SkinCeuticals Brightening Uv Defense Spf 30
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Brightening UV Defense SPF 30 is a hybrid sunscreen combining octinoxate with the modern filters Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL plus titanium dioxide. It wears matte with low white cast, low sting, and a lightweight feel, with low pore-clogging potential, and pairs sun defense with a brightening focus. Protection is excellent and it sits okay under makeup. At 82.4/100 it is a high-performing option, well suited to those wanting strong protection with a matte daily finish.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Excellent
83
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +26.6 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +9.5)
- +38 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +13.3)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- β10.2 UVB coverage saturated
- β17 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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White cast
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- +1 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β4 Volatile alcohol at #8
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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #10
- +1.5 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #14, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
63
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- β7 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #7, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #8
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- β 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Nylon-12)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Volatile alcohol at #8
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #8), fast, even canvas
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer)
- β 3.5 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 (34)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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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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3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX)
- β 26.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL)
- β 38 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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pH adjuster
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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11 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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13 Nylon-12
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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18 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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23 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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24 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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25 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
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26 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
Is SkinCeuticals Brightening UV Defense mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing octinoxate with the modern Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL filters plus titanium dioxide. This combination targets strong broad-spectrum defense.
Is the SkinCeuticals Brightening Uv Defense Spf 30 good for oily skin?
It wears matte with low pore-clogging potential, so it generally suits oily and combination skin. It also feels lightweight and sits okay under makeup.
How strong is the protection?
Protection is rated excellent, and with a score of 82.4/100 it is a high-performing daily sunscreen. It pairs strong UV defense with a brightening focus.