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The Sun-Screener

Your sunscreen decoder

Sunscreen is the most important skincare step, so let’s make it less scary.

Enter your sunscreen’s ingredient list below, and we’ll give you a factual, not fear-based, analysis on what’s really inside.

The Makings of a sunscreen formula

These are the active ingredients in sunscreens that actually shield your skin from UV rays by absorbing UV radiation. Some filters protect against UVB (burning) rays, others against UVA (aging) rays. To be labeled broad-spectrum, a sunscreen formula must include filters that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. In the U.S., this claim is regulated by the FDA.

UV filters come in two main types:

  • Mineral (physical)—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
  • Chemical—like avobenzone and octocrylene

Read more about these ingredients in the UV filters section below

Boosters are considered inactive ingredients that may increase the efficiency and/or efficacy of the actual UV filters in a sunscreen formula. Boosters are not in all sunscreen formulas, but if you see them in yours, here's a bit more about them...

While some boosters work by increasing uniformity of application or by providing antioxidant (formula stabilizing) capabilities, some boosters do absorb UV radiation, which increases the SPF value. Are they always used for boosting UV protection in a sunscreen formula? No. But when used in higher percentages, they can start doing the heavy lifting.

A really important note: Technically, boosters are considered inactive ingredients in sunscreen formulas, but for the purposes of this checker, we separated them from inactive ingredients to provide more info on what some boosters are and their functions and purposes in a sunscreen formula.

These ingredients are basically everything else in a sunscreen formula, from texture enhancers to preservatives.

These ingredients don't contribute to sun protection but affect the feel, finish, and wear of a final sunscreen formula.

A really important note: UV boosters are technically considered inactive ingredients in sunscreen formulas. But for this checker, we separated out boosters from inactive ingredients to provide more info on what boosters are and their functions and purposes in a sunscreen formula.

Ingredient

Understanding UV

UV Filters

Mineral Filters

Also known as physical or inorganic UV filters, mineral-based UV filters protect your skin from sun damage by absorbing UV radiation. While there’s a pervasive myth that mineral sunscreens “reflect” UV rays, this has been debunked. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the only two approved mineral filters, work largely the same way as chemical filters: they absorb about 95% of UV rays and reflect only around 5%, as confirmed by a 2016 study (source).

So, like chemical filters, mineral filters absorb harmful UV radiation and release it as a small amount of heat, stopping the damage before it hits your skin. This prevents UV rays from penetrating deeper into the skin and causing DNA mutations, sunburn, long-term damage, hyperpigmentation, and more. Mineral filters tend to leave a white cast, making it difficult to formulate elegant sunscreens that blend well on more melanated complexions.

An important note: While both mineral filters and the newly approved chemical filter, bemotrizinol, are the only three UV filters currently classified as GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective) by the FDA, that doesn’t mean other chemical filters are unsafe. Content that tells you otherwise is misinformation and dangerous, as it promotes conspiratorial thinking.

Bottom line: The safest sunscreen is the one you use daily and generously. Always choose one with SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum protection.

Examples: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide (that's all of them)

Chemical Filters

Also known as organic filters, these filters are made up of organic (carbon-based) compounds that protect your skin by absorbing UV radiation, very similar to how mineral filters work.

Rather than UV rays damaging your skin, that energy is absorbed by the chemical filter, converted into a tiny amount of heat, stopping the damage before it hits your skin. This prevents UV rays from penetrating deeper into the skin and causing DNA mutations, sunburn, long-term damage, hyperpigmentation, and more.

Different chemical filters protect against different types of UV rays, so it's important to use a well-formulated sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection (AKA protection from both UVA and UVB rays).

An important note: While mineral filters and the newly approved chemical filter, bemotrizinol, are the only three UV filters currently classified as GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective) by the FDA, that doesn’t mean other chemical filters are unsafe. Content that tells you otherwise is misinformation and dangerous, as it promotes conspiratorial thinking.

Bottom line: The safest sunscreen is the one you use daily and generously. Always choose one with SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum protection.

Examples: Avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate

UV Radiation

Type of radiation

UVB

Wavelength

280–315

Definition

Short-wave ultraviolet light that causes sunburn, plays a major role in skin cancer, and contributes to photoaging.

Type of radiation

UVA II

Wavelength

315-340

Definition

The shorter half of the UVA spectrum. Penetrates skin more deeply than UVB and contributes to DNA damage and aging.

Type of radiation

UVA I

Wavelength

340-400

Definition

The longer part of the UVA spectrum. Penetrates deeper into the dermis than UVA II and plays a large role in photoaging and pigmentation.

Type of radiation

HEV

Wavelength

400-500

Definition

AKA blue light. Comes from the sun, and a small amount comes from digital screens (not enough to cause damage). May contribute to pigmentation and oxidative stress.

PSA: Better Sunscreen is Coming to the U.S.!

