Bioderma Sun Active Defense Sensitive Skin SPF 50+
93/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Bioderma Sun Active Defense Sensitive Skin is an SPF 50+ hybrid sunscreen built on modern filters including Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It gives a matte finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, does not sting, and has low pore-clogging potential, so it is friendly to sensitive and oilier skin. It also rates good as a makeup base. With excellent protection and a top-tier score of 93.0/100, it is one of the standout daily sunscreens in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
98
- +24 Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone at #3, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #25, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- β3.1 UVB coverage saturated
- β13.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- β10 Avobenzone at #25 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Avobenzone at #25, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Avobenzone at #25, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Corn Starch Modified)
- β 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Ectoin)
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Corn Starch Modified)
- β 6 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Sebacate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (27)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Iscotrizinol), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 24 UV protection
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- β 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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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
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- β 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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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18 Ectoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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19 Mannitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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20 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 O-Cymen-5-Ol
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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23 Rhamnose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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pH adjuster
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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26 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
Is the Bioderma Sun Active Defense Sensitive Skin SPF 50+ good for oily or sensitive skin?
Yes. It has a matte finish, low pore-clogging potential and does not sting, which generally suits oilier and sensitive skin alike.
Is the Bioderma Sun Active Defense Sensitive Skin SPF 50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical hybrid built on modern filters, including Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Is it any good?
It is one of the strongest here, scoring 93.0/100 with excellent protection and a low white cast. It also works well under makeup.