Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
KO
Kose

Dr. PHIL Cosmetics X-Barrier Skin Protect UV Cream SPF 50+ PA++++

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens skin tone. JP Japan jp-domestic Formulation variant: jp-domestic. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Pure mineral cream, no ethanol/fragrance, soothing glycyrrhizate/panthenol; ZnO+TiO2 risks white-cast on deeper tones.

△ MIN Mineral filters Mineral filters — Physical filters (ZnO, TiO2) sit on skin and reflect UV. Reef-safer; very gentle. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. F F-FREE Fragrance-free Fragrance-free — No added fragrance or perfume — lower irritation risk for reactive skin. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
80.3
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #325 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Pure mineral cream, no ethanol/fragrance, soothing glycyrrhizate/panthenol; ZnO+TiO2 risks white-cast on deeper tones.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A pure mineral SPF 50+ PA++++ cream relying on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, free of fragrance and drying alcohol. Soothing extras like dipotassium glycyrrhizate and panthenol round it out, but the high mineral load risks visible white cast on deeper skin tones.

Pros
  • Fragrance-free and free of ethanol/SD alcohol
  • All-mineral filter system (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
  • PA++++ broad-spectrum rating with SPF 50+
  • Includes dipotassium glycyrrhizate and panthenol for comfort
  • No octinoxate or chemical UV filters
Cons
  • Mineral cream may leave white cast on deeper tones
  • Cream texture less elegant than modern hybrid options
  • Lauroyl lysine and stearic acid can feel occlusive
  • Contains phenoxyethanol preservative

Who it's for: Sensitive or reactive skin seeking a fragrance- and alcohol-free mineral SPF, best suited to fair-to-medium tones tolerant of a mineral finish.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 99
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 72
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 58
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 72
02 Composition · key UV filters 2 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
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
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.
Mineral
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.
Cream
Finish How the formula looks on skin 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' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
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.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 24 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 0 MINERAL FILTER 2 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Cyclomethicone·Water·Cetyl Ethylhexanoate·Butylene Glycol·Isotridecyl Isononanoate·Dimethicone· Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Lauroyl Lysine·Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone·Stearic Acid·Polyhydroxystearic Acid· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate·Tremella Fuciformis Extract·Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide·Serine· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. · Panthenol Vitamin B5 — soothing humectant. ·Saxifraga Stolonifera Extract·PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate·Di(Octyldodecyl/Phytosteryl/Behenyl) Lauroyl Glutamate·Aluminum Hydroxide·Phenoxyethanol
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Cyclomethicone Cyclomethicone
03 Water Water
04 Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
05 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
06 Isotridecyl Isononanoate Isotridecyl Isononanoate
07 Dimethicone Dimethicone
08 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
09 Lauroyl Lysine Lauroyl Lysine
10 Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
11 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
12 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
13 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
14 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
15 Tremella Fuciformis Extract
16 Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide Sacran
17 Serine Serine
18 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
19 Panthenol ACTIVE Vitamin B5 — soothing humectant.
20 Saxifraga Stolonifera Extract
21 PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
22 Di(Octyldodecyl/Phytosteryl/Behenyl) Lauroyl Glutamate Di(Octyldodecyl/Phytosteryl/Behenyl) Lauroyl Glutamate
23 Aluminum Hydroxide Aluminum Hydroxide
24 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol