ELIXIR COSMECEUTICALS Nova Drops SPF 50+
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
ELIXIR COSMECEUTICALS Nova Drops SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen using an older-generation filter mix of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Homosalate. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, and has low pore-clogging, though it carries a medium chance of stinging. With good protection and a score of 65.2/100, it is a serviceable daily sunscreen for skin that tolerates classic chemical filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
60
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #6, UV filter
- +9.6 Homosalate at #9, UV filter
- −10.5 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Homosalate at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- −32 Decyl Oleate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Decyl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteth-2)
- +0 Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment at #14, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, 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
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (28)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
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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 (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.6 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
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10 Ceteth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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11 Ceteareth-25
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
pH adjuster
-
26 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is this mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using an older-generation filter mix of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Homosalate.
Will the ELIXIR COSMECEUTICALS Nova Drops SPF 50+ sting?
There is a medium chance of stinging, so apply carefully around the eyes. It otherwise wears lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast.
Is the ELIXIR COSMECEUTICALS Nova Drops SPF 50+ good for acne-prone skin?
Pore-clogging risk is low, so it is reasonable for breakout-prone skin. With good protection and a 65.2/100 score, it is a serviceable daily SPF.