COSRX Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
COSRX Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen is an SPF 50+ chemical formula using classic organic filters such as avobenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene. It keeps white cast low, finishes balanced, stays lightweight, and works well as a base under makeup, with a low tendency to clog pores, though it carries a medium chance of stinging. At 66/100 with good protection, it is a serviceable everyday chemical sunscreen for those who layer cosmetics, best patch-tested if the eye area is sensitive.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
61
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
31
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate-13)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (35)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- β 7.6 UV protection
- β 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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12 Trisiloxane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 2 wax water lock
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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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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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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24 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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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31 Dextrin
Supporting ingredient
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
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34 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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35 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does COSRX Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen work under makeup?
Its makeup compatibility is rated good, so it works well as a base beneath foundation. The lightweight, balanced finish helps cosmetics sit smoothly on top.
Is the COSRX Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+ mineral or chemical, and what SPF?
It is a chemical sunscreen using classic organic filters such as avobenzone, homosalate, and octocrylene, rated SPF 50+. So it is not a mineral formula.
Is this a good sunscreen for daily wear?
With a score of 66 out of 100 and good protection, it is a serviceable everyday option, with low white cast and a low tendency to clog pores. It carries a medium stinging rating, so patch-testing is wise if your eye area is sensitive.