Cien Facial Sun Cream Ultra Sensitive FPS50+
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cien Facial Sun Cream Ultra Sensitive is a chemical sunscreen at SPF 50+, using an older-school blend of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and works well as a makeup base, though it may sting somewhat despite the sensitive name. It is generally low on pore-clogging potential. With a score of 70.5 and good protection, it is an affordable everyday cream.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
57
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
31
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +14 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (21)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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3 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
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12 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Is Cien Ultra Sensitive Sun Cream good under makeup?
Yes, it works well as a makeup base and is generally low on pore-clogging potential. Note it may sting somewhat despite the sensitive name, so avoid the immediate eye area.
Is the Cien Facial Sun Cream Ultra Sensitive FPS50+ mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using an older-school blend of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid.
Does it leave a white cast?
No, white cast is generally low. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and scores 70.5 out of 100 with good protection.