Aesop
Protective Facial Lotion SPF25
face lotion
Aesop
face lotion
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
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Take the skin testShield your skin from UVA and UVB rays with Aesop's Protective Facial Lotion SPF 25; a lightweight, antioxidant-rich formula that delivers exceptional broad spectrum protection. Powered by a cocktail of beneficial ingredients, including Green Tea, Panthenol and Tocopherol, the quick-absorbing lotion delivers long-lasting moisture and hydration, whilst providing SPF 30 to defend against the damaging effects of sun exposure. Skin feels smooth and non-sticky with a matte finish and a herbaceous aroma.
Protective Facial Lotion SPF25 is a lightweight lotion from Aesop. It is rated SPF 25. Its job is UV protection, with the rest of the formula working on hydration. The ingredient list runs to 39 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Hydration is handled by Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin and Panthenol, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
It is a chemical (organic-filter) sunscreen, using Homosalate, Octocrylene, Octisalate and Avobenzone. Between them those filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so the formula is broad-spectrum in the meaningful sense: it reaches past 340 nm, where the ageing wavelengths sit. The formula contains a photounstable filter alongside a stabiliser, which is the standard and effective way to keep it from degrading in sunlight.
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol and Water.
On richness alone it suits Balanced skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Several ingredients carry irritation flags. If your skin is reactive, this is one to patch test carefully or approach slowly.
The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, oil control, cell renewal and firmness signalling. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free, microplastic-free, sulfate-free and dye-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging. It does contain fragrance and essential oils, worth knowing if your skin reacts to any of them.
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes after serums. Seal in your serums with it; in the morning, sunscreen still goes on top. It carries UV filters, so it belongs in your morning routine.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
Several ingredients here carry irritation flags. If your skin is reactive or you have rosacea, introduce this slowly, or ask a dermatologist first.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
Regulates sebum production to reduce shine and greasiness
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Chemical (organic) filter system · broad-spectrum through UVA I
Another solvent-filter: modest UVB coverage, mostly there to carry other filters.
Mostly present to stabilise avobenzone rather than for its own modest UVB coverage. Degrades slowly into benzophenone over a product's shelf life.
A weak filter used mainly as a solvent — it dissolves the crystalline filters (avobenzone, oxybenzone) so they can be formulated at all.
The workhorse UVA filter, and the fragile one: it loses a large share of its protection within an hour of sun unless the formula pairs it with a stabiliser such as octocrylene or Tinosorb S.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
3rd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters is the complex mixture formed by the transesterificatin of Tribehenin and PEG-20.
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Silicon dioxide
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Decanoic acid, ester with 1,2,3-propanetriol octanoate; Glycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycine Soja Oil is the oil obtained from the soybean, Glycine soja, Leguminosae, by extraction or expression. It consists esentially of triglycerides of oleic, linoleic and saturated acids
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
A photounstable filter is present, paired with a stabiliser
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Linalool, Limonene
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Best kept to separate routines — one in the morning, one at night, or on alternate days.
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
Can be layered, but the combination raises the irritation risk. Go slowly.
This product is the "Moisturise" step.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 39 ingredients on the label.
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
Forms a film that slows water loss
Absorbs or scatters ultraviolet light
Changes how the product smells or looks
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
Dissolves and carries everything else
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
Loosens or dissolves dead surface cells
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
Sets the acidity the formula needs to work
Botanical material, usually for antioxidants or scent
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Alcohols, coco, mixed esters with octanoic and decanoic acids
3rd on the list. Regulation caps it at 7.34%, so it is present at roughly 3.67–7.34%.
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl ester
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters is the complex mixture formed by the transesterificatin of Tribehenin and PEG-20.
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
2-Ethylhexyl salicylate
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
1-[4-(1,1-Dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-dione
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax is a wax obtained from the leaves and leaf buds of Copernicia cerifera, Palmaceae.
