Aveeno Ultra-calming Daily Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer is an SPF 15 chemical sunscreen built on older-generation UV filters, avobenzone with ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and ethylhexyl salicylate. It is a lightweight daily moisturizer with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a low pore-clogging profile, so it generally sits comfortably under makeup. SPF 15 delivers only moderate UV coverage, which is suitable for incidental daily exposure rather than long outdoor sessions. The overall score of 62.5/100 reflects a pleasant everyday feel held back by the modest protection level.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
38
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
π
Fungal acne
Medium
71
- +100 Starting score
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Laureth-7)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1.5 2 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylamide)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
Full ingredient list (33)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
4 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
16 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
19 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
22 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
23 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
30 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Laureth-7
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
Does Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast. As a chemical formula it absorbs into skin with a balanced finish, so it generally will not leave a visible mineral tone behind.
Is this Aveeno moisturizer mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. The UV filters are avobenzone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and ethylhexyl salicylate, all organic rather than mineral filters.
What SPF is the Aveeno Ultra-Calming moisturizer?
It is SPF 15, which offers moderate protection. That level is generally aimed at incidental daily exposure rather than long stretches outdoors.