Country & Stream Honey UV Water Gel SPF 50+ Pa++++ (2023)
77/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Country & Stream Honey UV Water Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ (2023) is a hybrid sunscreen that pairs chemical filters like Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. The water-gel format reads lightweight with a balanced finish, a moderate chance of white cast, and low pore-clogging potential, so it is generally comfortable for everyday wear and does not commonly sting. With excellent rated protection and a 77.1/100 score, it lands as a solid daily SPF 50+ pick for those who want broad coverage in a light texture.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +14.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #25, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- −17 UVB coverage saturated
- −17.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −2.5 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #5
- −35 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +7.5 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +4.7 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #5
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
89
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Laureth-1 Phosphate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Zinc Oxide at #5, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #5, mild sebum absorbent
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #15, hyaluronic family
- → 2 1 strong humectants (Mel)
- → 2 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- ← 6 High mineral load at #5 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (40)
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 (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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11 Mel
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant
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Botanical extract
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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30 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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36 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
37 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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38 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
39 Phytic Acid
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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40 Silver Oxide
Supporting ingredient
Is this mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a hybrid. It combines chemical filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, so you get both filter types in one water-gel.
Does Country & Stream Honey UV Water Gel leave a white cast?
It carries a moderate chance of white cast. Thanks to the mineral content it can show a slight cast on some skin tones, though the light water-gel texture helps keep it in check.
Is the Country & Stream Honey UV Water Gel SPF 50+ Pa++++ (2023) good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally a reasonable fit. The finish is balanced and pore-clogging potential is rated low, so it commonly works for combination or breakout-prone skin, though very oily skin may prefer a matte option.