Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
PC
P.CALM

Water Barrier Sun Cream

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

Near-identical to OTC version; fragrance-free, modern non-oxybenzone filters, calming actives. Strong all-around safety and elegance.

◐ 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. 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).
90.1
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #18 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Near-identical to OTC version; fragrance-free, modern non-oxybenzone filters, calming actives. Strong all-around safety and elegance.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A near-identical sibling to the OTC version, swapping in polysilicone-15 and aloe ferox higher in the list while keeping the Mexoryl SX, DHHB, ethylhexyl triazone, BEMT, and Parsol SLX filter spine.

Pros
  • Adds Parsol SLX for photostability
  • Polysilicone-15 supports a smoother finish
  • Ceramide NP, madecassoside, and glutathione retained
  • Fragrance-free and ethanol-free
  • Niacinamide and lactobacillus ferment for soothing
Cons
  • Raw INCI shows OCR artifacts in some names
  • Cetearyl alcohol and stearates can pill under layering
  • No tint to mask any base cast

Who it's for: For buyers wanting the P.CALM modern-filter formula with added Parsol SLX and a slightly silkier silicone finish.

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. 100
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 84
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 80
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 82
02 Composition · key UV filters 5 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
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Parsol SLX Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol 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.
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) 38 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 5 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 6
Water·Propanediol· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Dibutyl Adipate· Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. · Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) · Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. ·Tromethamine·Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate·Octyldodecanol·Cetearyl Alcohol·1‚2-Hexanediol·Pentylene Glycol· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Caprylyl Methicone· Polysilicone-15 Parsol SLX ·Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract·Polymethylsilsesquioxane·Glyceryl Stearate· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·Potassium Cetyl Phosphate·Methylpropanediol·Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate·Carbomer·Glyceryl Stearate Citrate·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer· Adenosine Smoothing active. ·Polyether-1·Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate·Biosaccharide Gum-1·Glutathione·Lactobacillus Ferment· Madecassoside Centella — calming, repair. · Ceramide Np Skin-barrier lipid. · Allantoin Soothing; barrier-supportive. ·Butylene Glycol
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Propanediol Propanediol
03 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
04 Dibutyl Adipate Dibutyl Adipate
05 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
06 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid MODERN FILTER Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX)
07 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
08 Tromethamine Tromethamine
09 Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
10 Octyldodecanol Octyldodecanol
11 Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol
12 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
13 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
14 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
15 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
16 Polysilicone-15 MODERN FILTER Parsol SLX
17 Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract Cape Aloe Leaf Extract
18 Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polymethylsilsesquioxane
19 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
20 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
21 Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
22 Methylpropanediol Methylpropanediol
23 Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
24 Carbomer Carbomer
25 Glyceryl Stearate Citrate Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
26 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
27 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
28 Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
29 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.
30 Polyether-1
31 Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
32 Biosaccharide Gum-1 Biosaccharide Gum-1
33 Glutathione Glutathione
34 Lactobacillus Ferment Lactobacillus Ferment
35 Madecassoside ACTIVE Centella — calming, repair.
36 Ceramide Np ACTIVE Skin-barrier lipid.
37 Allantoin ACTIVE Soothing; barrier-supportive.
38 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol