Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
TA
Tage

Cica-Tree Water Jelly Sun Serum

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.

Fragrance-free Mexoryl SX, ethylhexyl triazone, DHHB, BEMT; very clean ingredient list, niacinamide and centella.

◐ 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).
89.2
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #46 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Fragrance-free Mexoryl SX, ethylhexyl triazone, DHHB, BEMT; very clean ingredient list, niacinamide and centella.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

A lightweight jelly serum pairing Mexoryl SX, Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, and Parsol SLX with niacinamide and a pared-back botanical list. Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and one of the cleaner sensitivity profiles in the lineup.

Pros
  • Five modern filters spanning UVA1 through UVB
  • Niacinamide included at a meaningful position in the INCI
  • Minimal botanical load keeps the irritation surface area low
  • Fragrance-free with no denatured alcohol
  • Jelly-essence texture layers easily under makeup
Cons
  • No ceramide or peptide complex for barrier support
  • Acrylate and cellulose thickeners may pill under heavy layers
  • Antioxidant support limited to tocopherol

Who it's for: Most skin types, especially sensitive or acne-prone buyers wanting modern UVA coverage in a light, low-fuss texture.

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. 78
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
Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul T 150 Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Parsol SLX Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus 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.
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.
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) 31 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 5 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 5
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water·1‚2-Hexanediol·Water· Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX) ·Dibutyl Adipate·Propanediol· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. · Ethylhexyl Triazone Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter. · Niacinamide Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening. ·Tromethamine· Centella Asiatica Extract Centella — calming, repair. · Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Pentylene Glycol· Polysilicone-15 Parsol SLX · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Acrylates Copolymer· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6·Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate·Malachite·Arginine·Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate·Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide·Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide·Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer·C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Microcrystalline Cellulose·Sphingomonas Ferment Extract·Cellulose Gum· Adenosine Smoothing active.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water Tea Tree Leaf Water
02 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
03 Water Water
04 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid MODERN FILTER Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX)
05 Dibutyl Adipate Dibutyl Adipate
06 Propanediol Propanediol
07 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
08 Ethylhexyl Triazone MODERN FILTER Uvinul T 150 — high-efficiency UVB filter.
09 Niacinamide ACTIVE Vitamin B3 — barrier + brightening.
10 Tromethamine Tromethamine
11 Centella Asiatica Extract ACTIVE Centella — calming, repair.
12 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
13 Pentylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol
14 Polysilicone-15 MODERN FILTER Parsol SLX
15 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
16 Acrylates Copolymer Acrylates Copolymer
17 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
18 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
19 Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
20 Malachite Malachite
21 Arginine Arginine
22 Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
23 Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
24 Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
25 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
26 C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane
27 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
28 Microcrystalline Cellulose Microcrystalline Cellulose
29 Sphingomonas Ferment Extract Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
30 Cellulose Gum Cellulose Gum
31 Adenosine ACTIVE Smoothing active.