Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Spf50+ Pa++++ (2019 formula)
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+ PA++++ (2019 formula) is a hybrid sunscreen using modern filters such as Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It gives excellent protection in a lightweight, balanced-finish essence with a low white cast and low pore-clogging risk, with a medium sweat and sting level. It generally works well under makeup. Scoring 80.3, it is a well-regarded lightweight daily sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Excellent
93
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #4, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- β21.3 UVB coverage saturated
- β1.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
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Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #8, heavy oil
- +1.2 Volatile alcohol at #2, evaporating texture
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Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- β17 Isopropyl Palmitate at #5, heavy comedogenic ester
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Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β50 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate)
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #7, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- β 1 Glycerin at #16, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #36, hyaluronic family
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- β 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (38)
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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2 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 high up speeds filter migration
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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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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- β 20.9 UV protection
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
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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
- β 3 heavy oil
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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12 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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14 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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16 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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17 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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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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21 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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23 Agar
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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25 Isoceteth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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29 Arginine
pH adjuster
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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31 Fragrance
Fragrance
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32 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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pH adjuster
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34 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence leave a white cast?
White cast is low. This hybrid essence is known for a lightweight, near-invisible finish on most skin tones.
Is the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Spf50+ Pa++++ (2019 formula) good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a low pore-clogging profile and a lightweight, balanced finish, so it is generally friendly for oily and breakout-prone skin. Its sweat and sting level is medium.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 80.3 out of 100 with excellent protection at SPF 50+ PA++++. It is a well-regarded lightweight daily sunscreen that works under makeup.