Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KA
Kao

Curel Intensive Moisture Care UV Protection Facial Cream 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.

Sensitive-skin mineral ZnO formula, fragrance/alcohol-free with ceramide analog; potential white cast and SPF 30 limit elegance.

△ 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).
78.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #401 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Sensitive-skin mineral ZnO formula, fragrance/alcohol-free with ceramide analog; potential white cast and SPF 30 limit elegance.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A zinc oxide cream from the Curel quasi-drug line, paired with stearyl glycyrrhetinate, ceramide-mimetic, and hinoki extract in an alcohol- and fragrance-free base. The simple formula prioritizes barrier comfort over high SPF or finish refinement.

Pros
  • Stearyl glycyrrhetinate is a soothing quasi-drug active
  • Zinc oxide gives broad UVA-UVB coverage
  • Alcohol-free and fragrance-free composition
  • Ceramide-mimetic supports barrier repair
  • Cream texture suits dry and sensitized skin
Cons
  • SPF 30 PA+++ is moderate for sustained sun exposure
  • ZnO dominance risks a visible white cast
  • Sparse ingredient list offers limited cosmetic finish
  • No iron oxide tint to balance the mineral residue

Who it's for: Dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin who want a fragrance-free mineral cream for daily low-intensity sun and value calming actives over high SPF numbers.

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. 88
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 62
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 85
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.
Cream
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· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract·PEG/PPG Dimethicone Copolymer (pending review)·Dimethicone·Cetyl-pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide·Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate·Methicone·Magnesium Sulfate·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. ·Dimethylsiloxane/Methyl (Undecyl Glyceryl Ether) Siloxane Copolymer·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 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
05 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
06 Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract
07 PEG/PPG Dimethicone Copolymer Pending review
08 Dimethicone Dimethicone
09 Cetyl-pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
10 Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
11 Methicone Methicone
12 Magnesium Sulfate Magnesium Sulfate
13 long-chain dibasic acid bis 3-methoxypropylamide Pending review
14 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.
15 Dimethylsiloxane/Methyl (Undecyl Glyceryl Ether) Siloxane Copolymer
16 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate