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Sun Project Light Sun Essence SPF50+ PA+++ 40ml

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.

Global variant shares octinoxate/homosalate filter system and added fragrance; cosmetically elegant essence but health/sensitivity flags remain.

◐ 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. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
64.7
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1167 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Global variant shares octinoxate/homosalate filter system and added fragrance; cosmetically elegant essence but health/sensitivity flags remain.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

The global variant of the Light Sun Essence uses the same octinoxate, homosalate, and octocrylene system with added fragrance. Cosmetically elegant essence, but the filter stack and fragrance carry the same health and sensitivity flags.

Pros
  • Lightweight essence wears thin and invisible
  • Uvinul A Plus contributes UVA coverage
  • Centella and aloe support a soothing base
  • Plukenetia and soja lipids add skin-feel
  • SPF 50+ PA+++ broad-spectrum headroom
Cons
  • Octinoxate and homosalate raise endocrine concerns
  • Contains added fragrance
  • Octocrylene stability concerns over time
  • Older filter set, not modern EU-grade

Who it's for: Buyers seeking a thin, invisible essence SPF for daily wear who don't avoid octinoxate, homosalate, or fragrance.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 95
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 60
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 45
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 50
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 74
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 48
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
Octinoxate 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.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
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.
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.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 40 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 1 LEGACY FILTER 4 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Water· Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate — endocrine-disruption literature. · Homosalate Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature. · Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Butylene Glycol· Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. ·Dicaprylyl Carbonate·Cyclopentasiloxane·C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate·C20-22 Alcohols·Silica·1‚2-Hexanediol·Portulaca Oleracea Extract·Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water·Glycine Soja Lipids·Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil·Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract·Alcea Rosea Flower Extract·Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract·Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables·Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil·Cetyl Alcohol·Glyceryl Stearate· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Tromethamine·Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6·Octyldodecanol·Glyceryl Caprylate·Caprylyl Glycol·Microcrystalline Cellulose·Xanthan Gum·Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer·Polyisobutene· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Glyceryl Polymethacrylate·Cellulose Gum·Sorbitan Oleate·Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside· 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 Homosalate LEGACY FILTER Homosalate — legacy UVB filter; endocrine literature.
04 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
05 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
06 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
07 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
08 Dicaprylyl Carbonate Dicaprylyl Carbonate
09 Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclopentasiloxane
10 C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
11 C20-22 Alcohols C20-22 Alcohols
12 Silica Silica
13 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
14 Portulaca Oleracea Extract
15 Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water Lotus Flower Water
16 Glycine Soja Lipids Soybean Lipids
17 Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil Viper's Bugloss Seed Oil
18 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Aloe Vera Leaf Extract
19 Alcea Rosea Flower Extract Hollyhock Flower Extract
20 Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract Balloon Vine Extract
21 Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables Sunflower Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
22 Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
23 Cetyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol
24 Glyceryl Stearate Glyceryl Stearate
25 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
26 Tromethamine Tromethamine
27 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
28 Octyldodecanol Octyldodecanol
29 Glyceryl Caprylate Glyceryl Caprylate
30 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
31 Microcrystalline Cellulose Microcrystalline Cellulose
32 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
33 Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
34 Polyisobutene
35 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
36 Glyceryl Polymethacrylate Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
37 Cellulose Gum Cellulose Gum
38 Sorbitan Oleate
39 Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
40 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.