CHANEL
UV ESSENTIEL Complete UV Protection Sunscreen Antioxidant Broad Spectrum SPF 50
SPF 50+ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that straight-up disappear on skin. United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.
Homosalate 10% (max US allowed) + alcohol + fragrance; elegant Chanel texture but worst-case sensitivity/endocrine profile.
◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant, but filter choice matters.
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock 広告 / Affiliate Disclosure · Sunscreen Ranker earns commission on the above links. Rankings are scored independently — no brand pays for placement.
58.2
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1395 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Homosalate 10% (max US allowed) + alcohol + fragrance; elegant Chanel texture but worst-case sensitivity/endocrine profile.
01 The score breakdown
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.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
No
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.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
No
Verdict Is it worth it?
A luxury chemical cream with avobenzone, homosalate at the US ceiling of 10%, octisalate, and octocrylene. The texture is elegant, but fragrance, denatured alcohol, and a high homosalate load tilt the formula away from sensitive skin.
Pros
- Botanical extracts and squalane give an elegant cream finish
- Yeast extract and ginger contribute antioxidant notes
- Pullulan and acacia waxes contribute soft-focus feel
- Sodium hyaluronate adds humectant pull
Cons
- Homosalate at 10% raises endocrine-disruption concerns
- Contains fragrance, a leading sensitizer
- Denatured alcohol is in the formula and can dry reactive skin
- Older US filter set lacks modern UVA triazines
Who it's for: For normal skin that prioritizes a luxe Chanel finish under makeup and tolerates fragrance, ethanol, and homosalate.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 45 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 5
Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. ·Water· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Triacontanyl Pvp· Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Pentylene Glycol·Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters·Jojoba Esters·Behenyl Alcohol· Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. ·Potassium Cetyl Phosphate·Yeast Extract·Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract·Zingiber Officinale Root Extract·Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root Extract· Polyglycerin-3 Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Dipropylene Glycol·C14-22 Alcohols·Pullulan·Dimethicone·Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil·Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract·Sorbitol·Chlorphenesin·Caprylyl Glycol·C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside·Xanthan Gum· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax·Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera·Butylene Glycol·Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract·Phytic Acid·Trehalose·1‚2-Hexanediol·Sodium Hydroxide· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Glucose·Sodium Citrate·Ascorbyl Palmitate·Sodium Benzoate·Citric Acid
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
06 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
24 Fragrance ADDED FRAGRANCE Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.