SPF Scout · Product record
Coppertone Coppertone Defend and Clear
U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 27 July 2026
What is listed
The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.
18 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.
Octisalate
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, and doubles as a light stabilizer to keep the formula steady in sun. It also appears on labels as Ethylhexyl Salicylate.
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.
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)This is an emollient and solvent that softens skin feel and helps dissolve other ingredients. It gives the product a light, easy-to-spread feel.
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.
Polyester-27
Film forming (leaves a thin coating)A polyester whose main job is film forming. It leaves a thin, even layer on the skin that helps the product stay put.
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer forms a film and makes the product look opaque. In practice it leaves a thin layer on the skin and gives the formula a non-transparent appearance.
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)An emulsifier and cleansing agent that helps oil and water mix. This keeps the water and oil parts of the product blended together and helps lift away dirt.
listed as “trilaureth-4phosphate”
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Foam boosting (increases foam from other ingredients)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A workhorse ingredient that softens skin feel, adjusts thickness, helps oil and water mix, and keeps the blend stable. In practice it thickens the product, keeps it from separating, gives a smooth feel, and can make the product look opaque. Despite its name, it behaves like a waxy solid, not a drying alcohol.
listed as “cetearylalcohol”
Cera Alba
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Cera Alba is beeswax, used to soften skin, form a film, and help oil and water mix. It smooths skin feel, leaves a thin protective layer, and keeps the water and oil parts blended. It's the Latin label name for beeswax.
listed as “beeswax”
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.
A thickening agent that adjusts how thick or fluid the product is. In practice it gives the sunscreen its body and helps it hold together.
Benzyl Alcohol
Fragrance ingredient (scent)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Benzyl Alcohol is a multi-tasking ingredient that acts as a preservative to keep the product from spoiling and as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients. It also adds scent and adjusts the thickness of the formula.
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient that softens and smooths skin feel. It also acts as an emulsifier, keeping the oil and water parts blended together.
A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.
Chlorphenesin
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling as bacteria and other organisms try to grow in it.
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.
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=baaec6a9-2c60-2d11-e053-2a95a90abca7
- Retrieved
- 27 July 2026
- Market
- United States
- Formulation date
- Not recorded
- Version
- v2 of this U.S. formulation
- Verification confidence
- High
- Entries recorded
- 18
- Record checksum
- sha256:b8c0f0822b590dcb86cfe701eab79201460175dd95ecb7945cd46d2bd8ba0944
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.