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Sun Project Shimmer Sun Essence SPF30 PA++ 40ml

SPF 30 · PA++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. KR South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Ethanol, fragrance, octinoxate, and added colorants (CI 14700) lower sensitivity and health scores; shimmer essence wears glowy but limits versatility.

◐ 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.
55.2
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1464 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Ethanol, fragrance, octinoxate, and added colorants (CI 14700) lower sensitivity and health scores; shimmer essence wears glowy but limits versatility.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A SPF 30 PA++ chemical essence using octinoxate, octisalate, amiloxate, and Uvinul A Plus, with niacinamide and shimmer pigments for a glowy finish. PA++ is the weakest UVA grade in this set, and ethanol plus fragrance dominate the early ingredients.

Pros
  • Includes niacinamide for skin-tone support
  • Uvinul A Plus contributes UVA-I coverage
  • Lightweight essence with a luminous mica finish
  • Multiple soothing botanicals including aloe and Portulaca
Cons
  • Ethanol and fragrance sit high in the list
  • PA++ is the lowest UVA grade across this lineup
  • Octinoxate is photo-unstable
  • Added colorants (Red 4, CI 77861) raise allergen load

Who it's for: Buyers wanting a glowy, niacinamide-spiked essence at modest UVA protection — skip if you need strong UVA defense or have reactive skin.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 65
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 67
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 33
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 67
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 43
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 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.
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.
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.
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' 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) 42 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 1 LEGACY FILTER 3 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
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 · Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Glyceryl Stearate·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter·Dimethicone·Ci 77891·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·Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Xanthan Gum·Polyurethane-11·Isohexadecane·Polysorbate 80· Adenosine Smoothing active. ·Disodium Edta·CI 77861 (pending review)· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Phenoxyethanol·Red 4
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 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 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
10 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
11 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
12 Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
13 Dimethicone Dimethicone
14 Ci 77891 CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)
15 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
16 Mica Mica
17 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
18 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
19 Portulaca Oleracea Extract
20 Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
21 Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water Lotus Flower Water
22 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
23 Alcea Rosea Flower Extract Hollyhock Flower Extract
24 Silica Silica
25 Peg-100 Stearate PEG-100 Stearate
26 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
27 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
28 Beeswax Beeswax
29 Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
30 Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
31 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
32 Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
33 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
34 Polyurethane-11
35 Isohexadecane Isohexadecane
36 Polysorbate 80 Polysorbate 80
37 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
38 Disodium Edta Disodium EDTA
39 CI 77861 Pending review
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 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
42 Red 4