Dermalogica Daily Defense SPF 15
The Dermalogica Daily Defense SPF 15 is a sunscreen. Our analysis of its 47 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Dermalogica Daily Defense SPF 15 is a sunscreen. Our analysis of its 47 ingredients (42 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Benzophenone-3
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Cinoxate
(Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Cetearyl Phosphate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Lactamide MEA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract
(Proprietary, Skin Conditioning) |
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Dimethyl Capramide
(Emulsion Stabilising, Solvent) |
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Mahonia Aquifolium Root Extract
(Cosmetic Astringent) |
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Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender)
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking, Tonic) |
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Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Perfuming) |
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Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
(Anticaries Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Antifungal Agent, Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
(Abrasive, Skin Protecting) |
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Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
(Skin Bleaching Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Lavandula Spica (Lavender) Flower Oil | |
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Lavandula Hybrida Oil
(Emollient) |
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Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Sodium DNA
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Tocopherol (Vitamin E) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
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Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerine Crosspolymer | |
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Gelatin Crosspolymer
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyquaternium-10
(Antistatic Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Aminomethyl Propanol
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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