Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa++++ With Wild Berries & Alpha Arbutin
78/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ is a chemical (hybrid) formula with a broad modern filter set including avobenzone, Mexoryl SX, Tinosorb M, and Tinosorb S, plus added skincare ingredients. Despite the "dewy" name it wears matte and lightweight with low white cast, does not commonly sting, and has low breakout risk. With good protection and a score of 78, it is a dependable daily sunscreen for most skin types.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
75
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +26.6 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +9.5)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #6, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #11, UV filter
- +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #16, UV filter
- −13.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −19.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #6 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Octisalate at #16, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
61
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #25, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Glyceryl Glucoside)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 4 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- ← 3 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan Gum)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (48)
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
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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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
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX)
- ↑ 26.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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10 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
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pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 4.8 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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17 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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22 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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29 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
-
31 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
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40 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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41 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
42 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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43 Ceramide AS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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44 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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45 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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46 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
Does Aqualogica Illuminate+ leave a white cast?
No, its white cast is rated low. Despite the "dewy" name it actually wears to a matte finish.
Is the Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa++++ With Wild Berries & Alpha Arbutin good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes, the matte, lightweight finish and low breakout risk make it a good fit for oily and acne-prone skin. It also does not commonly sting.
Is it chemical or mineral?
It is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen with a broad modern filter set, including avobenzone, Mexoryl SX, Tinosorb M, and Tinosorb S. It scores 78 out of 100 with good protection.