Aqualogica Detan Sunscreen
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Aqualogica Detan Sunscreen is a chemical sunscreen using an older-school blend of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Benzophenone-3 with some Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It has a dewy finish, feels lightweight and leaves a low white cast, so it commonly suits drier skin. It does not sting and is generally low for pore-clogging, working okay under makeup. The overall score is 62.6/100 with good protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #8, UV filter
- +12.3 Zinc Oxide at #29, UV filter (UVA1 +5.4)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #38, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −2.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −7.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
👻
White cast
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Zinc Oxide at #29
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #38
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +2.1 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.8 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
63
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Zinc Oxide at #29
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #38
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- −23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
28
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #8, yellow stains on white cotton
- −2 Zinc Oxide at #29, 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
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #31, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Glyceryl Glucoside)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 7 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (40)
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.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
11 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
13 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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14 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Supporting ingredient
-
18 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
22 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
26 Grapefruit
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
29 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.3 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
36 C9-12 Alkane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
Is Aqualogica Detan Sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Benzophenone-3 with some mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.
Does the Aqualogica Detan Sunscreen have a white cast?
No, the white cast is low and it feels lightweight. The dewy finish commonly suits drier skin.
Is it good?
It scores 62.6/100 with good protection. It does not sting and pore-clogging risk is generally low, working okay under makeup.