Is Cien Sun Kid Sensitive Sun Cream 50spf Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Cien Sun
This page reviews Cien Sun Kid Sensitive Sun Cream 50spf by Cien Sun as a sunscreen. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several synthetic ingredients like octocrylene and phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, which raise concerns about potential skin irritation and environmental impact. However, glycerin and tocopheryl acetate are beneficial for skin 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 provides antioxidant benefits, enhancing skin protection.
Concerns
- Octocrylene is a synthetic UV filter that may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid is a chemical sunscreen agent that raises concerns about potential environmental impact.
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this sunscreen and why it matters.
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Is Aqua safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Aqua is used here as base. Aqua serves as the primary solvent in this formulation, providing hydration and facilitating the distribution of 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 skin 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 humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, enhancing hydration and improving skin texture.
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 to improve the texture of the product, though it is a synthetic compound.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
-
Is Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is used here as emulsifier. This UV filter helps protect the skin from sun damage but is a synthetic ingredient that may raise safety concerns.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Ethylheryl Salicy Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Read the full ingredient profile for Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
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Is Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone is used here as emulsifier. A synthetic UV filter that provides sun protection but may have potential skin irritation effects.
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 derived from synthetic sources.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Myristyl Alcohol
-
Is Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid safe in this sunscreen?
Bad
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid is used here as emulsifier. This chemical sunscreen agent provides UV protection but raises concerns about potential skin irritation and environmental impact.
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 oxidative stress.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Tocopheryl Acetate
-
Is Hydroxyacetophenone safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Hydroxyacetophenone is used here as antioxidant. This ingredient acts as an antioxidant and stabilizer, though it is a synthetic compound that may raise safety concerns.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Hydroxyacetophenone
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Is Potassium Hydroxide safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Potassium Hydroxide is used here as buffer. Potassium hydroxide is used to adjust pH levels in the formulation, but it can be irritating to the skin in high concentrations.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: Potassium Hydroxide
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Is Caprylhydroxamic Acid safe in this sunscreen?
Medium
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is used here as preservative. This ingredient acts as a preservative to prevent microbial growth, though it is a synthetic compound.
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 improve the texture of the product without synthetic additives.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Sclerotium Gum
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Is Acacia Senegal Gum safe in this sunscreen?
Good
Acacia Senegal Gum is used here as thickener. Acacia senegal gum is a natural thickener that enhances the product's texture and stability without synthetic components.
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: 4278107
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.