VT Cica Essence Sun SPF 50+ / Pa++++
92/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
VT Cica Essence Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ is a chemical sunscreen on a modern filter lineup including Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It has a balanced, essence-like finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast and stinging low. With excellent protection and a high score of 91.7/100, it is one of the top-rated picks in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +11.4 Polysilicone-15 at #6, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #12, UV filter
- β24.2 UVB coverage saturated
- β12.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- β3.1 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
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Allergens
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β4 Other sensitizers (propolis)
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Fungal acne
High
38
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- β50 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #39, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- 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 βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (66)
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- β 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Polysilicone-15)
- β 11.4 UV protection
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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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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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 17.6 UV protection
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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 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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18 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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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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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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24 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
25 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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27 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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28 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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33 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
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37 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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56 Asiaticoside
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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60 Asiatic Acid
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is VT Cica Essence Sun SPF 50+ good?
Yes, it scores 91.7/100 with excellent protection, making it one of the top-rated picks in its group.
Is the VT Cica Essence Sun SPF 50+ / Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen built on a modern filter lineup including Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Does it leave a white cast?
White cast rates low and the finish is balanced and essence-like, so it is generally easy to wear with no visible residue.