Bielenda Beauty Molecules Protective Ultralight Serum Drops SPF 50
88/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Bielenda Beauty Molecules Protective Ultralight Serum Drops SPF 50 combines mineral and modern filters, pairing Titanium Dioxide with Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and works well under makeup, though the mineral component can leave a moderate white cast. Protection is excellent and the 87.7/100 score marks it as one of the stronger picks here.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
99
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +28.5 Tris-Biphenyl Triazine at #6, UV filter
- +45.6 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #11, UV filter
- −30.7 UVB coverage saturated
- −24.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −6 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −6 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- −12 Tinosorb M at #7, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
- −8 Tinosorb A2B at #6 (particulate filter)
- −12 Tinosorb M + A2B both high in the list
- +3.3 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Fragrance
- −6 3 declared fragrance allergens
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Glycine Soja Oil at #29, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Squalene)
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #9, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #18, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Ectoin)
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Squalene, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil)
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (C14-22 Alcohols)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 4 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate)
- → 12 4 emollient lipids (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Squalene, …)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
Full ingredient list (51)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb A2B)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 12 may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
15 Ectoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
16 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
27 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
30 Squalene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
36 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
38 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
39 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
40 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
44 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
45 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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48 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
49 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
50 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Does this Bielenda serum work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base. The drops are lightweight with a balanced finish, so it generally layers well under foundation.
Does the Bielenda Beauty Molecules Protective Ultralight Serum Drops SPF 50 leave a white cast?
It can leave a moderate white cast. It blends mineral and modern filters, pairing titanium dioxide with chemical filters, so some cast is possible on deeper skin tones.
Is this a good sunscreen?
Yes, it is one of the stronger picks here, scoring 87.7/100 with excellent protection. It is non-stinging and has a low pore-clogging rating.