A formulation choice,
not a marketing one.
INCUS is built on modern UV filters, tested at Indian conditions, manufactured to BIS and CDSCO standards. This page is the clinical briefing — read it end to end, or skip to what matters to you.
SPF that degrades by 2pm doesn't protect anyone.
Most Indian sunscreens still use oxybenzone, octinoxate, and avobenzone: older-generation UV filters. They're less stable under heat and humidity, and part of the reason men find their skin burning, pilling, or stinging by afternoon. Avobenzone in particular is photo-unstable without specialised booster molecules; most mass formulations don't include them.
Modern photostable filters - Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, have been E-approved since the 2000s. They're rarely used in India because of cost and regulatory inertia. INCUS chose the modern stack because sun protection has to still be working at 4pm in 42°C, not a number printed on a tube.
Engineered for 42°C and 80% RH.
The formulation is stability-tested at the conditions you'll actually wear it in: Indian summer, monsoon humidity, helmet heat. The matte finish is engineered through silicone and polymer optimisation, not heavy powders that would whitecast on deeper skin.
No whitecast was tuned specifically across Fitzpatrick Type IV–VI, the ranges most common to Indian men. The texture is low-tack, designed not to pill under sweat or stubble. It sets in under a minute and stays matte through a morning commute.
Heat stable
42°C · 80% RH
Pass at 72 hours
Skin tones
Type IV · V · VI
Tuned across range
Feel
Matte · no pilling
No tack under stubble
In-vivo. ISO 24444. Third-party.
SPF was measured using in-vivo testing at an ISO 24444–certified third-party lab. The PA++++ rating was tested per ISO 24443 for UVA protection depth. INCUS is manufactured at a BIS-licensed facility in Ahmedabad, a BIS-licensed, CDSCO-approved facility that supplies multiple leading D2C skincare brands in India.
The finished product conforms to Indian BIS and CDSCO standards. Batch testing, stability testing, and microbial challenge testing are documented. If you want to review anything in detail, write to us.
Method
In-vivo SPF
ISO 24444
UVA
ISO 24443
PA++++
Made at
Ahmedabad, India
BIS-licensed
Every omission is a choice.
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× OxybenzoneEndocrine concerns flagged in peer-reviewed research
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× OctinoxateSimilar concerns flagged. Degrades measurably in direct sun.
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× AvobenzonePhoto-unstable without boosters. Most mass formulations don't include them.
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× ParabensIndustry standard to exclude. We agree with the standard.
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× Heavy fragrancePrimary cause of daily skin reactivity. We use only a minimal scent masker.
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× Mineral-only filtersPoor UVA coverage at protective levels. Causes whitecast on Type IV–VI skin.
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× Added colourUnnecessary. Doesn't improve the formulation.
Short answers. Direct.
Can I use this under makeup or moisturiser?
Yes — apply INCUS last in your morning routine, after any moisturiser, before any makeup. It sets matte in under a minute and layers cleanly.
Is this safe if I have sensitive skin?
The formulation excludes common irritants — heavy fragrance, parabens, oxybenzone. If you have diagnosed sensitivity, start with the Trial Tube and patch-test behind the ear for 24 hours.
Do I need to reapply?
For typical Indian office-and-commute days, one morning application is sufficient. For extended outdoor exposure — 3+ hours in direct sun, swimming, heavy sweat — reapply every 2–3 hours.
Is it safe around eyes?
Yes. Low-tack, minimal fragrance, no avobenzone — the filter most associated with stinging. Avoid direct contact with the eye itself.
Will it work for acne-prone or oily skin?
Yes — this is what it's tuned for. Non-comedogenic, silicone-light, matte finish. The polymer system is designed to absorb afternoon shine rather than amplify it. Most of the men we tested it on are oily or combination.
Is it suitable for dry skin?
Yes, with a moisturiser underneath. INCUS is a defence layer, not a hydrator, apply your usual moisturiser first, then INCUS over the top. Niacinamide in the formulation supports the barrier through the day.
Is it safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The filters we use — Tinosorb S, Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150 — are organic non-systemic, regarded as safe in EU pregnancy guidance. We avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate entirely. As with any product during pregnancy, consult your doctor.
Is INCUS vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes to both. No animal-derived ingredients, no animal testing at any stage of formulation, manufacturing, or finished-product testing.
How long does one tube last?
The 50g Hero Tube is sized for ~60 daily applications — about a month at full face-and-neck coverage, longer if you're using it conservatively. The 15g Trial Tube lasts ~14 days.
What's the shelf life after opening?
12 months from first opening (12M PAO symbol on tube). Unopened, the product is stable for 24 months from manufacture date — printed on the crimp.
What's your return policy?
30 days from delivery. If INCUS doesn't work for your skin — for any reason — we'll take it back. Used tubes are fine. This is not a gotcha.
How fast is shipping? Do you ship pan-India?
2–3 days across metro India, 4–5 days to tier-3 cities and non-metro pin codes. Free shipping on all prepaid orders. COD available with a ₹49 handling fee. Pan-India coverage at launch.
Why is it priced at ₹349?
50g of a modern triple-filter formulation, tested in-vivo at an ISO 24444 lab, manufactured at a BIS-licensed CDSCO facility, packaged in matte laminate ABL tube. ₹349 is what those inputs cost when you don't strip the formulation to make margin. Roughly ₹5.80 per day.
Can I subscribe and save?
Subscribe-and-save is in development for 2026 — monthly auto-ship at a small discount. For now, a single Hero Tube lasts about a month at full daily use. Restocking is reliable; we'll never let you run dry.