Aqualogica 5 Barrier + Repair Sunscreen With Avocado & 5 Essential Ceremides SPF 50 Pa++++ UVA/b
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Aqualogica 5 Barrier + Repair Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ is a hybrid formula combining older-generation chemical filters (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, avobenzone, octocrylene) with mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, plus barrier-supporting avocado and ceramides. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and very low white cast, with low breakout risk, though it can mildly sting some users. It works okay as a makeup base. With good protection and a score of 67.9/100, it is a decent barrier-focused daily sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
62
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #33, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- +12.3 Zinc Oxide at #40, UV filter (UVA1 +5.4)
- −5.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Zinc Oxide at #40
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #33
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +2.1 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.8 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Zinc Oxide at #40
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #33
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #22, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −33 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Persea Gratissima Oil, Lecithin)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
18
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #33, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #20, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #39, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Glyceryl Glucoside)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (43)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
6 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
7 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
8 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
20 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
25 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
26 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
27 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
28 Ceramide 4
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
29 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
32 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
37 C9-12 Alkane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
40 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.3 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
Does Aqualogica 5 Barrier + Repair Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated very low despite the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the blend. The balanced, lightweight finish helps it sit cleanly.
Is the Aqualogica 5 Barrier + Repair Sunscreen With Avocado & 5 Essential Ceremides SPF 50 Pa++++ UVA/b mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, combining older chemical filters like ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, avobenzone and octocrylene with mineral titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Is it good?
It scores 67.9/100 with good protection. Low white cast and low breakout risk, plus barrier-supporting avocado and ceramides, make it a decent daily choice, though it may mildly sting.