180
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #190,641 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★☆☆☆☆
SPF claims are too good to be true, check the ingredient percentages.
This sunscreen was going to be HG-worthy for me. Perfect texture, no shine after application, lightly moisturizing. Can't tell I'm wearing sunscreen seconds after applying.
But then... someone posted a email they sent to the manufacturer asking for the percentages of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The response: 2% ZnO, 1% TiO2. The only other UV filter in this sunscreen is Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate). It is the eighth ingredient down in the list, which means that there is no way this sunscreen is more than 10% octinoxate. When you plug these values into the BASF sunscreen calculator, you get an SPF of 13 and a PA+ rating.
While blocking both UVB and UVA is important, I am especially concerned with finding sunscreens that have a high PA (UVA-blocking) rating. UVA damage is the main cause of skin aging. Zinc oxide is the only ingredient in this sunscreen that blocks the full UVA range. There is no reality in which 2% zinc oxide is sufficient to provide a PA+++ rating. A PA+++ rating means that it takes at least eight times longer for skin to show signs of UVA damage, while a PA+ rating means it takes only 2-3 times as long.
Edit (April 14, 2016): The seller has replied to my review with a comment stating the UV filters used in this product. They say: Titanium dioxide (1%), Zinc Oxide (2%), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (5%), Ethylhexyl Triazone (3%).
Ethylhexyl Triazone is not in the list of ingredients, so this is blatantly false. I went and looked up the manufacturer's product page (in korean) to check their ingredients list, and ethylhexyl triazone was nowhere to be found.
When you plug these new values (1% TiO2, 2% ZnO, 5% octinoxate) into the BASF sunscreen simulator, you get an SPF of 10 and a PA+ rating.
And another thing: as of this writing the Amazon ingredients list contains both "Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate" and "Octyle Methoxycinnamate." These are the same thing, octinoxate. It seems the seller is attempting to pad the ingredients list with UV filters while being "technically correct." What a joke.
Edit (April 28, 2016): Looks like people are still buying this sunscreen. Unfortunate for them. Also looks like the seller has signed up for one of those amazon review-buying sites, because people are now posting "honest and unbiased reviews in exchange for a discount." This sunscreen is so bad you have to bribe people into buying it.
Edit (May 7, 2016): The seller is being increasingly inflammatory toward me in the comment thread of this review. He refuses to resolve the discrepancies I point out in this review. It's a good read, check it out!
April 2016 · Beauty and Personal Care · verified purchase