SPF Scout · Product record
Allergan, Inc. Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Sunscreen
SPF 35 as labeled
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 22 July 2026
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
19 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.
Titanium Dioxide
Colorant (adds colour)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)Titanium Dioxide is a mineral UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also works as a white colorant and opacifier, adding whiteness and making the product less see-through. As a color additive it appears on labels as CI 77891.
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.
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.
Dimethicone
Antifoaming (stops the formula foaming)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)A silicone that softens and smooths skin feel and forms a protective layer on the surface. It also cuts down foam during production, keeping the formula settled.
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.
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.
Aluminum Hydroxide
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Humectant (holds moisture)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A mineral ingredient that draws in and holds moisture, softens skin feel, and adjusts the product's thickness. It also adds opacity and forms a protective layer on the skin's surface.
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)A silicone-based ingredient that leaves a thin, even layer on the skin as the product sets. It also adds opacity, making the product look less see-through.
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A silicone-based ingredient that conditions skin and helps oil and water mix. It softens and smooths skin feel while keeping the water and oil parts blended.
Sodium Chloride
Bulking agent (adds volume)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Oral care (CosIng functional class)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Common table salt, used here mainly to adjust the thickness of the formula. It can also act as a bulking agent to add body, and shows up in oral care products. On labels it's simply salt.
Here it works as a skin-conditioning ingredient and contributes to fragrance and scent. It helps condition skin and adds to how the product smells.
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
Astringent (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)No reviewed note yet.
Sodium Citrate
Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)Fragrance ingredient (scent)A buffering agent that keeps the product's acidity steady. It also binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula.
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A silicone elastomer that softens and smooths skin feel and adjusts the thickness of the product. In practice it gives a silky, cushioned texture.
Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Hexyl Dimethicone
Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A silicone-type skin-conditioning ingredient. It leaves the skin feeling smooth and conditioned.
Stearic Acid
Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Fragrance ingredient (scent)otherRefatting (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Stearic Acid helps oil and water mix, keeps that blend from separating, and cleanses. It also softens skin feel and adds scent, so it keeps the product stable and smooth while contributing fragrance.
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.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
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=29817fdc-f14c-4013-a8ed-4367f3b2867c
- Retrieved
- 22 July 2026
- Market
- United States
- Formulation date
- Not recorded
- Version
- v2 of this U.S. formulation
- Verification confidence
- High
- Entries recorded
- 19
- Record checksum
- sha256:f12addbd6d2608649da50226612e59abc678a84d27aed184f1a864297039ac71
Earlier readings of this document
We have read this product's source document twice, and kept each reading. The earlier reading is ours: a change in how we read the document, not a change the manufacturer made to the formula.
Always compare this record with your current package.