Ingredient glossary
Mexoryl XL
On your shelf ✓What Mexoryl XL does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Drometrizole Trisiloxane
In short: Mexoryl XL delivers uvb protection and uva protection, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Uvb protection, uva protection
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Strong
- How long
- Straight away
The molecule
The Glow take
Only as good as the sunscreen it lives in.
As a single filter, Mexoryl XL only matters as part of a finished sunscreen you actually reapply. The best SPF is the one that feels good enough to wear every morning.
— Maya
What it does
- uvb protection
- uva protection
strong evidencePhotostability and efficacy studies show Mexoryl XL enhances SPF and maintains filter stability especially as a partner to Mexoryl SX and Tinosorb filters.
On a label: usually effective at 3-10%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- all
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Where it fits in your routine
This one works on contact — there is nothing to wait for.
What that covers, and what it does not
Measured on: UVB and short-UVA attenuation by the applied film, read as SPF/UVA-PF.
An oil-soluble benzotriazole filter that absorbs UV the moment the film forms, in a blend where it also holds partner filters stable through exposure. Photostabilisation is about the film surviving the UV dose, not about any waiting period before protection starts. The measured SPF is taken after a short drying interval only.
EU Cosmetics Regulation Annex VI entry for drometrizole trisiloxane; ISO 24444 SPF test method for the application-to-reading interval.
Plays well with
- uv filters
- antioxidants
Mexoryl XL, answered
Is Mexoryl XL safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Mexoryl XL is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Mexoryl XL?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Mexoryl XL. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Mexoryl XL actually works?
Mexoryl XL tends to do its job in the 3 to 10% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
Compare Mexoryl XL with
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