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Thank You Farmer Sun Project Shimmer Sun Essence SPF 30 PA+++
Thank You Farmer

Sun Project Shimmer Sun Essence SPF 30 PA+++

SPF 30 · PA+++ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Alcohol high in list, fragrance, and octinoxate weigh on safety/sensitivity. Silicone-mica essence gives glowy finish but shimmer limits makeup compatibility.

HYB Hybrid filters Hybrid filters — Mineral + chemical filters together for the best of both. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB — covers the whole sun-damage spectrum.
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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57.7
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1419 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Alcohol high in list, fragrance, and octinoxate weigh on safety/sensitivity. Silicone-mica essence gives glowy finish but shimmer limits makeup compatibility.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
01 The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 70
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 70
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 35
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 68
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 45
02 Composition · key UV filters 5 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Amiloxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
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 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Hybrid
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Essence
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Glowy
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' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
No
Verdict Is it worth it?

A SPF 30 PA+++ hybrid essence built around octinoxate with a Uvinul A Plus UVA filter and titanium dioxide. Mica and silicones deliver a glowy tone-up finish, but ethanol high in the list and added fragrance temper its sensitivity story.

Pros
  • Hybrid stack pairs chemical filters with titanium dioxide
  • Uvinul A Plus contributes dedicated UVA-I coverage
  • Silicone-mica base gives a glowy tone-up finish
  • Lightweight essence texture suits oily skin
Cons
  • Ethanol sits high in the ingredient list
  • Contains fragrance
  • Octinoxate is a dated, photo-unstable filter
  • Shimmer particles can clash with foundation

Who it's for: Tone-up seekers wanting a glowy, no-makeup look at moderate SPF — not a fit for sensitive skin or those layering complex base makeup.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 40 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 1 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Water·Cyclopentasiloxane· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride· Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate Amiloxate · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Glyceryl Stearate·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter·Dimethicone· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Polysorbate 60·Mica·1‚2-Hexanediol·Tocopheryl Acetate·Portulaca Oleracea Extract·Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil·Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water·Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract·Alcea Rosea Flower Extract·Silica·Peg-100 Stearate·Cetearyl Alcohol·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Beeswax·Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer·Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Stearic Acid· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Phenoxyethanol·Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Xanthan Gum·Polyurethane-11·Isohexadecane·Polysorbate 80· Adenosine Smoothing active. ·Disodium Edta·Tin Oxide
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclopentasiloxane
03 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
04 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
05 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
06 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
07 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
08 Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Amiloxate
09 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
10 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
12 Dimethicone Dimethicone
13 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
14 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
15 Mica Mica
16 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
17 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
20 Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water Lotus Flower Water
21 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
22 Alcea Rosea Flower Extract Hollyhock Flower Extract
23 Silica Silica
24 Peg-100 Stearate PEG-100 Stearate
25 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
26 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
27 Beeswax Beeswax
28 Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
29 Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
30 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
31 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.
32 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
33 Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
34 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
36 Isohexadecane Isohexadecane
37 Polysorbate 80 Polysorbate 80
38 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
39 Disodium Edta Disodium EDTA
40 Tin Oxide Tin Oxide