Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ With Wild Berries & Alpha Arbutin
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ is a chemical-led sunscreen with an older-school base of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Benzophenone-3, rounded out with some Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. Despite the dewy name it carries a balanced finish, wears lightweight and keeps white cast low. With a score of 62.8/100 and good protection, it is a pleasant everyday glow sunscreen, with its older filter base keeping the rating moderate.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
62
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- +12.3 Zinc Oxide at #26, UV filter (UVA1 +5.4)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #33, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −3.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −9.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, 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 #26
- −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
49
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone 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 #26
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #33
🍄
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
23
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
- −2 Zinc Oxide at #26, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #16, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #38, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 7 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
🌊
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.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
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
-
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 (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
9 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
12 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
13 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
16 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
25 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
26 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)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
28 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
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
-
36 C9-12 Alkane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
Does Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low despite the small amount of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It carries a balanced finish and wears lightweight.
Is the Aqualogica Illuminate+ Dewy Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ With Wild Berries & Alpha Arbutin mineral or chemical?
It is chemical-led, using an older-school base of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Benzophenone-3, with some Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide added.
Is it any good?
It scores 62.8/100 with good protection, a fair everyday result. It is a pleasant glow sunscreen, with its older filter base keeping the rating moderate.