photon Sunscreen Gel
photon PHOTON Sunscreen Gel lists 25 ingredients on its label, 21 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
- Aqua
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
- Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
- Dicetyl Phosphate
- Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide
- Polysorbate 80
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- Ascorbyl Palmitate
- Glycerin
- Benzophenone-3
- Phospholipids
- 1.3-Butylene Glycol
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Phenoxyethanol
- Sodium Levulinate
- Potassium Sorbate
- Stearic Acid
- Ceteth-20 Phosphate
- Zinc Oxide
- Vitamin E
- Dimethicone Crosspolymer
- Allantoin
- Glutathione
- Honey Extract
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains parabensContains PEGContains fragranceContains siliconesContains animal-derived
Formulation view Water-based sunscreen gel combining chemical and mineral filters for broad-spectrum defense. Aloe vera and phospholipids ensure hydration, while dimethicone crosspolymer provides a matte, powder-suspended texture. Preserved with phenoxyethanol and sorbates. Formulator note: The silicone-organic hybrid stabilizes pigments, offering a lightweight finish ideal for oily or combination skin types.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- LIGHT STABILIZER
- Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
- SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
- Dicetyl Phosphate
- DENATURANT
- Polysorbate 80Glycerin
- SKIN CONDITIONING
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Ascorbyl Palmitate
Other ingredients
Surface Treated Titanium DioxideBenzophenone-3Phospholipids1.3-Butylene GlycolPolymethylsilsesquioxaneCetearyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanolSodium LevulinatePotassium SorbateStearic AcidCeteth-20 PhosphateZinc OxideVitamin EDimethicone CrosspolymerAllantoinGlutathioneHoney Extract
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate | LIGHT STABILIZER, UV ABSORBER, UV FILTER · 限制 VI/12 | 0 · 1 | Yellow |
| Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane | LIGHT STABILIZER, UV ABSORBER, UV FILTER · 限制 VI/8 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Dicetyl Phosphate | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · – | Green |
| Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Polysorbate 80 | DENATURANT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ascorbyl Palmitate | ANTIOXIDANT, FRAGRANCE | — | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Benzophenone-3 | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Phospholipids | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| 1.3-Butylene Glycol | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Polymethylsilsesquioxane | OPACIFYING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cetearyl Alcohol | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, OPACIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Sodium Levulinate | SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Potassium Sorbate | FRAGRANCE, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/4 | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Stearic Acid | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, FRAGRANCE, REFATTING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ceteth-20 Phosphate | Not decoded yet | — | — |
| Zinc Oxide | ANTIMICROBIAL, BULKING, COLORANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, LIGHT STABILIZER, UV ABSORBER, UV FILTER · 限制 IV/144 VI/30 VI/30a | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Vitamin E | 抗氧化剂, 皮肤调理剂 | 0 · – | Green |
| Dimethicone Crosspolymer | EMULSION STABILISING, HAIR FIXING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Allantoin | SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN PROTECTING, SOOTHING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Glutathione | REDUCING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Honey Extract | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING, FLAVOURING | 1 · – | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
- UVA absorber used with other filters; poor water stability and photolability, requires light stabilizers, max concentration typically 10%.
- Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
- High-potency UVA filter (Parsol MXX); requires stabilizers and UVB blockers.
- Dicetyl Phosphate
- Emulsifier and auxiliary surfactant for stable lotions; used at low levels in creams.
- Surface Treated Titanium Dioxide
- Not decoded yet
- Polysorbate 80
- Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer; watch for interaction with parabens
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
- Natural humectant and soother with high water activity; requires preservative system, generally well-tolerated
- Ascorbyl Palmitate
- Ascorbyl palmitate, lipophilic Vit C ester, antioxidant; oxidizes, needs light/air protection.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Benzophenone-3
- Not decoded yet
- Phospholipids
- Biomimetic repair and emollient, mimics skin lipids; typically processed at low temps, may be sticky at high levels
- 1.3-Butylene Glycol
- Not decoded yet
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane
- Silicone polymer for emolliency, matte effect, and suspension; used in foundations or powder suspensions, typical usage 1-5%, smooth skin feel.
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Sodium Levulinate
- Sodium levulinate, natural-derived humectant; generally mild, often used in blends.
- Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate
- Stearic Acid
- Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel
- Ceteth-20 Phosphate
- Not decoded yet
- Zinc Oxide
- Physical UV filter, 30% max in EU; oily at high levels, pair with oils for feel.
- Vitamin E
- Tocopherol antioxidant; >0.5% may need encapsulation or synergists to prevent oxidation.
- Dimethicone Crosspolymer
- Crosslinked silicone polymer providing silkiness and viscosity control; for hair and skin; inert but hard to biodegrade.
- Allantoin
- Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration
- Glutathione
- Antioxidant and brightening agent; unstable, requires antioxidants and protection from light.
- Honey Extract
- Humectant and skin conditioning agent; hygroscopic, sensitive to pH.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-20. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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