1 / 7Kesar & Kojic Acid Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 50+
Strong initial broad spectrum UV protection
Skin Type Match
Irritating · Sensitizing · Matte
- Fragrance free formula
- Soothing botanical extracts
- No drying alcohols
- High irritation risk
- Lacks needed occlusivity
- Sensitizing kojic acid
Performance Scores
SPF Level
Excellent
SPF Level
Label claims SPF 50+, which is corroborated by the prominent positioning of multiple UVB-absorbing filters in the active ingredient list.
Broad Spectrum
Excellent
Broad Spectrum
Avobenzone (peak 357 nm) and Bisoctrizole (peak 360 nm) provide strong, overlapping coverage in the critical 340-400 nm UVA I zone, while Ecamsule (peak 344 nm) bridges the UVA II gap.
Sweat Resistance
Poor
Sweat Resistance
The inclusion of Polyester-7 and Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate (often marketed together as a water-resistant film-former) provides structural durability, though unverified by testing.
Photo Stability
Poor
Photo Stability
Cosmetic photobiology literature confirms Octinoxate destabilises Avobenzone under UV exposure; while Bisoctrizole provides minor buffering, its low position (16) suggests insufficient concentration for full stabilisation.
Visible Light
Poor
Visible Light
Total absence of iron oxide colour indices (e.g., CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) or pigmentary-grade physical filters in the ingredient list.
Irritation Risk
High Risk
Irritation Risk
Dermatological literature identifies both propylene glycol and kojic acid as potential barrier disruptors and known causes of irritant contact dermatitis.
Pore Clogging
Medium Risk
Pore Clogging
Clinical and historical dermatological assays demonstrate that while cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth-20 are individually mild, their combination exhibits elevated comedogenic potential (often rated 3/5 to 4/5) compared to either ingredient alone.
White Cast
Low Risk
White Cast
Bisoctrizole is an organic particulate UV filter that both absorbs and scatters UV light, resulting in a slight but noticeable cast on deeper skin tones.
Ingredients Analysis
Active Filters
Avobenzone UVA I / UVA II
Rapidly degrades under UV exposure losing significant UVA protection capacity unless stabilized by other filters.
Ensulizole UVB
In vitro studies suggest it can generate reactive oxygen species upon UV exposure which may lead to cellular damage though real world impact is debated.
Octinoxate UVB
Studies indicate potential estrogenic and thyroid disrupting activity in animal models and human cell lines.
Octisalate UVB
Clinical trials demonstrate systemic absorption into the bloodstream exceeding the FDA threshold requiring further safety testing.
Key Inactive Ingredients
Propylene Glycol Solvent
Recognized as a frequent cause of allergic contact dermatitis especially in individuals with eczema or compromised skin barriers.
Triethanolamine pH Adjuster
May react with nitrosating agents in formulations to form nitrosamines which are potential carcinogens.
Cyclopentasiloxane Emollient
The European Union is restricting this ingredient to a maximum concentration of one tenth of a percent in leave on cosmetics effective June 2027.
Decyl Glucoside Surfactant
Named Contact Allergen of the Year in 2017 due to increasing reports of allergic contact dermatitis, though it remains safe and mild for the vast majority of users.
Kojic Acid Other
Exhibitsanotablesensitizingpotentialandcancauseallergiccontactdermatitis, redness, andirritation, particularlyafterprolongeduseoratconcentrationsexceeding1%[1.10].
Cetearyl Alcohol Emollient
Historically rated as mildly comedogenic in animal models but modern dermatological consensus indicates it is unlikely to clog pores in typical cosmetic formulations.
Ceteareth-20 Emulsifier
As an ethoxylated compound, it may contain trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, which are potential carcinogens formed during the manufacturing process.
Phenoxyethanol Preservative
Generally well tolerated but can cause contact dermatitis or skin irritation in rare cases, particularly in sensitive individuals.
Ethylhexylglycerin Preservative
Recognized as a rare but emerging cause of allergic contact dermatitis, particularly in leave-on cosmetic products.
Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Antioxidant
Although generally well tolerated, there are documented case reports of allergic contact dermatitis and skin sensitization linked to this specific vitamin C derivative [1.7].
Aloe Vera Extract Skin Conditioning
Unpurified whole leaf aloe extracts may contain anthraquinones like aloin which have shown carcinogenic potential in oral animal studies but cosmetic grade aloe is decolorized to safely limit these compounds to below 50 parts per million [1.3].
Chamomile Extract Skin Conditioning
May cause allergic contact dermatitis in individuals with known sensitivities to plants in the daisy family [1.3].
BHT Antioxidant
Some animal studies suggest high oral doses may cause endocrine disruption, though regulatory bodies consider it safe at the low concentrations used in cosmetics.