After more than 20 years, the FDA has approved a new sunscreen active ingredient: (aka BEMT, or, Parsol Shield). BEMT is known for its photostability, broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, and its ability to deliver high UV protection without compromising texture.

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine

This is a
Chemical UV Filter
AKA
Bemotrizinol, BEMT, Parsol Shield, Tinosorb S
FYI

This UV Filter is approved for use in U.S.-made sunscreen formulations at a 6% maximum formulation percentage.

This UV Filter is approved for use in EU-made sunscreen formulations at a 10% maximum formulation percentage.

About this filter

Newly approved in the U.S. as of June 2026, this is the first broad-spectrum organic (chemical) UV filter, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Unlike Avobenzone—the only other organic (chemical) UV filter approved in the U.S. that protects against UVA rays—BEMT is highly photostable, so it won't break down as easily when exposed to light and is easier to stabilize in sunscreen formulations.

Used internationally for decades in Europe, Asia, and Australia, this is the first sunscreen active ingredient to be approved by the FDA and added to the over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen monograph since the 1990s.

Continuing education:

“FDA Expands Sunscreen Options for the First Time in 20 Years.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 9 June 2026, www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-expands-sunscreen-options-first-time-20-years.

“Bemotrizinol, Marketed by BASF as Tinosorb S, Receives Regulatory Approval in the United States as the First New Sunscreen Active Ingredient Approved by the FDA since 1999.” BASF, 12 June 2026, www.basf.com/us/en/media/news-releases/2026/06/P-US-26-27.

“Bemotrizinol.” American Chemical Society, 1 June 2026, www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/b/bemotrizinol.html.

Hint: you might see it in Dieux’s sunscreen one day... Sign up for updates on our SPF here.

FAQ

It depends! While lots of skin tints on the market now feature SPF, it’s challenging to get the required ¼ of a teaspoon on your face without a tint looking cakey. It’s possible, but it’s something to be aware of.

We recommend using a sunscreen with SPF 30 (minimum) and with broad-spectrum protection. If you can’t get enough of your tinted sunscreen on your face to get the stated protection on the bottle (if you use less, you risk getting less protection), layer underneath a sunscreen with similar filters.

If you’re allergic to UV filters, you may get a reaction, but the ingredients themselves are unlikely to “clog pores.” Looking at textures and the full ingredient list is a great way to determine if something will break you out. If richer creams tend to be a no-no for you, a thick, rich mineral or chemical sunscreen might not be the best option.

People have allergies to mineral and chemical sunscreens, so it’s important to observe how your skin reacts, and we always recommend patch testing formulas before incorporating them into your routine. If you’re allergic to chemical sunscreens, you may have an allergic reaction to boosters in mineral formulas.

As long as your sunscreen is broad spectrum (meaning it protects from both UVA and UVB radiation), at least 30 SPF, and is applied regularly, there is no wrong answer here. It’ll all come down to personal preference!

From this article on the Guardian, we agree with renowned reef scientist Terry Hughes:

“The three main threats to coral reefs are global warming, overfishing and coastal water pollution,” says Prof Terry Hughes, former director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at Queensland’s James Cook University, and one of the world’s leading coral reef experts. “Coral bleaching is triggered by rising temperatures due primarily to burning fossil fuels. We have already seen three global-scale coral bleaching events due to record-breaking heatwaves, in 1998, 2010 and 2015–2016, which affected 50-70% of tropical reefs. Even the most remote reefs, far from mass tourism or sunscreen, are affected by global warming. There is no scientific evidence that use of sunscreens by people has a harmful effect on coral reefs.”

The studies looking at coral reefs used extremely high levels of chemical sunscreen filters to bleach reefs. When you put high levels of zinc next to reefs, they also bleach reefs. Dr. Michelle Wong has many posts dispelling this harmful myth that uses fear (and your good nature) to sell you sunscreen.

It’s a more robust question, and “reef safe” sunscreen doesn’t mean much. If you’re wondering why certain regions ban certain filters, politicians aren’t scientists and they don’t always listen to experts. If you are swimming near coral reefs, our recommendation is to wear wetsuits and protective clothing if you’re concerned!

Using FDA and European sunscreen databases as the backbone of our sunscreen research, this tool was created by our co-founder and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Palermino and reviewed by our two internal chemists: co-founder and Chief Product Officer Joyce de Lemos and Dieux’s formulation and product development manager Becca Perry.

Becca’s experience is in sunscreen development, having worked on formulas at a renowned contract manufacturer, which helped inform our explanations and how we approach education around boosters. This database was then reviewed by cosmetic chemist, PhD student researcher, and content creator/educator, Ava Perkins.

This tool is made and maintained by humans, not AI (a reminder, AI has hallucinations), with individual sources used to further inform ingredient education. If you think we've missed something, please reach out to sunscreener@dieuxskin.mom.

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