Is Active Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 High Protection Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Cien Sun
Cien Sun's Active Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 High Protection is reviewed here as a sunscreen. Zerotox gives it 70/100 based on the current ingredient profile, so it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The ingredient review below focuses especially on Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Potassium Hydroxide.
70 / 100
Why score is 70
The composition includes several synthetic ingredients like octocrylene and phenoxyethanol, which raise concerns about potential skin irritation and long-term safety. However, it also contains beneficial components like glycerin for hydration.
Main concern
Octocrylene is a synthetic UV filter that may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Glycerin is a humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin, contributing to hydration.
- Tocopheryl acetate is a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant, providing skin protection.
Concerns
- Octocrylene is a synthetic UV filter that may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about potential skin sensitization.
Who should avoid this product?
This formula may not suit:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
Below, each ingredient is described in the context of this sunscreen, not just listed as a raw label.
-
Is Water safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as the primary solvent in this formulation, providing a base for other ingredients.
Role in formula: base
Original: Aqua
-
Is Octocrylene safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Octocrylene is used here as emulsifier. Octocrylene is a synthetic UV filter that stabilizes sunscreen formulations but may cause irritation in some users.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Octocrylene
-
Is Glycerin safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Glycerin is used here as base. Glycerin is a natural humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, enhancing hydration and skin feel.
Role in formula: base
Original: Glycerin
-
Is C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate is used here as emulsifier. This ingredient acts as an emollient and helps improve the texture of the product, though it is synthetic.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
-
Is Ethylhexyl Salicylate safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is used here as emulsifier. Ethylhexyl salicylate is a synthetic UV filter that helps absorb UVB rays but may raise safety concerns.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Ethylhexyl Salicylate
-
Is Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane is used here as emulsifier. This ingredient is a synthetic UV filter effective against UVA rays, but it may cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Read the full ingredient profile for Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
-
Is Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone is used here as emulsifier. A synthetic UV filter that provides broad-spectrum protection but may have safety concerns associated with synthetic ingredients.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
Read the full ingredient profile for Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
-
Is Potassium Cetyl Phosphate safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is used here as emulsifier. This ingredient acts as an emulsifier and stabilizer, helping to blend oil and water components in the formulation.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Read the full ingredient profile for Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
-
Is Myristyl Alcohol safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Myristyl Alcohol is used here as emulsifier. Myristyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that acts as an emollient and emulsifier, though it is synthetic.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Myristyl Alcohol
-
Is Phenoxyethanol safe in this sunscreen?
Bad
Phenoxyethanol is used here as preservative. Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative that can cause skin irritation and raises concerns about its safety in cosmetics.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Phenoxyethanol
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a natural thickening agent that helps stabilize the formulation without raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Xanthan Gum
-
Is Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid is used here as emulsifier. This ingredient is a synthetic UV filter that provides additional sun protection but may cause irritation.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
Read the full ingredient profile for Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
-
Is Tocopheryl Acetate safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Tocopheryl Acetate is used here as antioxidant. Tocopheryl acetate is a form of vitamin E that provides antioxidant benefits, helping to protect the skin from damage.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Tocopheryl Acetate
-
Is Menthone Glycerin Acetal safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Menthone Glycerin Acetal is used here as fragrance. This ingredient is used for fragrance purposes and may cause sensitivity in some individuals.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Menthone Glycerin Acetal
-
Is Fragrance safe in this sunscreen?
Bad
Fragrance is used here as fragrance. Fragrance can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation in sensitive individuals, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: fragrance
Original: Parfum
-
Is Hydroxyacetophenone safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Hydroxyacetophenone is used here as antioxidant. Hydroxyacetophenone is a synthetic antioxidant that helps stabilize the formulation but may raise safety concerns.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Hydroxyacetophenone
-
Is Potassium Hydroxide safe in this sunscreen?
Bad
Potassium Hydroxide is used here as buffer. Potassium hydroxide is a strong alkaline compound used to adjust pH, which can be irritating to the skin.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: Potassium Hydroxide
-
Is Caprylhydroxamic Acid safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is used here as preservative. This ingredient is a synthetic preservative that may raise concerns about skin irritation and long-term safety.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Caprylhydroxamic Acid
-
Is Sclerotium Gum safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Sclerotium Gum is used here as thickener. Sclerotium gum is a natural thickening agent that helps stabilize the formulation without raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Sclerotium Gum
-
Is Acacia Senegal Gum safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Acacia Senegal Gum is used here as thickener. Acacia senegal gum is a natural thickening agent that provides texture and stability to the formulation.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Acacia Senegal Gum
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 4278081
More from this brand: Cien Sun products in Zerotox
Similar products: sunscreen in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.