Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
acwell Solar Defense Licorice Sun Cream
acwell

Solar Defense Licorice Sun Cream

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Hybrid with high homosalate plus cyclopentasiloxane silicones; fragrance-free with licorice/botanicals but artemisia and clove oils add minor allergen risk.

◉ HYB Hybrid filters Hybrid filters — Mineral + chemical filters together for the best of both. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB — covers the whole sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance — lower irritation risk if your skin's reactive. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
Where to buy it
YesStyle US In stock
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70.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #850 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Hybrid with high homosalate plus cyclopentasiloxane silicones; fragrance-free with licorice/botanicals but artemisia and clove oils add minor allergen risk.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
01 The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 85
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 65
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 55
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 85
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 66
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 62
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Homosalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Hybrid
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Verdict Is it worth it?

A fragrance-free hybrid pairing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide with homosalate and octisalate, finished with licorice and botanical extracts. Cyclopentasiloxane and homosalate weigh on environmental and health scoring.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and alcohol-free hybrid
  • Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide alongside chemical filters
  • Licorice root and adenosine for soothing
  • Niacinamide included
  • Silicone blend gives a smooth feel
Cons
  • Homosalate high in the ingredient list
  • Artemisia and clove bud oils add allergen risk
  • Cyclopentasiloxane raises environmental concern
  • Silicone-heavy base may pill for some users

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a fragrance-free hybrid with a silky feel who accept homosalate and trace essential oils.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 45 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 2 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 5
Water· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Cyclopentasiloxane· Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. ·Propanediol· Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Lauryl Peg-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. ·Caprylyl Methicone·Veronica Officinalis Extract·Poterium Officinale Root Extract·Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract·Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract·Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract·Solidago Virgaurea Extract·Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract·Artemisia Vulgaris Oil· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water·Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate·Disteardimonium Hectorite·Magnesium Sulfate·Dimethicone·1‚2-Hexanediol·Polymethylsilsesquioxane·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Stearic Acid·Aluminum Hydroxide·Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer·Butylene Glycol·Glyceryl Caprylate·Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer·Caprylyl Glycol· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Adenosine Smoothing active. ·Dipropylene Glycol·Sodium Citrate· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Silica·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Cerium Oxide·Hydrogen Dimethicone·Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclopentasiloxane
04 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
05 Propanediol Propanediol
06 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
07 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
08 Lauryl Peg-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)silylethyl Dimethicone
09 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
10 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
11 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
12 Veronica Officinalis Extract
13 Poterium Officinale Root Extract
14 Pinus Sylvestris Bud Extract
15 Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract Chinese Licorice Root Extract
16 Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract Lotus Flower Extract
17 Solidago Virgaurea Extract
18 Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract Clove Bud Extract
19 Artemisia Vulgaris Oil Mugwort Oil
20 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
21 Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water Licorice Root Water
22 Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
23 Disteardimonium Hectorite Disteardimonium Hectorite
24 Magnesium Sulfate Magnesium Sulfate
25 Dimethicone Dimethicone
26 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
27 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
28 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
29 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
30 Aluminum Hydroxide Aluminum Hydroxide
31 Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
32 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
33 Glyceryl Caprylate Glyceryl Caprylate
34 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
35 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
36 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
37 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
38 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
39 Sodium Citrate Sodium Citrate
40 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
41 Silica Silica
42 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
43 Cerium Oxide Cerium Oxide
44 Hydrogen Dimethicone Hydrogen Dimethicone
45 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid