Dermaceutic Derma Defense Spf 50
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dermaceutic Derma Defense SPF 50 is a hybrid sunscreen built on filters including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It has a dewy, lightweight finish with a low white cast, is generally non-stinging with low pore-clogging risk, and sits okay under makeup. With good rated protection and a 73.7/100 score, it is a comfortable mid-range daily sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
68
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +45.6 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #11, UV filter
- −26.4 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #9
- −12 Tinosorb M at #5, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
- +8.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🔥
Eye sting
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
59
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −32 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-21)
👕
Fabric stains
High
15
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #32, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- → 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
- → 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (32)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 12 may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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14 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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16 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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23 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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27 O-Cymen-5-Ol
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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28 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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pH adjuster
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32 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Is Dermaceutic Derma Defense SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen, built on chemical filters like Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Ethylhexyl Triazone alongside Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It leans chemical in feel.
Does the Dermaceutic Derma Defense Spf 50 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and wears with a dewy, lightweight finish. It is also generally non-stinging with low pore-clogging risk.
Is Dermaceutic Derma Defense SPF 50 a good sunscreen?
Protection is rated good and it scores 73.7/100. It is a comfortable mid-range daily sunscreen that sits okay under makeup.