Biotherm UV Defense
Read by Its Ingredients

Updated July 2026 · Beauty Dupe editorial

It is unusual for a single sunscreen to carry seven UV filters. Biotherm UV Defense stacks them to reach SPF50+ PA++++: the mineral filter titanium dioxide plus six organic ones, and they take the top of the ingredient list. The 'brightening' in the name comes down to one ingredient, niacinamide, sitting among them.

The basics

The signature blend

The list opens with water, the emollient isopropyl myristate, and glycerin for hydration. From the fourth ingredient on, the UV filters take over: titanium dioxide, a mineral filter, comes first, and organic filters like ethylhexyl triazone follow. What holds a sunscreen up is its filters, and the top of this list shows that plainly.

Niacinamide and mica sit in among the filters. Niacinamide is aimed at brightening, and mica with the iron oxides further down are pigments that even out tone on application. The texture is a 'light milk,' lighter than a cream, as the name suggests.

The core: UV protection and tone

Titanium dioxide blocks UV by reflecting it, a mineral filter that Korea's MFDS recognizes as a notified sunscreen active, so it is a staple in sun care. Here it appears twice, at 4th and 23rd, which can happen when two forms of the same ingredient, treated or blended differently, are each listed.

The rest absorb UV rather than reflect it. Ethylhexyl triazone covers UVB, while avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, and drometrizole trisiloxane handle UVA, and bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine covers both A and B broadly. Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate adds more UVA cover, so there are six organic filters in all. Splitting different wavelengths across several filters is how the formula reaches broad UVA and UVB protection.

For tone, there is niacinamide. A form of vitamin B3, it is an MFDS-notified brightening active, and beyond evening out tone it is used widely for hydration and barrier care. In our own ingredient data it appears in about four of every ten products, so it is a common one.

Where the ingredients cluster, and where they don't

Sorted by what they target, this product leans clearly toward sun protection. Filters take the top of the list and there are seven of them. That is expected for a sunscreen, but it makes for a different formula than an anti-aging cream at a similar price that spreads across several benefits.

After sun protection, niacinamide covers brightening, and mica and iron oxide pigments handle immediate tone correction. Firming, soothing and exfoliation are not really represented, and there is no retinoid or acid, the actives with a deeper research record. Hydration is light too, coming mostly from glycerin.

Amount matters as well. Ingredients are listed from most to least, but below 1% the order stops tracking the amount closely. What stands out here is that the UV filters and niacinamide all sit near the top: titanium dioxide at 4th, ethylhexyl triazone at 5th, niacinamide at 10th, against fragrance, usually used at around 1%, sitting last at 47th. Actives high on the list read as present in real amounts, which fits a product that needs enough filter to reach SPF50+ PA++++. Order alone cannot pin down the amount, and the maker does not disclose the exact blend.

So it reads as a sunscreen weighted toward broad UV protection, with niacinamide adding a brightening note. If you want the rule behind reading a list, the 1% rule on ingredient lists covers it.

What to note

This sunscreen contains fragrance, and an ingredient in the silicone family is on the list too. If you are sensitive to fragrance or a particular ingredient, check the list before you use it. It does not use parabens or mineral oil.

Whose skin it suits

With a high SPF and broad UVA and UVB cover, it suits anyone spending time outdoors or wanting careful sun protection. Mica and iron oxide pigments give it a light tone-up on application, so it sits close to a tone-up sunscreen.

The 'light milk' name points to a texture lighter than a cream, but with this many filters, how it feels is best judged by trying it. It has fragrance, so if you are sensitive to scent, try a small amount first.

How to read this blend

So UV Defense reads as a sunscreen that covers a broad range of UV with seven mineral and organic filters, then adds niacinamide and tone-up pigments for a brighter finish. The filter mix is one you can find in other high-protection sunscreens, and the niacinamide behind the 'brightening' is a common ingredient too. If you want to check what is in a sunscreen or product you already use, the button below runs the AI breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

This analysis is for general information. Check the product packaging for the actual ingredient list.
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