SkinWhite Kojic Acid + Retinol Lotion SPF 20
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinWhite Kojic Acid + Retinol Lotion SPF 20 is a chemical sunscreen using a hybrid blend of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and a low tendency to clog pores, and it does not commonly sting. It is okay as a makeup base. With moderate protection from its SPF 20 rating and a score of 68.0/100, it is a lighter daily lotion rather than a high-protection pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
36
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +21.6 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +13.2)
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
☢️
Health safety
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −5 Retinol at #42, disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
👻
White cast
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #16
🔥
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Cetyl Palmitate at #7, wax film
- −5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #13, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- → 1 Glycerin at #32, the anchor humectant
- → 1.5 2 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Ether)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (51)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → 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
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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11 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 21.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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22 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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29 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
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31 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
32 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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36 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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41 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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42 Retinol
Supporting ingredient
- ↓ 5 disputed vitamin-A sunlight signal, under review
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43 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
46 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
50 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
51 Allergens
Supporting ingredient
What SPF is the SkinWhite Kojic Acid + Retinol Lotion?
It is rated SPF 20, which gives only moderate protection. It works best as a lighter daily lotion rather than a high-protection pick.
Does the SkinWhite Kojic Acid + Retinol Lotion SPF 20 leave a white cast?
No, it commonly leaves little to no white cast. As a chemical formula with a balanced finish, it tends to wear clear on most skin tones.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using a hybrid blend of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate.