Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Sunscreen, In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa+ +++
62/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ is a chemical formula built on older-generation filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Benzophenone-3 with a touch of Titanium Dioxide. It wears matte and lightweight with a low risk of white cast and is generally low on pore-clogging, though it may sting somewhat for some users. It works well under makeup. With good protection and a 62/100 score, it is an antioxidant-led daily SPF that sits mid-tier overall.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +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 #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −8.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −12 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
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)
🔥
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 #10
- +0.9 Volatile hydrocarbon at #7, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +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
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 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 →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 (31)
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
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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
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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
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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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)
-
11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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15 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
16 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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24 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Supporting ingredient
Is Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, built on older-generation filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, and Benzophenone-3 with a touch of Titanium Dioxide.
Is the Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Sunscreen, In-vivo Tested SPF 50+ Pa+ +++ good for oily skin?
It is a reasonable fit. The matte finish and generally low pore-clogging profile commonly suit oily skin, and it works well under makeup. Note it may sting somewhat for some users.
Is Dot & Key Vitamin C + E Sunscreen good?
It scores 62 out of 100 with good protection. It is an antioxidant-led daily SPF that sits mid-tier overall.