Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KA
Kao

Curel Intensive Moisture Care Base Milk SPF 30 PA+++

SPF 30 · PA+++ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens skin tone. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Quasi-drug with stearyl glycyrrhetinate, mineral filters, no alcohol/fragrance; mineral base may chalk untinted on darker skin.

△ MIN Mineral filters Mineral filters — Physical filters (ZnO, TiO2) sit on skin and reflect UV. Reef-safer; very gentle. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance or perfume — lower irritation risk for reactive skin. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
71.5
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #763 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Quasi-drug with stearyl glycyrrhetinate, mineral filters, no alcohol/fragrance; mineral base may chalk untinted on darker skin.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A Curel quasi-drug mineral milk using zinc oxide alongside stearyl glycyrrhetinate, ceramide-mimetic, and hinoki extract for barrier-focused care. Alcohol- and fragrance-free with a moderate SPF 30 PA+++ that suits indoor and short-outdoor days.

Pros
  • Stearyl glycyrrhetinate is a recognized soothing active
  • Alcohol-free and fragrance-free formulation
  • Ceramide-mimetic supports compromised barriers
  • Zinc oxide gives broad UVA-UVB coverage
  • Lightweight silicone milk spreads easily
Cons
  • SPF 30 is moderate for prolonged sun exposure
  • Zinc oxide dominance can chalk untinted on deeper skin
  • Sparse humectant content for very dry skin
  • Short ingredient list also means few cosmetic finish helpers

Who it's for: Sensitive or eczema-prone skin needing a fragrance-free mineral SPF for everyday low-intensity sun, who can accept a possible white cast.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 68
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 72
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 58
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 68
02 Composition · key UV filters 1 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
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
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.
Mineral
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.
Milk
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.
Yes
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) 16 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 0 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 1 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 1
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate·Water·Cyclomethicone·Dimethicone· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Silica· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract·PEG/PPG Dimethicone Copolymer (pending review)·Butylene Glycol·Isoparaffin·hexadecyloxy PG hydroxyethyl hexadecade Namide (pending review)·Methicone·long-chain dibasic acid bis 3-methoxypropylamide (pending review)· Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Dextrin Palmitate
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
02 Water Water
03 Cyclomethicone Cyclomethicone
04 Dimethicone Dimethicone
05 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
06 Silica Silica
07 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
08 Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract
09 PEG/PPG Dimethicone Copolymer Pending review
10 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
11 Isoparaffin Isoparaffin
12 hexadecyloxy PG hydroxyethyl hexadecade Namide Pending review
13 Methicone Methicone
14 long-chain dibasic acid bis 3-methoxypropylamide Pending review
15 Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
16 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate