Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KO
Kose

Sekkisei Blue Dewy Fresh Day Serum SPF 40 PA+++

SPF 40 · PA+++ Tinted Iron-oxide pigment masks white cast with a sheer skin-tone finish. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

No octinoxate; modern filter blend with dewy tinted serum finish is cosmetically strong; ethanol and fragrance limit sensitivity.

◉ HYB Hybrid filters Hybrid filters — Combines mineral and chemical filters for balance of protection and feel. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. ● TINT Tinted Tinted — Adds sheer colour — covers white cast and gives a skin-tone finish.
74.4
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #611 of 1558 in the current catalogue. No octinoxate; modern filter blend with dewy tinted serum finish is cosmetically strong; ethanol and fragrance limit sensitivity.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A tinted hybrid serum on the modern Sekkisei filter chassis (zinc oxide, BEMT, Parsol SLX, Uvinul T 150, octisalate) with a dewy finish. No octinoxate or parabens, but ethanol and fragrance keep it from being a sensitive-skin pick.

Pros
  • Five-filter modern stack with no octinoxate
  • Dewy tinted finish suited to normal-to-dry skin
  • Paraben-free per the INCI
  • Botanical extracts (acacia catechu, ginseng, artemisia) included
  • Polysilicone-15 and Uvinul T 150 add photostability
Cons
  • Ethanol high on the ingredient list
  • Fragrance present
  • PEG-10 and PEG-80 hydrogenated castor oil both used
  • SPF 40 PA+++ is below the SPF 50 options here

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a tinted, dewy Japanese day serum with a modern filter system who tolerate ethanol and fragrance.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 82
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 86
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 45
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 82
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 65
02 Composition · key UV filters 5 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.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Parsol SLX Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol 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.
Hybrid
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.
Dewy
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
Yes
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) 40 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Water· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Butylene Glycol· Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. ·Diisopropyl Sebacate· Polysilicone-15 Parsol SLX · Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. ·Dimethicone·Hydrogenated Polydecene·Acacia Catechu Extract·Panax Ginseng Root Extract·Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract·Sasa Veitchii Leaf Extract·Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate·Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract·Peg-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil·Peg-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil·Sodium Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer·Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract·Sorbitan Isostearate·Isohexadecane·Xanthan Gum·Silica·Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine·Stearoyl Inulin·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Trilaureth-4 Phosphate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. · Polyglycerin-3 Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Polysorbate 60·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Sodium Hydroxide·Hydrogenated Lecithin· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Iron Oxides
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
04 Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
05 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
06 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
07 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
08 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
09 Polysilicone-15 MODERN FILTER Parsol SLX
10 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
11 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
12 Dimethicone Dimethicone
13 Hydrogenated Polydecene Hydrogenated Polydecene
14 Acacia Catechu Extract Acacia Catechu Extract
15 Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ginseng Root Extract
16 Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
17 Sasa Veitchii Leaf Extract
18 Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate Saccharomyces/Job's Tears Seed Ferment Filtrate
19 Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
20 Peg-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil PEG-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
21 Peg-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
22 Sodium Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
23 Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
24 Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract Acacia Senegal Gum
25 Sorbitan Isostearate Sorbitan Isostearate
26 Isohexadecane Isohexadecane
27 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
28 Silica Silica
29 Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
30 Stearoyl Inulin
31 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
32 Trilaureth-4 Phosphate Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
33 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
34 Polyglycerin-3 ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
35 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
36 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
37 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
38 Hydrogenated Lecithin Hydrogenated Lecithin
39 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.
40 Iron Oxides Iron Oxides