SkinCeuticals Ultimate Uv Defense Spf 30
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense is an SPF 30 sunscreen using an older chemical and mineral mix of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate plus zinc oxide. The finish is matte, but the texture sits on the medium-weight side and can show a moderate white cast. It is commonly low-sting and low on pore-clogging risk, though it rates poor as a base under makeup. With good protection and a lower score of 62.0/100, it is a serviceable matte option whose dated filter set holds it back.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
24
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β40 Isobutylparaben at #35, EU-banned paraben
- β12 Butylparaben at #33, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- β10 Propylparaben at #34, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- +22 Shelf-chemistry block capped
π₯
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Medium
51
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Zinc Oxide at #2
- β2 Cera Alba at #14, wax film
- β2 Copernicia Cerifera Wax at #18, wax film
- β12 Synthetic Beeswax at #6, wax film
- β10 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (basic)
- +16.5 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
π
Fungal acne
High
38
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Tristearate)
- β50 6 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 6 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
- β 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide)
- β 12 Powder overload over a gel polymer, pills under foundation
- β 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +11 3 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (35)
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 (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 β dewy emollient lipid
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10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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14 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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15 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
17 PEG-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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19 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Supporting ingredient
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29 Steareth-100
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
30 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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32 Ethylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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33 Butylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 12 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- β 40 EU-banned paraben
Is the SkinCeuticals Ultimate Uv Defense Spf 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a mix of both. It pairs the chemical filter ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate with mineral zinc oxide, using an older-generation filter set.
Does the SkinCeuticals Ultimate Uv Defense Spf 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated medium, so it can show a moderate cast on deeper skin tones because of the zinc oxide content.
Is it good for oily skin?
The finish is matte and it is low on pore-clogging risk, which suits oily skin. It scores 62.0/100, held back partly by its dated filters.