Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W Spf 18
60/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Shiseido's White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W is an SPF 18 chemical sunscreen built on an older filter set of avobenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene with a touch of titanium dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, has a low white cast and a lightweight feel, and sits well under makeup, though the older filters may sting if they reach the eyes. With a score of 60 out of 100 and only moderate protection at SPF 18, it reads as a light daily option rather than a high-defense pick.
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
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #39, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β2.8 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
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Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #39
- +3 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +0.2 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #39
- β3 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #12, heavy oil
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Beheneth-20, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate)
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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
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #40, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #39, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +17 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #21, hyaluronic family
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- 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 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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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 (40)
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 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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4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 3 heavy oil
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
15 Erythritol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
17 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
25 Beheneth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
28 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
30 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
32 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
36 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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38 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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40 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does the Shiseido White Lucent emulsion leave a white cast?
No, it has a low white cast and a balanced, lightweight finish, so it tends to blend in without leaving a noticeable layer. It also sits well under makeup.
Is the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion W Spf 18 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen, using avobenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene with a small amount of titanium dioxide. The filters are an older generation.
Is this a good sunscreen?
It scores 60 out of 100 with only moderate protection at SPF 18, so it reads as a light daily option rather than a high-defense pick. For strong sun exposure you may want a higher SPF.