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Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen, SPF 50+ Pa++++

Dot & Key SPF 50
Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen, SPF 50+ Pa++++

66/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ is a hybrid formula using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Avobenzone, Benzophenone-3, the modern filter Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and mineral Titanium Dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and leaves little to no white cast. It is generally low risk for clogging pores but may sting slightly near the eyes, and it is an okay makeup base. With good protection and a score around 66, it is a reasonable barrier-focused daily choice.

Ingredient & SPF scores

☀️

UV protection

Good 73
  • +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
  • +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
  • +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
  • +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #16, UV filter
  • −9.9 UVB coverage saturated
  • −20.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
  • +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
How we rate uv protection →
☢️

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
How we rate health safety →
🤧

Allergens

Low 94
  • +100 Starting score
  • −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
How we rate allergens →
👻

White cast

Low 94
  • +100 Starting score
  • −6 Titanium Dioxide at #13
How we rate white cast →
🔥

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
How we rate eye sting →
🪨

Heavy feel

Low 98
  • +100 Starting score
  • −2 Titanium Dioxide at #13
How we rate heavy feel →
🔴

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic →
🍄

Fungal acne

Medium 52
  • +100 Starting score
  • −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
  • −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
  • −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
How we rate fungal acne →
👕

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 #12, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
  • −2 Titanium Dioxide at #13, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
How we rate fabric stains →
💧

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 4.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
  • → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #20, hyaluronic family
  • → 1 Humectant polyols
  • → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
  • → 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
How we rate moisture →

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Tapioca Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
  • ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
  • → 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
How we rate finish →
💄

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
  • ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
  • ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
How we rate makeup base →
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance →

Full ingredient list (50)

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. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 4 Benzophenone-3

    Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)

    • ↑ 20.9 UV protection
    • ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
  5. 5 Phospholipids

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  6. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
  7. 7 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
  8. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 3 → dewy emollient lipid
  9. 9 Propanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  10. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  11. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 1 → nourishing light emollient
  12. Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
  13. Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
  14. 14 Silica

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
  15. 15 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  16. Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 4.8 UV protection
    • ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
  17. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  18. 18 Anhydroxylitol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  19. 19 Xylitol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  20. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
  21. 21 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  22. 22 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  23. 23 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  24. 24 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  25. 25 Polysorbate 20

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  26. Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin

  27. Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin

  28. Supporting ingredient

  29. Botanical extract

  30. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  31. Supporting ingredient

  32. Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  33. 33 Cholesterol

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  34. 34 1,2-Hexanediol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  35. Botanical extract

  36. Botanical extract

  37. Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  38. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  39. 39 Lecithin

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  40. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  41. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  42. Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish

    • light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
    • matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
  43. 43 Trideceth-6

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  44. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  45. 45 Tapioca Starch

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
  46. Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
  47. 47 Allantoin

    Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  48. Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  49. 49 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  50. Humectant, pulls water into the skin

Does Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen leave a white cast?

No, it is rated low for white cast and commonly absorbs cleanly. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish.

Is the Dot & Key Barrier Repair Sunscreen, SPF 50+ Pa++++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?

It has a balanced finish and is rated low for clogging pores, so it is generally acne-friendly. Note it may sting slightly if it reaches the eyes.

Is this sunscreen mineral or chemical?

It is a hybrid. It uses chemical filters including Avobenzone, Benzophenone-3, and Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate alongside mineral Titanium Dioxide.

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