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Dr. Althea Aqua Glowing Sunscreen
Dr. Althea

Aqua Glowing Sunscreen

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that straight-up disappear on skin. South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Clean EU filter quartet (T150, Uvinul A+, Mexoryl XL, Tinosorb M), panthenol/ceramide/HA, no fragrance or essential oils — sensitive-skin friendly.

CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant, but filter choice matters. ((· 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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88.0
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #78 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Clean EU filter quartet (T150, Uvinul A+, Mexoryl XL, Tinosorb M), panthenol/ceramide/HA, no fragrance or essential oils — sensitive-skin friendly.
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. 100
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 75
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 78
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 80
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
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Mexoryl XL Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M) 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.
Chemical
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.
Glowy
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 EU-filter cream combining Uvinul T 150, Uvinul A Plus, Mexoryl XL and Tinosorb M with panthenol, ceramide NP, and hyaluronate. The result is high broad-spectrum coverage with a glowy finish and a notably gentle ingredient list.

Pros
  • Four-filter modern EU system covers UVA1 to UVB
  • Fragrance-free and alcohol-free
  • Ceramide NP, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate
  • Niacinamide for tone support
  • PA++++ with SPF 51
Cons
  • Glowy finish may not suit oily-skin preferences
  • Contains decyl glucoside which can sensitize a minority
  • Trimethylsiloxysilicate-led feel may pill under some makeup

Who it's for: Sensitive or barrier-impaired skin wanting strong UVA protection with a dewy daily finish; matte-finish seekers should look elsewhere.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 39 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 4 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 8
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Bambusa Vulgaris Water Bamboo Water
03 Isononyl Isononanoate Isononyl Isononanoate
04 Propanediol Propanediol
05 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
06 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
07 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
08 Dibutyl Adipate Dibutyl Adipate
09 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
10 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
11 Drometrizole Trisiloxane MODERN FILTER Mexoryl XL
12 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol MODERN FILTER Tinosorb M — broad-spectrum, photostable.
13 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
14 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
15 Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
16 Glycereth-26 Glycereth-26
17 Panthenol ACTIVE Vitamin B5 — soothing humectant.
18 Behenyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol
19 Tromethamine Tromethamine
20 Decyl Glucoside Decyl Glucoside
21 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
22 Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
23 Carbomer Carbomer
24 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
26 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
27 Trimethylsiloxysilicate Trimethylsiloxysilicate
28 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
29 Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
30 Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
31 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
32 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
33 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
34 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
35 Ceramide Np ACTIVE Skin-barrier lipid.
36 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
37 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
38 Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract Sea Grape Extract