Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Sunscreen
60/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense Moisturizer is an SPF 50 chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters, including avobenzone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and benzophenone-3. As a moisturizer-sunscreen hybrid it wears with a balanced finish, low white cast, and a lightweight feel, and it is rated low for clogging pores, though it can sting for some users. Makeup layering is just okay. With moderate protection and a score of 59.8/100, it is a middle-of-the-road option best seen as a daily moisturizer with sun protection added.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- β3.5 UVB coverage saturated
- β2.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- Γ0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- β70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
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Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β2 Essential oils (Citrus Grandis Peel Oil)
- β6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
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White cast
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #38
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Eye sting
Medium
38
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 1 declared fragrance allergens
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Fungal acne
Medium
42
- +100 Starting score
- β42 3 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Olivate)
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract at #24, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- β 2 2 strong humectants (Urea, Trehalose)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Cetyl Ethylhexanoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
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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 (44)
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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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- β 20.9 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 18 feeds malassezia
-
13 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
14 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
16 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Plant oil, an emollient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
25 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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pH adjuster
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
32 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
37 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
42 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
Is this mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation filters, including avobenzone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and benzophenone-3.
Does the Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Sunscreen work under makeup?
As a moisturizer-sunscreen hybrid, it wears with a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast, and makeup layering is rated just okay. It can sting for some users, so patch test if you have sensitive skin.
Is the Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum Spf 50 Sunscreen a good sunscreen?
It is a middle-of-the-road option with a score of 59.8/100 and moderate protection. It is best viewed as a daily moisturizer with sun protection added rather than a dedicated high performer.