Aclaris Photon Elixir Aqua Sunscreen Gel SPF 50+ Pa+++
83/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Aclaris Photon Elixir Aqua Sunscreen Gel SPF 50+ PA+++ is a hybrid mineral and modern filter gel, blending titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone. It wears lightweight with a matte finish and keeps white cast low, which is notable for a formula with mineral filters. It does not sting, is generally low for pore-clogging, and works well under makeup. Protection is good and the score around 83 makes it a strong everyday option for oily and combination skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
77
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +22.8 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #4, UV filter
- +32.8 Zinc Oxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- −9.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −4.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
👻
White cast
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Zinc Oxide at #9
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #3
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +36 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Zinc Oxide at #9
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #3
- +9.5 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #7, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 9 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #23, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Trehalose)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (38)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol)
- ↑ 22.8 UV protection
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
7 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 32.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
13 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
18 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
25 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
28 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
31 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
34 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
35 Phytic Acid
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Does Aclaris Photon Elixir leave a white cast?
White cast is low, which is notable since it contains mineral filters. It wears lightweight with a matte finish and does not sting.
Is the Aclaris Photon Elixir Aqua Sunscreen Gel SPF 50+ Pa+++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes. The matte finish suits oily skin, it is generally low for pore-clogging, and it works well under makeup, making it a strong everyday option for oily and combination skin.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, blending titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with the modern filter Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone. Protection is good and the score sits around 83.