Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
SO
Solone

Hydro Sunscreen Primer Essence SPF 40 PA++++

SPF 40 · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. TW Taiwan global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Lightweight essence with botanical extracts; octinoxate/avobenzone/octocrylene stack drags health score. Fragrance-free.

◐ 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. 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).
67.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #983 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Lightweight essence with botanical extracts; octinoxate/avobenzone/octocrylene stack drags health score. Fragrance-free.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

Lightweight essence-textured sunscreen using the same avobenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene trio at SPF 40. Botanical extracts and niacinamide add skincare value, but UV protection sits below the SPF 50 alternatives in the lineup.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and alcohol-free
  • Niacinamide and centella included
  • Essence texture for layering under makeup
  • Multiple humectants and barrier extracts
Cons
  • SPF 40 rather than SPF 50+
  • Filter modernity scored 50
  • Octinoxate flagged for environmental concerns
  • No mineral filter backup

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a serum-like SPF 40 essence with skincare actives, comfortable with the legacy chemical filter trio.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 85
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 65
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 3 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
Avobenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octocrylene 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.
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) 23 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 1 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 4
Water·Butylene Glycol· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. · Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. · Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. ·Sodium Polyacrylate·Olive Oil Peg-7 Esters·Caprylyl Glycol·Silica·Chlorphenesin·Phenoxyethanol·Lecithin·Hexylene Glycol· Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. · Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. · Centella Asiatica Extract Centella — calming, repair. ·Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract·Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract·Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract·Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract· Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
03 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
04 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
05 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
06 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
07 Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Polyacrylate
08 Olive Oil Peg-7 Esters Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
09 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
10 Silica Silica
11 Chlorphenesin Chlorphenesin
12 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
13 Lecithin Lecithin
14 Hexylene Glycol Hexylene Glycol
15 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
16 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
17 Centella Asiatica Extract ACTIVE Centella — calming, repair.
18 Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
19 Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
20 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
21 Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
22 Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Chamomile Flower Extract
23 Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.