Carbon Theory Day-Lite SPF 50+
94/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Carbon Theory Day-Lite SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen built on modern filters including Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It delivers excellent protection in a lightweight, balanced-finish formula with a low white cast, no stinging, and a low pore-clogging profile. It is generally okay as a base under makeup. With a top score of 94.4, it is an excellent high-SPF daily sunscreen for most skin types.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +24 Tris-Biphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #10, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −31.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −19.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
👻
White cast
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Tinosorb M at #12
- −8 Tinosorb A2B at #8 (particulate filter)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Propylheptyl Caprylate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (27)
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
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb A2B), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection
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9 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
13 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
20 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
23 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Does Carbon Theory Day-Lite leave a white cast?
White cast is low. It uses modern chemical filters and wears lightweight with a balanced finish that tends to stay invisible.
Is the Carbon Theory Day-Lite SPF 50+ good for acne-prone skin?
It has a low pore-clogging profile and does not sting, so it is generally friendly for breakout-prone skin.
Is this sunscreen good?
It scores a top 94.4 out of 100 with excellent protection at SPF 50+. It is an excellent high-SPF daily sunscreen for most skin types.