Dot & Key Strawberry Dew Tinted Sunscreen (caramel) SPF 50+ Pa++++
63/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Strawberry Dew Tinted Sunscreen (caramel) SPF 50+ PA++++ is an older-style tinted sunscreen using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, avobenzone, Benzophenone-3, and Titanium Dioxide. The tinted formula keeps white cast low with a balanced, lightweight finish and works well under makeup, and it is low for pore-clogging, though it may sting a bit near the eyes. It scores 63.1/100 with good protection, a wearable tinted daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
60
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #4, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −8.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −12 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
96
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #12
- +10.5 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +0.4 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
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
95
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #12
- +0.9 Volatile hydrocarbon at #7, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
65
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
0
- +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
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #36, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #12, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #22, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Zea Mays Starch)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →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.
-
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
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 14 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)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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23 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
24 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
36 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
39 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
42 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
Does Dot & Key Strawberry Dew Tinted Sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. The tinted formula blends into skin with a balanced, lightweight finish and works well under makeup.
Is the Dot & Key Strawberry Dew Tinted Sunscreen (caramel) SPF 50+ Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is an older-style tinted sunscreen using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, avobenzone, Benzophenone-3, and Titanium Dioxide.
Is it good, and what SPF?
It is SPF 50+ PA++++ and scores 63.1/100 with good protection, a wearable tinted daily option. It may sting a bit if it reaches the eyes.