Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KO
Kose

Sekkisei Skin Care UV Defense Essence Mist SPF 35 PA+++

SPF 35 · PA+++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Ethanol #2 mist with octinoxate, PEG-80 castor, BHT, and fragrance — heavily ethanol-forward and endocrine-disruptor-bearing.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum.
57.3
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1425 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Ethanol #2 mist with octinoxate, PEG-80 castor, BHT, and fragrance — heavily ethanol-forward and endocrine-disruptor-bearing.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A pure chemical mist with no mineral filters, using octinoxate, BEMT, DHHB, ethylhexyl triazone, octisalate, and PBSA. Mist format keeps the finish light, but ethanol second on the label, fragrance, BHT, TEA, and octinoxate pile up the sensitivity flags.

Pros
  • All-organic filter stack with several modern options (BEMT, DHHB, EHT)
  • Mist format reapplies easily on top of makeup
  • Tocopherol added as an antioxidant
  • Botanical ferments (coix, paeonia) included
Cons
  • Ethanol is the second ingredient listed
  • Fragrance and BHT both present
  • Octinoxate and PBSA carry photostability and endocrine concerns
  • Triethanolamine present with no mineral filter as backup

Who it's for: Buyers who need a quick reapply mist over makeup and accept a high ethanol content with no mineral backup in the filter set.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 76
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 75
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 25
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 70
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 40
02 Composition · key UV filters 6 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
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
PBSA Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
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.
Chemical
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.
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) 28 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 2
Water· Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Diethylhexyl Succinate· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. ·Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Dimethicone· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. · Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract·Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate·Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract·Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract·Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water·Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract·Melothria Japonica Root Extract (pending review)·Butylene Glycol· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. ·Peg-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil·Triethanolamine· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. · Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid PBSA ·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 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
03 Diethylhexyl Succinate Diethylhexyl Succinate
04 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
05 Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
06 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
07 Dimethicone Dimethicone
08 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
09 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
10 Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract Japanese Indigo Leaf/Stem Extract
11 Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate
12 Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
13 Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract Japanese Angelica Root Extract
14 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
15 Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
16 Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water Job's Tears Seed Water
17 Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract Tree Peony Root Extract
18 Melothria Japonica Root Extract Pending review
19 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
20 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
21 Peg-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
22 Triethanolamine Triethanolamine
23 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
24 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
25 Squalane ACTIVE Plant emollient; skin-mimicking.
26 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid LEGACY FILTER PBSA
27 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
28 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.