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LA
Lancome

UV Expert Youth Shield Aqua Gel SPF 50 PA++++

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. EU Europe global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Octinoxate, drometrizole trisiloxane, DHHB, MBBT, EHT, BEMT with high alcohol denat and parfum (limonene-style fragrance); elegant gel finish.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum.
71.9
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #749 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Octinoxate, drometrizole trisiloxane, DHHB, MBBT, EHT, BEMT with high alcohol denat and parfum (limonene-style fragrance); elegant gel finish.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

Aqua-gel SPF 50 PA++++ pairing octinoxate with a modern EU stack (Mexoryl XL, Tinosorb M, EHT, bemotrizinol, DHHB). The gel texture is elegant, but high alcohol denat. and fragrance work against gentleness, and octinoxate is reef-flagged.

Pros
  • Six filters including Mexoryl XL and Tinosorb M
  • Lightweight aqua-gel texture
  • Sunflower seed oil and edelweiss extract
  • Helichrysum and rosa gallica included
  • PA++++ rating
Cons
  • Alcohol denat. high in the formula
  • Octinoxate is reef and EDC flagged
  • Fragrance and BHT present
  • Propylene glycol may not suit all skin

Who it's for: Buyers who want a fast-drying aqua gel with broad modern UV coverage and don't object to octinoxate or alcohol.

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. 92
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 40
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 65
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 78
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 55
02 Composition · key UV filters 6 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
Octinoxate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Mexoryl XL Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M) Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 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.
Chemical
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.
Gel
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) 43 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 5 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 2 ALCOHOL 1 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 2
Water· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. · Alcohol Denat. Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Isononyl Isononanoate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. · Drometrizole Trisiloxane Mexoryl XL · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. · Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol Tinosorb M — broad-spectrum, photostable. ·Silica·Dipropylene Glycol·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Cetearyl Alcohol· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Diisopropyl Sebacate· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. ·T-butyl Alcohol·Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate·Sodium Benzoate·Phenoxyethanol·PEG-20·Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate·Maltodextrin·Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil·Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer·Xanthan Gum·Pentylene Glycol· Mentha Piperita Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Isocetyl Stearate·Propylene Glycol·Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract·Carbomer·Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract·Sorbitol· Rosa Gallica Flower Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Cetearyl Glucoside·Butylene Glycol·Potassium Hydroxide· Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. ·Citric Acid·Potassium Sorbate·Inulin Lauryl Carbamate· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate LEGACY FILTER Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature.
03 Alcohol Denat. ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
04 Isononyl Isononanoate Isononyl Isononanoate
05 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
06 Drometrizole Trisiloxane MODERN FILTER Mexoryl XL
07 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
08 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol MODERN FILTER Tinosorb M — broad-spectrum, photostable.
09 Silica Silica
10 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
11 Coco-caprylate/Caprate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
12 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
13 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
14 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
15 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
16 T-butyl Alcohol t-Butyl Alcohol
17 Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
18 Sodium Benzoate Sodium Benzoate
19 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
20 PEG-20 PEG-20
21 Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
22 Maltodextrin Maltodextrin
23 Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
24 Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
25 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
26 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
27 Mentha Piperita Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
28 Isocetyl Stearate
29 Propylene Glycol Propylene Glycol
30 Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract Edelweiss Flower/Leaf Extract
31 Carbomer Carbomer
32 Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract Moringa Seed Extract
33 Sorbitol Sorbitol
34 Rosa Gallica Flower Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
35 Cetearyl Glucoside Cetearyl Glucoside
36 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
37 Potassium Hydroxide Potassium Hydroxide
38 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
39 Citric Acid Citric Acid
40 Potassium Sorbate Potassium Sorbate
41 Inulin Lauryl Carbamate Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
42 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
43 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.