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Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Light Up Essence SPF 50+ PA++++
Kao

Biore UV Aqua Rich Light Up Essence SPF 50+ PA++++

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Ethanol, octinoxate, fragrance lower scores; mica/tin oxide tone-up essence is highly elegant on Asian skin tones.

◉ 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.
Where to buy it
YesStyle US In stock
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68.6
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #936 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Ethanol, octinoxate, fragrance lower scores; mica/tin oxide tone-up essence is highly elegant on Asian skin tones.
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. 35
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 75
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 48
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
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus 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.
Essence
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?

An SPF 50+ PA++++ tone-up essence using octinoxate, titanium dioxide, bemotrizinol, ETZ, and Uvinul A Plus with mica and tin oxide for radiance. Ethanol is high and fragrance plus BHT temper the sensitivity profile.

Pros
  • Modern multi-filter system including BEMT and ETZ
  • Mica and tin oxide give a soft tone-up glow
  • Lightweight essence texture layers under makeup
  • Ascorbyl glucoside and sodium hyaluronate as extras
Cons
  • Ethanol high in the formula can be drying
  • Octinoxate is a legacy UVB filter
  • Fragrance present, a common sensitizer
  • Contains BHT

Who it's for: Makeup-first buyers on Asian skin tones who want a glowy, brightening daily SPF and tolerate ethanol-forward textures.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 44 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 1
Water· 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· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Isopropyl Palmitate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. · Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. ·silicate (pending review)·Na/K/Al (pending review)·Dimethicone·Hydrogenated Polyisobutene· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·benzoate (pending review)·Mica·Dextrin Palmitate·Aluminum Hydroxide·Cetyl Alcohol·tri- (pending review)·Dipentaerythrityl Polyhydroxystearate·Stearic Acid·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·Silica·Glyceryl Stearate·Potassium Hydroxide·Hydroxyethylcellulose·Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·copolymer (pending review)·Polysorbate 60·Isohexadecane·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·acid (pending review)·Tromethamine·C30-45 Alkyl Methicone·C30-45 Olefin·acrylates (pending review)·Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer·Disodium Edta· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. ·Ascorbyl Glucoside·Tin Oxide· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·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 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
03 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
04 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
05 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
06 Isopropyl Palmitate Isopropyl Palmitate
07 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
08 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
09 silicate Pending review
10 Na/K/Al Pending review
11 Dimethicone Dimethicone
12 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
13 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
14 benzoate Pending review
15 Mica Mica
16 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate
17 Aluminum Hydroxide Aluminum Hydroxide
18 Cetyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol
19 tri- Pending review
20 Dipentaerythrityl Polyhydroxystearate Dipentaerythrityl Polyhydroxystearate
21 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
22 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
23 Silica Silica
24 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
25 Potassium Hydroxide Potassium Hydroxide
26 Hydroxyethylcellulose Hydroxyethylcellulose
27 Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
28 copolymer Pending review
29 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
30 Isohexadecane Isohexadecane
31 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
32 acid Pending review
33 Tromethamine Tromethamine
34 C30-45 Alkyl Methicone C30-45 Alkyl Methicone
35 C30-45 Olefin C30-45 Olefin
36 acrylates Pending review
37 Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
38 Disodium Edta Disodium EDTA
39 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
40 Ascorbyl Glucoside Ascorbyl Glucoside
41 Tin Oxide Tin Oxide
42 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
43 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
44 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.