This is not a typical product review of LOreal UVDefender as a sunscreen (and you’ll see why)
LOreal change their formulation for the same product by country of purchase. (see this BLOG The product that I have is Made in Indonesia and is completely different from the Ingredient list of the version that retails in India. (I have ordered the Made in version too)
LOreal UVDefender filters
Both UVA and UVB have been definitively linked to photoaging and skin cancer. Its vital that sunscreens contain “UV filters” that protect our skin by absorbing, reflecting or scattering UVA and UVB rays.
It’s really important to stress that having multiple filters appears to work for LOreal UVDefender sunscreens and they have a bunch of patents to support this.
Multiple filters work can and do work in synergy to provide better protection against UV radiation then if you had massive quantities of these filters.
Despite this, I have issue with the potential quantities listed and I’ll explain this. In most countries, ingredients are listed in order of quantity, and sometimes (not always), if ingredients < 1% than they can be listed in any order.
Issues with the sunscreen…
The primary 101 reason to buy sunscreen for Asians is to give UVA protection.
My bar on this blog is set by the EU which is one-third of the stated SPF (SPF 50+ here) should be towards UVA protection.
I am simply unsure that this is the case here.
And this is a really big deal for me b/c if you can’t be sure that your sunscreen is giving you adequate protection against UVA, then what is the point??
With the Made in India version, I’ll wait for my delivery and review that separately.
LOreal UVDefender contains Niacinamide
I have written a blog on Actives (e.g.) Niacinamide in sunscreen. I don’t like them and you can read all about it over here
Abbreviations and INCI names
Octisalate (INCI: Ethylhexyl Salicylate)
Mexoryl XL (INCI name: Drometrizole Siloxane)
BEMT (INCI: Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine)
MBBT (INCI: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol)
Avobenzone (INCI: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane)