SPF Scout · Product record
Allergan, Inc. Essential Defense Everyday Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 47 Sunscreen
SPF 47 as labeled
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 22 September 2026
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
26 entries · the stored declaration is recorded as complete.
What each ingredient generally does
Each entry that matched a canonical ingredient, with the function recorded for it. These notes describe the role an ingredient plays in a formulation. They do not assess an ingredient.
Zinc Oxide
Bulking agent (adds volume)Colorant (adds colour)Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)A mineral UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light, the core sun-protection job in this product. It also helps protect the skin surface and can add whiteness or opacity. On some labels it appears as CI 77947 when used for colour.
Octinoxate
Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also acts as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up when exposed to sunlight. You'll often see it listed as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.
Water
Antiplaque (CosIng functional class)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)The base liquid that most of the other ingredients dissolve or spread into. It carries the formula and helps condition the skin surface.
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)This is a lightweight silicone used to condition skin and hair and to soften and smooth skin feel. It also acts as a solvent, helping the product spread and dissolve other ingredients.
An ingredient that smooths the skin's surface. In practice, it helps the product leave skin feeling even.
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Oleth-3 Phosphate is a cleansing agent that helps lift away oil and dirt. In practice it lets the product rinse or wipe residue off the skin.
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)An emollient that softens and smooths skin feel. In practice it gives the product a lighter, easier-to-spread texture.
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)This is a copolymer used to thicken the formula and keep it stable. It adjusts thickness and helps stop the oil and water parts from separating, giving the product a consistent texture.
Glycerin
Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Humectant (holds moisture)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Glycerin draws in and holds moisture while conditioning and protecting skin. It also dissolves other ingredients, adjusts thickness, and can add scent. On labels it may appear as glycerol.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)Astringent (CosIng functional class)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Humectant (holds moisture)Oral care (CosIng functional class)otherPreservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Tonic (CosIng functional class)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)An extract from tea leaves that does several jobs: it draws in and holds moisture, softens the skin, and works as an antioxidant. It also acts as an astringent and adds a mild scent. On labels this is the tea leaf extract.
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)An extract of the knotweed herb that works as an emollient, softening and smoothing skin feel. It helps the product leave a smoother finish on the skin.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Tocopheryl Acetate is a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant, helping keep the formula from going off. It also conditions the skin, softening its feel.
A moisture-grabbing ingredient that draws in and holds water. That keeps skin conditioned and helps it feel supple. It's the salt form of hyaluronic acid.
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A silicone-based conditioning ingredient for skin and hair. It works to soften and smooth the feel of skin and hair.
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A silicone-type skin-conditioning ingredient. It leaves the skin feeling smooth and conditioned.
A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.
Polyisobutene
Binder (holds the formula together)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A thickening and binding agent that also forms a film. It adjusts how thick the product is, holds the mix together, and leaves a thin coating on the skin as it dries.
Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)This ingredient helps oil and water mix and can act as a cleansing agent. It keeps the oily and watery parts blended together and helps rinse away oils.
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A multitasking liquid that acts as a humectant, solvent, and thickness adjuster, and carries a scent role. It draws in and holds moisture, dissolves other ingredients, and helps set the product's texture.
Disodium EDTA
Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)An ingredient that binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula, and helps adjust its thickness. This keeps the product stable over time.
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)otherSodium Hydroxide is a strongly alkaline ingredient used in tiny amounts to fine-tune a formula's acidity (buffering). This keeps the product's pH steady. It can also act as a denaturant, altering another substance so it stays fit for use in cosmetics rather than being consumed.
Citric Acid
Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)Fragrance ingredient (scent)otherCitric Acid is a mild acid used to fine-tune a formula's pH. It keeps the acidity steady (buffering), binds trace metals that would spoil the formula (chelating), and can add a scent note.
Caprylyl Glycol
Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A multi-tasker that conditions skin and hair and acts as a deodorant. As an emollient it softens and smooths, leaving skin feeling conditioned.
A preservative that helps keep the product from spoiling over time. It also contributes to fragrance. Together these keep the formula stable and scented.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A multi-tasker that conditions the skin and works as a deodorant agent. It helps improve skin feel while cutting odor.
Checking this against your own list
SPF Scout's Personal Ingredient Check runs in the app, on your device. This page cannot see a personal avoidance list. Your selections are stored on your phone and are never sent to this website. There is nowhere on our side for them to go.
In the app you choose the ingredients you already avoid, and every entry in this declaration that matches one of them is shown to you with the alias path that produced the match.
This comparison does not predict whether your skin will react.
Source quality
- Source
- DailyMed drug label
- Source record
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=bc872876-20e7-40cb-b79d-68998883681a
- Retrieved
- 22 September 2026
- Market
- United States
- Version
- v1 of this U.S. formulation
- Source tier
- Official label document (not independently verified by us)
- Entries recorded
- 26
- Record checksum
- sha256:3ff6cd9d526751bc7f471c437362e58f3a8cdcdfe78583844acd593855ee14f5
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