Dot and key Barrier Repair Sunscreen, In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa++++
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ is a hybrid sunscreen blending older filters (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) with the modern filters Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate and Methylene Bis-Benzotri- azolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and has a low pore-clogging profile that commonly suits acne-prone skin. It can sting somewhat near the eyes. With good protection and a score of 67.3, it is a capable everyday choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
76
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- +21.6 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #15, UV filter (UVA1 +13.2)
- +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #16, UV filter
- +28.8 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #17, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #33, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −14.7 UVB coverage saturated
- −22.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
👻
White cast
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #33
- −3 Tinosorb M at #17
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Octisalate at #16, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −23 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
- +0 Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate at #54, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
13
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #4, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #15, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #33, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #51, hyaluronic family
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- → 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (70)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
9 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 21.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 4.8 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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)
-
18 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
19 And
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
25 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
29 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
-
31 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
34 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
35 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
43 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
44 Ceramide NG
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
45 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
46 Ceramide 4
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
47 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
48 And
Supporting ingredient
-
49 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
52 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
55 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
58 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
59 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
61 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
65 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
66 And
Supporting ingredient
-
67 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen good?
It offers good protection at SPF 50+ PA++++ and scores 67.3 out of 100, a solid mid-pack result. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish.
Does the Dot and key Barrier Repair Sunscreen, In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa++++ leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It is a hybrid leaning chemical, so it absorbs without a noticeable white film.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
It has a low pore-clogging profile, so it commonly suits acne-prone skin. Note it can sting somewhat near the eyes, so apply carefully around that area.