Umbrella Intelligent DNA Defense SPF 99
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Umbrella Intelligent DNA Defense is a very high SPF 99 hybrid chemical sunscreen combining modern UVA filters such as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol with Avobenzone, Octocrylene, and others. It wears lightweight with a matte finish, shows low white cast, does not commonly sting, and works well under makeup. It stays low on breakout triggers. Protection is rated good and the score is 74.3/100, a strong everyday face option for those wanting high SPF.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
73
- +48 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +18 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #16, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- +4.8 Octocrylene at #21, UV filter
- +7.2 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #22, UV filter
- +5.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #28, UV filter
- −13.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −13.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 99)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #28 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #21, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #16, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #16, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Octocrylene at #21, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Octinoxate at #28, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #4, heavy oil
- +1.5 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
41
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #16, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #21, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Xanthan Gum)
- ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (50)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 48 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 6 heavy oil
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
11 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 18 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 4.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 7.2 UV protection
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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26 Ceteareth-22
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 5.4 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
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29 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Supporting ingredient
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Botanical extract
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32 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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37 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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38 Dna
Supporting ingredient
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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42 Ferulic Acid
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
43 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
44 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
45 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
46 Carnosine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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47 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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pH adjuster
What SPF is Umbrella Intelligent DNA Defense?
It is a very high SPF 99 sunscreen, among the highest SPF values you will find. Protection is rated good with a score of 74.3/100.
Does the Umbrella Intelligent DNA Defense SPF 99 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low on white cast and wears lightweight with a matte finish, so it generally disappears into the skin and works well under makeup.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid chemical sunscreen, combining modern UVA filters like Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol with Avobenzone and Octocrylene.