Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
COSRX Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-Up Sunscreen
COSRX

Aloe 54.2 Aqua Tone-Up Sunscreen

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Tinted Iron-oxide pigment masks white cast with a sheer skin-tone finish. South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Homosalate + DHHB/BEMT/MCS blend with aloe and iron-oxide tint; no fragrance or alcohol but homosalate penalizes health-safety.

◉ 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). ● TINT Tinted Tinted — Adds sheer colour — kills white cast and gives a skin-tone finish.
Where to buy it
YesStyle US In stock
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79.7
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #355 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Homosalate + DHHB/BEMT/MCS blend with aloe and iron-oxide tint; no fragrance or alcohol but homosalate penalizes health-safety.
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. 100
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 86
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 68
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. 74
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 65
02 Composition · key UV filters 5 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
Homosalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
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.
Yes
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?

Hybrid SPF 51 layering a modern UVA trio (DHHB, BEMT, Mexoryl SX) with homosalate and a touch of TiO2 on an aloe-water base. Iron-oxide tint adds tone-up while niacinamide rounds out the formula; homosalate is the main drag on health-safety.

Pros
  • Modern UVA filters DHHB, BEMT, and Mexoryl SX with TiO2 backup
  • Aloe leaf water base plus niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate
  • Iron-oxide tint masks any white-cast on most tones
  • Fragrance-free and free of denatured alcohol
  • PA++++ for high UVA protection
Cons
  • Homosalate is a US-style filter linked to EDC concerns
  • Potassium cetyl phosphate emulsifier can sting compromised skin
  • Single tint shade may not flatter every skin tone

Who it's for: Suits buyers who want a Korean tone-up SPF with modern UVA filters and don't mind homosalate; less ideal for those strictly avoiding US chemical filters.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 42 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 6
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water· Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. ·Butylene Glycol· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Ethylhexyl (pending review)·Salicylate (pending review)· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Water· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Methyl Trimethicone· Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. · Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Diisopropyl Sebacate· Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) ·1‚2-Hexanediol·Potassium Cetyl Phosphate·Phosphate (pending review)·Cetearyl Alcohol·Tromethamine·Glyceryl Stearate·Behenyl Alcohol·Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6·Xanthan Gum·Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate·Hydrogenated Lecithin·Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Stearic Acid·Aluminum Hydroxide·Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate·Palmitic Acid·Ci 77491·Disodium Edta·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Ci 77492· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. · Allantoin Soothing; barrier-supportive. ·Myristic Acid·Cyanocobalamin·Lauric Acid· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water Aloe Vera Leaf Water
02 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
03 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
04 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
05 Ethylhexyl Pending review
06 Salicylate Pending review
07 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
08 Water Water
09 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
10 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
11 Methyl Trimethicone Methyl Trimethicone
12 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
13 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
14 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
15 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid MODERN FILTER Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX)
16 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
17 Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
18 Phosphate Pending review
19 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
20 Tromethamine Tromethamine
21 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
22 Behenyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol
23 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
24 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
25 Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
26 Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydrogenated Lecithin
27 Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
28 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
29 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
30 Aluminum Hydroxide Aluminum Hydroxide
31 Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
32 Palmitic Acid Palmitic Acid
33 Ci 77491 Iron Oxide Red (CI 77491)
34 Disodium Edta Disodium EDTA
35 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
36 Ci 77492 Iron Oxide Yellow (CI 77492)
37 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
38 Allantoin ACTIVE Soothing; barrier-supportive.
39 Myristic Acid Myristic Acid
40 Cyanocobalamin Vitamin B12
41 Lauric Acid Lauric Acid
42 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.