Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
HU
Huxley

Sun Essence Stay Sun Safe

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

Modern filter system and ceramide support undermined by fragrance plus benzyl salicylate, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, eugenol, amyl cinnamal.

◐ 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. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
75.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #531 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Modern filter system and ceramide support undermined by fragrance plus benzyl salicylate, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, eugenol, amyl cinnamal.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

Lightweight essence built on four modern photostable filters (DHHB, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Tinosorb M, Iscotrizinol) with niacinamide, ceramide NP, and prickly pear support. Added fragrance with several declared allergens limits its appeal for reactive skin.

Pros
  • Four modern photostable filters covering UVA and UVB
  • Niacinamide and ceramide NP support barrier
  • Alcohol-free, with no ethanol or denatured alcohol
  • Essence texture absorbs quickly under skincare
  • Opuntia ficus-indica extract and oil for soothing
Cons
  • Contains Fragrance plus benzyl salicylate, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, eugenol
  • Five declared EU allergens stack reactivity risk
  • Decyl glucoside surfactant may irritate damaged skin

Who it's for: Normal to combination skin wanting an absorbent modern-filter essence and unfazed by added fragrance and several listed allergens.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 100
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 100
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 35
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 74
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 58
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 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
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M) Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvasorb HEB 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.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 40 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 4 LEGACY FILTER 0 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 5 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 6
Water·Dibutyl Adipate·Propanediol· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Polymethylsilsesquioxane· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. · Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. · Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol Tinosorb M — broad-spectrum, photostable. ·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Caprylyl Methicone· Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone Iscotrizinol — modern, well-tolerated UVB filter. ·1‚2-Hexanediol· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Butylene Glycol·Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract·Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil·Hydrogenated Lecithin·Pentylene Glycol·Behenyl Alcohol·Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate·Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate·Decyl Glucoside·Tromethamine·Carbomer·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate·Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Adenosine Smoothing active. ·Xanthan Gum·T-butyl Alcohol· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. · Ceramide Np Skin-barrier lipid. ·Phytosphingosine· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. · Benzyl Salicylate Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Hexyl Cinnamal Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Citronellol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Eugenol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Amyl Cinnamal Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Dibutyl Adipate Dibutyl Adipate
03 Propanediol Propanediol
04 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
05 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
06 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
07 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
08 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol MODERN FILTER Tinosorb M — broad-spectrum, photostable.
09 Coco-caprylate/Caprate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
10 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
11 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone MODERN FILTER Iscotrizinol — modern, well-tolerated UVB filter.
12 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
13 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
14 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
15 Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract Prickly Pear Stem Extract
16 Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil Prickly Pear Seed Oil
17 Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydrogenated Lecithin
18 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
19 Behenyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol
20 Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
21 Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
22 Decyl Glucoside Decyl Glucoside
23 Tromethamine Tromethamine
24 Carbomer Carbomer
25 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
26 Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
27 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
28 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
29 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
30 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
31 T-butyl Alcohol t-Butyl Alcohol
32 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
33 Ceramide Np ACTIVE Skin-barrier lipid.
34 Phytosphingosine Phytosphingosine
35 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.
36 Benzyl Salicylate NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
37 Hexyl Cinnamal NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
38 Citronellol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
39 Eugenol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
40 Amyl Cinnamal NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.