. 18 PPG-17

    Supporting ingredient

  19. 19 Hydroxystearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  20. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  21. 21 Polyamide-8

    Supporting ingredient

  22. 22 Palmitic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  23. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  24. 24 BHT

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  25. 25 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  26. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  27. 27 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  28. 28 Fragrance

    Fragrance

Is Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray mineral or chemical?

It is fully chemical, using older-generation filters: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Octocrylene, with no mineral filters.

Does the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray SPF 40 sting the eyes?

It is rated high for stinging, and as a spray it is easy to over-apply near the face, so it is best kept away from the eyes.

Is Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Spray good?

It scores 64.9/100 with good SPF 40 protection. It is a convenient spray for everyday and body use that is lightweight, low in white cast, and works well under makeup.

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