Ref 003 / The Science
The science behind not there spf
Yes, it's $38. It's a moisturizer and a broad spectrum sunscreen in one tube. Here is what every ingredient is doing in there.
Receipt / Daily Cost
One tube — $38.00
Size — 50 mL
Uses — ~45
Per day — $0.84
Section 01 / UV Filters
The five UV filters.
Zinc Oxide. This sits on top of your skin and physically blocks UV before it gets in. Broad spectrum, doesn't break down in the sun, and doesn't need time to kick in.
Avobenzone. This covers the full UVA range (the rays responsible for aging your skin, not just burning). That's why almost every high quality broad spectrum sunscreen has some version of this in it: it's the best at its job. Its one flaw is that it breaks down in sunlight on its own. While other sunscreens may not account for that, we do.
Octocrylene. Aside from covering both UVB and UVA rays on its own, this ingredient helps stabilize the one above so it doesn't degrade fast in the sun. What does that mean for you? You can trust your sunscreen to do its job.
Homosalate. This is primarily UVB coverage aka the stuff that burns your skin. We included it because it's one of our most stable filters and it barely budges under continued sun exposure. It doesn't sound sexy, but most things that do their job reliably don't.
Octisalate. This is our utility player. UVB protection, but plays a key role in helping dissolve the other filters into the formula and helping the product hold up against daily sweat and some water. Without this, it would be hard to blend the rest of the formula up.
Spec / Actives
SPF 40
Filter
Job
UVA
UVB
Zinc Oxide
Physical blocker
●
●
Avobenzone
Full UVA
●
–
Octocrylene
Stabilizer
●
●
Homosalate
Stable UVB
–
●
Octisalate
Utility player
–
●
Broad Spectrum
✓
Five filters, one tube
01 / Mineral
Zinc Oxide
02 / UVA
Avobenzone
03 / Stabilizer
Octocrylene
04 / UVB
Homosalate
05 / Utility
Octisalate
Octocrylene keeps avobenzone from degrading in sun.
Dissolves the others. Helps water resistance.
Ref 002 / The Upgrade
Don't add a step.
Replace one.
Morning Log
05:40
Creatine
✓
Zone 2
✓
Moisturizer (handled)
✓
Section 03 / Inactives
What else is in it.
What's in it, plainly
Niacinamide
Also known as Vitamin B3. It strengthens the skin barrier, calms redness, and evens your skin tone. If you have acne-prone skin, or sunscreen has made your skin act up before, we fixed that for you.
Sodium Hyaluronate
The smaller, more absorbable cousin of hyaluronic acid. It's the key moisturizing component of this formula — it holds water in the skin instead of just moisturizing the surface.
Glycerin + Propanediol
These pull in moisture and keep it there. Also known as humectants, if you care to really know.
Panthenol
Softens, soothes, and helps the skin barrier hold onto hydration. This is honestly why the product won't feel like sunscreen.
Silica + Polyester-8
The "disappears" part — these diffuse light and stop the formula from sitting on your skin like film. No white cast, no shine.
Polyglyceryl-6-Behenate
Keeps the formula smooth and stable, not just in the bottle but on your skin too.
Ref 014 / Findings
It was the formula, not you.
