COSRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+
68/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
COSRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen on an older-generation filter base of homosalate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate and avobenzone. It sets to a matte finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, and it is rated excellent as a makeup base, though it may sting slightly near the eyes. Breakout risk is generally low. SPF 50+ provides moderate protection, and the score of 68.1/100 makes it an okay pick that shines mainly under makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
55
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Essential oils (Ocimum Basilicum Oil)
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
39
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Fungal acne
Medium
67
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Beheneth-25)
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Fabric stains
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- β38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #32, hyaluronic family
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
π
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +13 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (36)
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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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 13 film former
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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15 Beheneth-25
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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17 Bergamot
Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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20 Mandarin
Supporting ingredient
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Plant oil, an emollient
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23 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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24 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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26 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Does the COSRX Snail Essence Sun work under makeup?
Yes. It is rated excellent as a makeup base, with a matte finish and low white cast, making it one of its strongest traits.
Is the COSRX Shield Fit Snail Essence Sun SPF 50+ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It can suit them. The matte finish and low pore-clogging rating are generally favorable for oily and breakout-prone skin.
Is it any good?
It scores 68.1/100, an okay result. It is a chemical formula on older-generation filters with SPF 50+ giving moderate protection, and it performs best under makeup.