Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Aqua Gel Sunscreen
76/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Aqua Gel Sunscreen is a hybrid sunscreen with a broad filter mix that includes modern options like Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (Mexoryl SX) and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb M) alongside older filters such as Avobenzone and Octinoxate. It has a balanced finish with low white cast and a lightweight, gel-like feel. Low breakout-trigger rating makes it generally friendly to oily and acne-prone skin. It scores 75.5/100 with good protection and a disqualifying flag; the medium sweat-sting rating suggests care near the eyes.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
69
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +26.6 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +9.5)
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #5, UV filter
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
- +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #12, UV filter
- +28.8 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- −14.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −16.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Octisalate at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
61
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #17, hyaluronic family
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX)
- ↑ 26.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
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pH adjuster
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 6.4 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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15 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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16 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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18 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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23 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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28 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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30 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
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37 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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40 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Derma Co Hyaluronic Aqua Gel Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast. Its gel-like, lightweight texture with a balanced finish generally absorbs cleanly.
Is the Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Aqua Gel Sunscreen good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Its low breakout-trigger rating and lightweight gel feel make it generally friendly to oily and acne-prone skin. The medium sweat-sting rating suggests care near the eyes.
Is the Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Aqua Gel Sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid with a broad filter mix, blending modern options like Mexoryl SX and Tinosorb M with older filters such as Avobenzone and Octinoxate. It scores 75.5/100 with good protection.