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Silicon dioxide
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Decanoic acid, ester with 1,2,3-propanetriol octanoate; Glycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Phenoxyethanol
14th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Benzyl alcohol
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycine Soja Oil is the oil obtained from the soybean, Glycine soja, Leguminosae, by extraction or expression. It consists esentially of triglycerides of oleic, linoleic and saturated acids
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
17th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (2R)-; dl-Panthenol
18th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the flowers of the Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, Labiatae. ISO 8902:2009
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
C10-30 alkyl propenoate, polymer with propenoic acid, butenoic acidand/or alkyl propenoates, product with propenyl sucrose ether or propenyl 2,2-dihydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol
20th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is the essential oil obtained from the flowering tops and leaves of the Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lamiaceae
21st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium hydrogen N-(1-oxooctadecyl)-L-glutamate
22nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
L-Aspartic acid, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, trisodium salt
23rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Microcrystalline Cellulose is the isolated, colloidal crystalline portion of cellulose fibers.
24th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium 1-(3,4-dihydro-6-methyl-2,4-dioxo-2H-pyran-3-ylidene)ethanolate
25th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-yl acetate
26th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the bark of Cedrus atlantica, Pinaceae
27th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium hydroxide
28th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Cellulose, carboxymethyl ether, sodium salt
29th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Carrageenan, sodium salt
30th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the Tea, Camellia sinensis, Theaceae
31st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Maris Sal (EU),Pink Salt
32nd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-
33rd on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium benzoate
34th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
.beta.,.beta.-carotene
35th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract is an extract of the roots of the Carrot, Daucus carota L. var. sativa, Umbelliferae
36th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Potassium (E,E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate
37th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,7-Dimethyl octa-1,6-diene-3-ol
38th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1-Methyl-4-Isopropenylcyclohexene; dipentene
39th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
La Roche-Posay
Shares 6 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Aestura
Shares 6 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
innisfree
Shares 6 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol
Benton
Shares 6 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol
Aesop
Shares 6 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Silica, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol
La Roche-Posay
Shares 5 key ingredients with Protective Facial Lotion SPF25: Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Tocopherol
WATER, COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, HOMOSALATE, OCTOCRYLENE, TRIBEHENIN PEG-20 ESTERS, GLYCERIN, ETHYLHEXYL SALICYLATE, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA WAX, SILICA, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, GLYCINE SOJA OIL, TOCOPHEROL, PANTHENOL, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA OIL, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF OIL, SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CEDRUS ATLANTICA BARK OIL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CELLULOSE GUM, SODIUM CARRAGEENAN, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, SEA SALT, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, BETA-CAROTENE, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA ROOT EXTRACT, POTASSIUM SORBATE, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, GERANIOL.
PANTHENOL, LACTIC ACID.
Massage into cleansed skin in the morning and prior to sun exposure. Reapply throughout the day.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
Some ingredients here carry irritation flags, so sensitive skin should patch test on the jawline for a few days before applying it to the whole face.
One ingredient could feed malassezia: Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that it will cause a breakout.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
No — it contains Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Yes — it contains Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Linalool, Limonene.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Azelaic acid, Copper peptides, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Ceramides. Take more care combining it with Retinoids (retinol, retinal), Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide — use them in separate routines or on alternate days.
Use it morning and evening, after serums.
It lists 39 ingredients, of which 6 are recorded as actives.
Aesop.
It filters UV with Homosalate (homosalate), Octocrylene (octocrylene), Octisalate (ethylhexyl salicylate), Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane).
Yes. Its filters cover UVB, UVA II and UVA I, so protection reaches past 340 nm into the deep-UVA range associated with ageing and pigmentation.
Unlikely. It filters with organic (chemical) filters only, which dissolve into the formula rather than sitting on the surface, so they do not leave a white cast.
It contains none of the filters named in the Hawaii and Key West reef legislation (oxybenzone and octinoxate). "Reef safe" is not a regulated term, so treat that as a fact about the filter list rather than a certification.
Yes. Let it set for a couple of minutes before foundation so it does not pill, and reapply over makeup with a stick or powder rather than rubbing more in.
Every two hours of sun exposure, and immediately after swimming, sweating heavily or towelling off.
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