Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
SH
Shiseido

Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen SPF 42

SPF 42 Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. US United States us-fda Formulation variant: us-fda. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Avobenzone/homosalate/octisalate/octocrylene quartet with Alcohol Denat and fragrance — chemical-heavy US filter set drags sensitivity and health.

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.
58.4
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1394 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Avobenzone/homosalate/octisalate/octocrylene quartet with Alcohol Denat and fragrance — chemical-heavy US filter set drags sensitivity and health.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A US chemical SPF 42 cream pairing the avobenzone/homosalate/octisalate/octocrylene quartet with a vitamin-led antioxidant blend including 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and tocopheryl acetate. Alcohol Denat. and added fragrance pull sensitivity and health scores down.

Pros
  • Vitamin C derivative 2-O-ethyl ascorbic acid included
  • Panthenyl ethyl ether and sodium hyaluronate add hydration
  • Photostable octocrylene supports avobenzone
  • Invisible cream finish layers under makeup
Cons
  • Alcohol Denat. plus ethanol both present
  • Added fragrance limits sensitive-skin use
  • Older US filter set lacks modern non-EDC options
  • SPF 42 lower than the Ultimate Sun Protector line

Who it's for: US buyers wanting a chemical face SPF with vitamin C and antioxidants who tolerate denatured alcohol and added fragrance.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 74
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 50
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 35
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 85
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 70
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 42
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
Avobenzone Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Homosalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Octocrylene Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
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.
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) 45 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 4 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 1 ALCOHOL 2 WATCH 1 ACTIVE 3
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation. · Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. ·Trisiloxane·Water·Diisopropyl Sebacate·Silica· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. · Alcohol Denat. Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Isododecane·Peg/Ppg-9/2 Dimethyl Ether·Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone·Trimethylsiloxysilicate·Dextrin Palmitate·Disteardimonium Hectorite·Trehalose·Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone·Phytosteryl Macadamiate·Sodium Chloride·2-O-ethyl Ascorbic Acid·Aminoethanesulfinic Acid·Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate·Panthenyl Ethyl Ether·Sodium Polyacrylate·Tocopheryl Acetate· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract·Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract·Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract·Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract·Spirulina Platensis Extract·Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer·Butylene Glycol·Silica Dimethyl Silylate·Trisodium Edta· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. · Bht Antioxidant preservative; trace concern. · Alcohol Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts. ·Sodium Metabisulfite· Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity. ·Barium Sulfate·Sodium Citrate·Phenoxyethanol· 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 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane LEGACY FILTER Avobenzone — UVA filter, needs stabilisation.
02 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
03 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
04 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
05 Trisiloxane Trisiloxane
06 Water Water
07 Diisopropyl Sebacate Diisopropyl Sebacate
08 Silica Silica
09 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
10 Alcohol Denat. ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
11 Isododecane Isododecane
12 Peg/Ppg-9/2 Dimethyl Ether PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether
13 Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
14 Trimethylsiloxysilicate Trimethylsiloxysilicate
15 Dextrin Palmitate Dextrin Palmitate
16 Disteardimonium Hectorite Disteardimonium Hectorite
17 Trehalose Trehalose
18 Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
19 Phytosteryl Macadamiate Phytosteryl Macadamiate
20 Sodium Chloride Sodium Chloride
21 2-O-ethyl Ascorbic Acid Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
22 Aminoethanesulfinic Acid Hypotaurine
23 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
24 Panthenyl Ethyl Ether Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
25 Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Polyacrylate
26 Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate
27 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
29 Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Green Tea Leaf Extract
30 Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract Mangosteen Bark Extract
31 Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract Perilla Leaf Extract
33 Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
34 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
35 Silica Dimethyl Silylate Silica Dimethyl Silylate
36 Trisodium Edta Trisodium EDTA
37 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
38 Bht WATCH Antioxidant preservative; trace concern.
39 Alcohol ALCOHOL Drying short-chain alcohol — can compromise the skin barrier and disturb the film if used in high amounts.
40 Sodium Metabisulfite Sodium Metabisulfite
41 Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract NATURAL FRAGRANCE Essential / botanical oil — releases scent compounds (terpenes, aldehydes) naturally. Marketed as "natural" but still a recognised source of contact sensitivity.
42 Barium Sulfate Barium Sulfate
43 Sodium Citrate Sodium Citrate
44 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
45 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.