Dot & Key Cica Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Cica Niacinamide Sunscreen is an SPF 50 sunscreen using older-school filters, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Titanium Dioxide. It has a matte finish, feels lightweight, and leaves low white cast, with low pore-clogging risk that suits oily and acne-prone skin, though it can sting a little. It works okay under makeup. With good protection and a score of 67.4/100, it is a reasonable everyday pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −10.8 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- −38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Pentaoleate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Behenic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #5, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 3 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
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 (37)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
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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5 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
9 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
13 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
15 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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21 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
22 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
25 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
29 Octadecene
Supporting ingredient
-
30 Behenic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
31 Glycerides
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
34 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
Is Dot & Key Cica Niacinamide Sunscreen good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally a good fit. It has a matte finish and low pore-clogging risk, which suits oily and acne-prone skin, though it may sting a little.
Does the Dot & Key Cica Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it leaves low white cast and feels lightweight, so it should not look chalky once applied.
What SPF is it, and is it good?
It is rated SPF 50 with good measured protection, scoring 67.4/100. That makes it a reasonable everyday pick.