Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick Spf 50 High Protection Pa+++
50/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 PA+++ is a chemical sunscreen stick built on older-generation filters: avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene and benzophenone-3. It is lightweight with a balanced finish and very low white cast and low breakout risk, but it is rated more likely to sting, so keep it away from the eyes. It works okay as a makeup base. With moderate protection and a score of 50.1/100, it is best as a targeted touch-up stick rather than full-face coverage.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
51
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- +20.9 Benzophenone-3 at #5, UV filter
- −18.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −6.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
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Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 3 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- +10.6 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
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Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −11 5 declared fragrance allergens
- −1 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
High
9
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Oxybenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 5 declared fragrance allergens
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Heavy feel
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −12 Polyethylene at #7, wax film
- −12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
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Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #5, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (22)
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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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
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
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10 Homosalate
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
11 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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16 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
17 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
18 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
19 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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20 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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21 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does Elizabeth Arden Sun Defense Stick sting?
Sting risk is rated higher for this stick, so keep it away from the eyes. Breakout risk, however, is low.
Is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick Spf 50 High Protection Pa+++ mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters: avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene and benzophenone-3.
Is it good?
It scores 50.1/100 with moderate protection. As a stick it is best for targeted touch-ups rather than full-face coverage, though it has very low white cast.