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EXCEL

Protective UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Ethanol-forward essence with octinoxate, citrus/eucalyptus oils and fragrance; light feel is elegant but alcohol, EDC filter, and essential oils strongly irritating.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum.
61.1
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1310 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Ethanol-forward essence with octinoxate, citrus/eucalyptus oils and fragrance; light feel is elegant but alcohol, EDC filter, and essential oils strongly irritating.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

Same ethanol-forward octinoxate plus Uvinul A Plus essence as the chamomile tea version, but layered with grapefruit, bergamot, and eucalyptus oils. The added essential oils push sensitization risk substantially higher despite the elegant lightweight finish.

Pros
  • Uvinul A Plus delivers long-UVA cover at PA++++
  • Ceramide NP and Job's tears extract for hydration
  • Lightweight essence base wears flat under makeup
  • Sodium hyaluronate adds humectant support
  • Tocopherol included as an antioxidant
Cons
  • Ethanol high in the list will sting compromised or dry skin
  • Bergamot, grapefruit, and eucalyptus oils are strong sensitizers
  • Octinoxate flagged for endocrine-disruption concerns
  • Added fragrance compounds the allergen load further

Who it's for: Oily skin in humid climates who specifically want a citrus-scented chemical essence and have no history of essential-oil reactivity.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 98
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 75
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 22
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 70
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 35
02 Composition · key UV filters 2 filters resolved
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Essence
Finish How the formula looks on skin 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' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
No
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 20 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 1 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 3 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
Water·Cyclopentasiloxane· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. · Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Butylene Glycol· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Dimethicone· Ceramide Np Skin-barrier lipid. · Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract· Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·chinensis oil (pending review)· Citrus Bergamia Fruit Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. · Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer·Aminomethyl Propanol· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Phenoxyethanol· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclopentasiloxane
03 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
04 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
05 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
06 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
07 Dimethicone Dimethicone
08 Ceramide Np ACTIVE Skin-barrier lipid.
09 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
10 Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
11 Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
12 chinensis oil Pending review
13 Citrus Bergamia Fruit Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
14 Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
15 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
16 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
17 Aminomethyl Propanol Aminomethyl Propanol
18 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
19 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
20 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.