Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen built on older-generation UV filters: avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate, and octocrylene. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and shows little to no white cast, with a low pore-clogging profile that is generally friendly to acne-prone skin. The salicylate and octocrylene content can sting somewhat if it migrates into the eyes, so apply carefully around them. With good UV protection and a score of 65/100, it is a serviceable everyday SPF 50 lotion that leans on a dated filter set.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
61
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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Eye sting
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Medium
74
- +100 Starting score
- β12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate)
- β5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 4 1 strong humectants (Sorbitol)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- β 1 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (22)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 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
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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7 Sorbitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing humectant
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
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pH adjuster
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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12 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
14 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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16 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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21 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
Is the Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses older-generation UV filters: avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate, and octocrylene, with no mineral filters.
Does the Equate Ultra Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it generally leaves little to no white cast. As a chemical lotion it absorbs into the skin with a balanced finish, so it suits most skin tones.
Is it good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It can work for oily and acne-prone skin since it has a low pore-clogging profile and a balanced, lightweight finish. Note the salicylate and octocrylene content may sting somewhat if it gets into the eyes.