Dot & Key Cica Calming Mattifying Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Cica Calming Mattifying Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ is a hybrid sunscreen blending Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone) with newer filters and mineral Titanium Dioxide for good protection. It has a balanced, lightweight finish and keeps white cast low, sitting okay under makeup, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. The inclusion of older oxybenzone weighs on the rating. With a score of 66.1/100 it is a serviceable mattifying option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
71
- +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 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #18, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- +10.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #23, UV filter (UVA1 +6.6)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #24, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −9.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −18.6 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 #24
- −3 Tinosorb M at #18
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
49
- +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
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #24
- +0.5 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
68
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6)
👕
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 #23, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #24, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 4.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Zea Mays Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #27, hyaluronic family
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 4.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (44)
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
- ↓ 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
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
9 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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15 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
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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19 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
22 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 10.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
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)
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25 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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31 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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33 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
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35 Trideceth-6
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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42 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Is the Dot & Key Cica Mattifying Sunscreen good for oily skin?
It can suit oily skin. It is marketed as mattifying with a balanced, lightweight finish and low pore-clogging risk, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes.
Is the Dot & Key Cica Calming Mattifying Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It blends chemical filters, including Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), with mineral Titanium Dioxide.
Is it a good sunscreen overall?
It is serviceable, scoring 66.1/100 with good protection. The older oxybenzone filter weighs on the rating, but the matte, low-cast finish is a plus.