Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KO
Kose

Sekkisei Brightening Day Care Emulsion SPF 50+ PA++++

SPF 50+ · 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.

Octinoxate plus ethanol, fragrance and BHT. Zinc oxide and BEMT modernize the filter base but legacy cinnamate and alcohol drag scores down.

◉ 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.
70.7
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #808 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Octinoxate plus ethanol, fragrance and BHT. Zinc oxide and BEMT modernize the filter base but legacy cinnamate and alcohol drag scores down.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A Sekkisei hybrid emulsion using octinoxate alongside zinc oxide, BEMT, DHHB, and titanium dioxide. Stearyl glycyrrhetinate and botanical ferments soften the profile, but ethanol, fragrance, and BHT drag down the tolerance score.

Pros
  • Wide filter set including BEMT, DHHB, zinc and titanium oxides
  • Stearyl glycyrrhetinate leads the INCI
  • Botanical extracts (coix, angelica, ziziphus) support the skincare angle
  • Cream emulsion finishes with squalane and behenyl alcohol
Cons
  • Octinoxate retained in the filter mix
  • Ethanol and fragrance both present
  • BHT used as a stabilizer
  • Steareth and ceteth phosphates may not suit reactive skin

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a brightening emulsion with broad filter coverage who don't avoid octinoxate or ethanol.

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. 82
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 38
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 72
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 58
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.
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Titanium Dioxide 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.
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.
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.
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) 44 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 2 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 2 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 2
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate·Water· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate· 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·Cetyl Ethylhexanoate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·5-triazine (pending review)·Dipropylene Glycol·Dimethicone·PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil·Silica·Phenyl Trimethicone· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Corallina Officinalis Extract·Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract·Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract·Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate·Melothria Heterophylla Extract (pending review)·Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract·Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract·Xanthan Gum·Glyceryl Stearate· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. ·Cetearyl Alcohol·Behenyl Alcohol·Steareth-2 Phosphate·Ceteth-10 Phosphate·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Sorbitan Oleate·Methylphenyl Polysiloxane Crosspolymer· Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. ·Glyceryl Oleate·Phenoxyethanol· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. · Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·active ingredient (pending review)·unmarked (pending review)·other ingredientsIngredients subject to change at manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients (pending review)
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
02 Water Water
03 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
04 Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
05 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
06 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
07 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
08 Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
09 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
10 5-triazine Pending review
11 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
12 Dimethicone Dimethicone
13 PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
14 Silica Silica
15 Phenyl Trimethicone Phenyl Trimethicone
16 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
17 Corallina Officinalis Extract Coralline Algae Extract
18 Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract Jujube Fruit Extract
19 Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract Japanese Angelica Root Extract
20 Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate
21 Melothria Heterophylla Extract Pending review
22 Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
23 Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water Job's Tears Seed Water
24 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
25 Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
26 Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract Acacia Senegal Gum
27 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
28 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
29 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
30 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
31 Behenyl Alcohol Behenyl Alcohol
32 Steareth-2 Phosphate
33 Ceteth-10 Phosphate Ceteth-10 Phosphate
34 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
35 Sorbitan Oleate
36 Methylphenyl Polysiloxane Crosspolymer Methylphenyl Polysiloxane Crosspolymer
37 Squalane ACTIVE Plant emollient; skin-mimicking.
38 Glyceryl Oleate Glyceryl Oleate
39 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
40 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.
41 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
42 active ingredient Pending review
43 unmarked Pending review
44 other ingredientsIngredients subject to change at manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients Pending review