Avene Moderate Protection Cream SPF 20
81/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Avene Moderate Protection Cream SPF 20 is a hybrid sunscreen combining modern filters Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S with octocrylene, avobenzone and titanium dioxide. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight, keeps white cast low and carries a low sting risk, and it works well under makeup. Breakout risk is generally low. Despite the SPF 20 label it scores 81.0/100 with excellent measured protection, making it a comfortable, gentle daily cream.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
97
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #31, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β12 UVB coverage saturated
- β18.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #11, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
88
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #31
- β6 Tinosorb M at #8
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Eye sting
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #31
- β2 Tribehenin at #33, wax film
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Fungal acne
High
35
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β41 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #11, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #31, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
- β 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (34)
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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Solvent base, the water phase
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 β dewy emollient lipid
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
7 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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20 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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27 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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28 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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33 Tribehenin
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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34 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Is Avene Moderate Protection Cream a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 81.0/100 with excellent measured protection, even though it is labeled SPF 20. It is a comfortable, gentle daily cream.
Is the Avene Moderate Protection Cream SPF 20 good for sensitive skin?
It has a low sting risk, a balanced finish and low white cast, so it is generally well suited to sensitive skin.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, combining modern Tinosorb M and Tinosorb S filters with octocrylene, avobenzone and titanium dioxide.