L'OREAL UV Defender Bright & Clear

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.

1. Aqua
2. Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
3. Titanium Dioxide
4. Squalane
5. Glycerin
6. Drometrizole
7. Trisiloxane
8. Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
9. Propylene Glycol
10. Alcohol Denat
11. Triethanolamine
12. Dipropylene glycol
13. Mica
14. Stearic Acid
15. Potassium cetyl phosphate
16. Tocopherol
17. Nylon-12
18. CI 77891
19. Niacinamide
20. Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
21. Sodium chloride
22. Phenoxyethanol
23. Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
24. Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
25. Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
26. PEG-100 Stearate
27. Ethylhexyl Triazone
28. Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
29. Palmitic Acid
30. Polysorbate 80
31. Limonene
32. Xanthan Gum
33. Linalool
34. Tromethamine
35. Isohexadecane
36. Caprylyl Glycol
37. Alpha-isomethylionone
38. Barium Sulfate
39. Carbomer
40. Acrylamide/Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer
41. Myristic acid
42. Sorbitan Oleate
43. BisEthylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
44. Cetyl Alcohol
45. Butylene Glycol
46. BHT
47. Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
48. Potassium Sorbate
49. Aluminum hydroxide
50. Hexyl Cinnamal
51. Glyceryl Stearate
52. Parfum

Highlights

Free of sulfatesFree of formaldehyde releasersContains animal-derivedContains siliconesContains alcoholContains PEGContains parabensContains EU-26 allergensContains essential oilsContains fragranceContains mineral oil

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

LIGHT STABILIZER

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

UV FILTER · 附录 VI · 最高浓度 25%* *: In case of combined use of Titanium Dioxide and Titanium Dioxide (nano)

Titanium Dioxide

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Squalane

DENATURANT

Glycerin

UV ABSORBER

Drometrizole

ANTIFOAMING

Trisiloxane

Other ingredients

Propylene GlycolAlcohol DenatTriethanolamineDipropylene glycolMicaStearic AcidPotassium cetyl phosphateTocopherolNylon-12CI 77891NiacinamideSodium Cocoyl SarcosinateSodium chloridePhenoxyethanolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoatePaeonia Suffruticosa Root ExtractThermus Thermophillus FermentPEG-100 StearateEthylhexyl TriazoneTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinatePalmitic AcidPolysorbate 80LimoneneXanthan GumLinaloolTromethamineIsohexadecaneCaprylyl GlycolAlpha-isomethyliononeBarium SulfateCarbomerAcrylamide/Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymerMyristic acidSorbitan OleateBisEthylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineCetyl AlcoholButylene GlycolBHTButyrospermum Parkii Seedcake ExtractPotassium SorbateAluminum hydroxideHexyl CinnamalGlyceryl StearateParfum

Skim through

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%.

Titanium Dioxide

Physical UV filter and colorant up to 25%; nano form requires attention

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Drometrizole

Broad-spectrum UV filter at 1–5%; photostable at typical doses

Trisiloxane

Used as anti-foaming and lubricant; provides silkiness, used at low levels.

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid

UV absorber and light stabilizer; EU regulated, check max levels and formulation stability

Propylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 3-10%; hygroscopic, slight tackiness, mild irritation at high conc., verify preservative efficacy, no allergen.

Alcohol Denat

Denatured ethanol; solvent, penetration enhancer, and quick-dry agent; high % may compromise barrier in dry skin.

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Dipropylene glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Mica

Mineral colorant for pearlescence; heavy metal screening required

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Potassium cetyl phosphate

Cetyl phosphate potassium, O/W emulsifier; pH-sensitive, often requires buffering.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Nylon-12

Not decoded yet

CI 77891

Titanium dioxide inorganic pigment and UV filter; assess inhalation risk for nano-forms and EU restrictions

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate

Betaine-based anionic surfactant with mild cleansing and fine foam; common in amino acid cleansers

Sodium chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Novel UVB absorber at 0.2-1.5%; narrow band, requires combination, high photostability, verify regional limits, low irritation.

Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract

Paeonia root extract, skin protecting agent with antioxidants to defend against environmental damage

Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

Probiotic ferment with humectant properties; use as a low-level skin conditioning agent

PEG-100 Stearate

Non-ionic emulsifier, requires ionics for stability; check PEG for formaldehyde.

Ethylhexyl Triazone

UVB absorber with good photostability; formulated with other filters, typical concentration 3-5%, check compatibility with other ingredients.

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions

Palmitic Acid

Palmitic acid for emulsification/emollient; solid fat, high melting point, occlusive.

Polysorbate 80

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer; watch for interaction with parabens

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Tromethamine

pH adjuster, alkaline; precise dosing required

Isohexadecane

Lightweight mineral-oil-derived emollient and solvent; low viscosity, non-comedogenic, improves texture

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Alpha-isomethylionone

Not decoded yet

Barium Sulfate

Inert mineral filler and thickener; not absorbed by skin, avoid dust inhalation in powder processes

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Acrylamide/Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate copolymer

Polyacrylamide-based thickener with strong emulsion stabilizing power; strict control of residual monomer levels is required.

Myristic acid

Saturated fatty acid, saponification feedstock; insoluble alone, pairs with stearic acid.

Sorbitan Oleate

Non-ionic emulsifier for oil-in-water systems; plant-derived, check oxidative stability

BisEthylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

Chemical UV filter for UVB protection; verify compatibility and stability with other UV filters in the formula.

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract

Shea cake extract for antioxidant/skin protection; residue-based, control particle feel.

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum hydroxide for emollient/thickening; opacifier, used in antiperspirants, particulate risk.

Hexyl Cinnamal

Common fragrance component (jasmine/vanilla note); listed EU allergen, requires labeling at >10ppm (leave-on).

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.