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KO
Kose

Sekkisei Suncare UV Defense Essence Gel 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.

Modern filters without octinoxate and a clear essence-gel feel; ethanol and fragrance remain the main sensitivity penalties.

◉ HYB Hybrid filters Hybrid filters — Combines mineral and chemical filters for balance of protection and feel. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum.
78.8
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #400 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Modern filters without octinoxate and a clear essence-gel feel; ethanol and fragrance remain the main sensitivity penalties.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A hybrid essence gel anchored by modern non-octinoxate filters — bemotrizinol, octisalate, Parsol SLX, and zinc oxide — for full UVA/UVB coverage in a light base. Ethanol high in the LOI and added fragrance are the main caveats.

Pros
  • Modern filter set with no octinoxate
  • Bemotrizinol and Parsol SLX broaden UVA coverage
  • Zinc oxide rounds out filter redundancy
  • Essence-gel texture aimed at lightweight wear
  • Coix and saccharomyces ferment add humectant character
Cons
  • Ethanol sits high in the ingredient list
  • Contains fragrance
  • Phenoxyethanol present as a preservative

Who it's for: Someone wanting a light essence-gel SPF 50+ with up-to-date filters and who can tolerate ethanol and fragrance.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 100
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 82
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 45
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 82
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 66
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
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Parsol SLX 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.
Hybrid
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.
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.
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) 34 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 2 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Water· Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate·Methyl Trimethicone·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·Diethylhexyl Succinate·Diisopropyl Sebacate· Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. ·Dimethicone· Polysilicone-15 Parsol SLX ·Dipropylene Glycol·Isododecane·Silica·Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract·Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate·Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract·Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Root Extract· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract·Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water·Button extract (pending review)· Melothria root extract・BG・PEG-10 hydrogenated castor oil・(Hydroxyethyl acrylate/Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate) copolymer・(Acrylates/Beheneth-25 methacrylate) copolymer・Sorbitan isostearate・Isohexadecane・Xanthan gum・Diethylaminohydroxybenzoylhexyl benzoate・Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. ·Stearoyl Inulin·Talc·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Polysorbate 60·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Synthetic Fluorphlogopite·Sodium Hydroxide·Phenoxyethanol· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Mica
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
04 Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
05 Methyl Trimethicone Methyl Trimethicone
06 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
07 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
08 Diethylhexyl Succinate Diethylhexyl Succinate
09 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
10 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
11 Dimethicone Dimethicone
12 Polysilicone-15 MODERN FILTER Parsol SLX
13 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
14 Isododecane Isododecane
15 Silica Silica
16 Polygonum Tinctorium Leaf/Stem Extract Japanese Indigo Leaf/Stem Extract
17 Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Ferment Filtrate
18 Coix Lacryma-Jobi Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
19 Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Root Extract Job's Tears Root Extract
20 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
21 Coix Lacryma-jobi Ma-yuen Seed Extract Job's Tears Seed Extract
22 Coix Lacryma-jobi Seed Water Job's Tears Seed Water
23 Button extract Pending review
24 Melothria root extract・BG・PEG-10 hydrogenated castor oil・(Hydroxyethyl acrylate/Sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate) copolymer・(Acrylates/Beheneth-25 methacrylate) copolymer・Sorbitan isostearate・Isohexadecane・Xanthan gum・Diethylaminohydroxybenzoylhexyl benzoate・Squalane ACTIVE Plant emollient; skin-mimicking.
25 Stearoyl Inulin
26 Talc Talc
27 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
28 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
29 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
30 Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
31 Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide
32 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
33 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.
34 Mica Mica