Dermatica SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dermatica SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen is a hybrid chemical formula using Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Ethylhexyl Salicylate alongside modern filters Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It wears light with a dewy finish and low white cast and a low pore-clogging profile, though it carries a medium chance of stinging. Makeup layering is okay. With excellent rated protection and a score of 80.1/100, it is a solid daily sunscreen for those who like a dewy finish.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
85
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #7, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #10, UV filter
- −32.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −5.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- → 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)
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (22)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
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4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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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
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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8 Inulin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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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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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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pH adjuster
-
14 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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15 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Is the Dermatica SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 80.1/100, which is solid. Protection is rated excellent and it wears light with low white cast, making it a dependable daily option.
Does the Dermatica SPF 50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It is a chemical-led formula, so it blends in clear with a dewy finish. Note it has a medium chance of stinging sensitive eyes.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid chemical formula using Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Ethylhexyl Salicylate alongside modern filters like Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone.