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The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum
The Ordinary

UV Filters SPF 45 Serum

SPF 45 Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that straight-up disappear on skin. United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Fragrance-free serum with octocrylene/homosalate/avobenzone; minimal irritants beyond filters. Silicone-light texture absorbs cleanly under makeup.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant, but filter choice matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB — covers the whole sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance — lower irritation risk if your skin's reactive. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
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70.2
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #829 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Fragrance-free serum with octocrylene/homosalate/avobenzone; minimal irritants beyond filters. Silicone-light texture absorbs cleanly under makeup.
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. 78
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 70
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 85
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 78
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 60
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 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
Octocrylene Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Homosalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Avobenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
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.
Chemical
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.
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' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Verdict Is it worth it?

Fragrance-free, alcohol-free chemical serum running on the standard US FDA toolkit: avobenzone with octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate. Texture absorbs cleanly with minimal irritants beyond the filters, but no PA rating is listed and filter modernity scores low.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and alcohol-free
  • Silicone-light serum absorbs cleanly under makeup
  • Short INCI with phospholipids, sphingolipids, and tocopherol
  • Acetyl carnosine and biosaccharide gum-2 in the base
Cons
  • No PA rating listed
  • Older US filter set: octocrylene, homosalate
  • SPF 45 sits below the SPF 50+ products elsewhere in this set

Who it's for: US-market buyers wanting a no-fragrance chemical serum under makeup who accept legacy FDA filters and no PA rating.

04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 26 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 5 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Aqua·Isododecane· Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. ·Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer· Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. · Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. ·Diethylhexyl 2 (pending review)·6-Naphthalate (pending review)·Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate· Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. ·Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate·Acetyl Carnosine·Biosaccharide Gum-2·Phospholipids·Sphingolipids· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Propanediol·Pentylene Glycol·Magnesium Sulfate·P-anisic Acid·Sodium Citrate· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate·Phenoxyethanol·Chlorphenesin
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Aqua Water
02 Isododecane Isododecane
03 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
04 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
05 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
06 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
07 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
08 Diethylhexyl 2 Pending review
09 6-Naphthalate Pending review
10 Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate Tri(Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
11 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
12 Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
13 Acetyl Carnosine Acetyl Carnosine
14 Biosaccharide Gum-2 Biosaccharide Gum-2
15 Phospholipids
16 Sphingolipids Sphingolipids
17 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
18 Propanediol Propanediol
19 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
20 Magnesium Sulfate Magnesium Sulfate
21 P-anisic Acid p-Anisic Acid
22 Sodium Citrate Sodium Citrate
23 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
24 Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
25 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
26 Chlorphenesin Chlorphenesin