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COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ ingredients: is it worth it?
Elegant UV protection with annoying alcohol + fragrance baggage.
Elegant UV protection with annoying alcohol + fragrance baggage.
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Multiple modern filters (UVB filters plus Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and some titanium dioxide) provide solid broad-spectrum protection and a cosmetically pleasing texture, but the reliance on denatured alcohol high in the list and a fully loaded fragrance allergen blend drags down both tolerability and the overall efficacy score for sensitive or barrier-compromised skin.
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DemythSkin rates COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ 4.3/5 for efficacy and 3.4/5 for safety.
CONTAINS COMMON SENSITISERS⌄
Fragrance components and essential oils that more often cause reactions in sensitive skin: Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol. Most people tolerate them; patch test if your skin reacts easily.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (19)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua/Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Parfum/Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
- Aqua/Water
- Primary solvent
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
- UVB chemical filter
- Glycerin
- Humectant for hydration
- Propylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Dimethicone
- Silicone emollient and skin protectant
- Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
- Water-soluble UVB filter
- Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
- Broad-spectrum UV filter
- Dicaprylyl Carbonate
- Emollient and texture enhancer
- Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate
- UVB filter and emollient
- Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
- Anionic emulsifier
- Alcohol
- Solvent and penetration enhancer
- Butylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Emulsifier and emollient
- Titanium Dioxide
- Physical UV filter and opacifier
- C14-22 Alcohols
- Fatty alcohols, structuring agent
- Polymethyl Methacrylate
- Film-former and texture modifier
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol, emollient, thickener
- PEG-100 Stearate
- Emulsifier and surfactant
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
- Soothing botanical extract
- Arginine
- pH adjuster and humectant
- Silica
- Absorbent and mattifying agent
- Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster
- C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
- Non-ionic emulsifier
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Coating agent for pigments/filters
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine: BASF data and independent photostability studies show this broad-spectrum filter offers very high UVA and UVB protection and excellent photostability even at relatively low use levels.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate: Clinical evaluations confirm octinoxate as an efficient UVB filter commonly used to help achieve high SPF values in combination sunscreens.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate: Studies on glycyrrhizate derivatives report anti-inflammatory and soothing effects when applied topically, helping reduce irritation in cosmetic formulations.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper sunscreen that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (sun protection) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++: common questions
Is COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ worth it?
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ scores 4.3 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Effective) and 3.4 out of 5.0 for safety (Some Risk) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Elegant UV protection with annoying alcohol + fragrance baggage.
What are the key active ingredients in COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++?
COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Titanium Dioxide.
Does COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin flags these ingredients in COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ as documented irritants: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral. This product does contain fragrance.
How is COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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