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Shiseido

Anessa Tone Up Brightening UV Sunscreen Gel 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.

Ethanol and fragrance plus octinoxate; light gel with BEMT/DHHB/EHT and tranexamic acid active.

◉ 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.
69.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #860 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Ethanol and fragrance plus octinoxate; light gel with BEMT/DHHB/EHT and tranexamic acid active.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A tone-up hybrid gel pairing tranexamic acid and dipotassium glycyrrhizate with octinoxate, bemotrizinol, DHHB, ethylhexyl triazone and titanium dioxide. The filter set is modern, but ethanol, octinoxate, fragrance and added dyes weigh on sensitivity.

Pros
  • Tranexamic acid and licorice-derived soothing actor included
  • Modern filters bemotrizinol, DHHB, ethylhexyl triazone
  • Gel texture with tone-up finish
  • PA++++ UVA grade
  • Hyaluronate and soluble collagen hydrators
Cons
  • Ethanol high on the INCI deck
  • Octinoxate is restricted in several markets
  • Added fragrance with Red 227 and Blue 1 dyes
  • Tetramethyl cyclotetrasiloxane raises an environmental flag

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a tone-up daily gel with tranexamic acid and accepting ethanol, octinoxate, fragrance and synthetic dyes in the trade.

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. 86
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 32
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 74
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 55
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
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.
Uvinul T 150 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.
Gel
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) 46 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Tranexamic Acid·Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate·Water· Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Dipropylene Glycol· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. ·Butylene Glycol·Diisopropyl Sebacate·Dimethicone·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·5-triazine (pending review)·Silica·Hydrogenated Polydecene·Decamethyltetrasiloxane·Ppg-8-ceteth-20·Dextrin Palmitate· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·PEG-6· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Peg/Ppg-17/4 Dimethyl Ether· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. ·cross-linked N (pending review)·Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer (pending review)·PEG-10 Dimethicone·Phenyl Trimethicone·Polyvinyl Acetate·Succinoglycan·Amodimethicone·Sodium Metaphosphate·Stearoxy Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose·Polyvinyl Alcohol·Trisodium Edta·Tetramethyl Tetrahydrogen Cyclotetrasiloxane·Tetradecene·Sodium Metabisulfite·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract· Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Soluble Collagen·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. ·Mica·Barium Sulfate·Red 227·Blue 1
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Tranexamic Acid Tranexamic Acid
02 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
03 Water Water
04 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
05 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
06 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
07 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
08 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
09 Dimethicone Dimethicone
10 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
11 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
12 5-triazine Pending review
13 Silica Silica
14 Hydrogenated Polydecene Hydrogenated Polydecene
15 Decamethyltetrasiloxane Decamethyltetrasiloxane
16 Ppg-8-ceteth-20 PPG-8-Ceteth-20
17 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate
18 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
19 PEG-6 PEG-6
20 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
21 Peg/Ppg-17/4 Dimethyl Ether PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
22 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
23 cross-linked N Pending review
24 Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer Pending review
25 PEG-10 Dimethicone PEG-10 Dimethicone
26 Phenyl Trimethicone Phenyl Trimethicone
27 Polyvinyl Acetate Polyvinyl Acetate
28 Succinoglycan
29 Amodimethicone Amodimethicone
30 Sodium Metaphosphate Sodium Metaphosphate
31 Stearoxy Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
32 Polyvinyl Alcohol Polyvinyl Alcohol
33 Trisodium Edta Trisodium EDTA
34 Tetramethyl Tetrahydrogen Cyclotetrasiloxane
35 Tetradecene
36 Sodium Metabisulfite Sodium Metabisulfite
37 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
38 Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
39 Soluble Collagen
40 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
41 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.
42 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
43 Mica Mica
44 Barium Sulfate Barium Sulfate
45 Red 227
46 Blue 1 Blue 1