Equate Ultra Light Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion For All Skin Tones, SPF 50
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Equate Ultra Light Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion For All Skin Tones is a chemical SPF 50 lotion built on an older filter set: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene. It wears matte with low white cast and a lightweight feel, and it generally layers well under makeup. Acne-prone users may appreciate the low pore-clogging profile, though the formula can sting a little for very sensitive eyes. With good protection and a score of 65.3/100, it is a serviceable everyday option that is held back by its dated filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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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
- β12 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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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Cera Alba at #13, wax film
- β2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #20, butter/occlusive fat
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #18, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
64
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #19, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
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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 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- β 3 3 emollient lipids (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- β 2 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
- β 3 3 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- β 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +20 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (27)
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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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 13 film former
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 7 film former
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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11 Silica
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 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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13 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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21 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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23 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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27 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does this Equate sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, it has a low white cast. The formula is chemical, so it generally sinks in clear with a matte finish and no mineral whiteness.
Is the Equate Ultra Light Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Lotion For All Skin Tones, SPF 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is a reasonable fit. The matte finish suits oily skin and the breakout-trigger risk is low, so it is generally acne-friendly, though results vary by individual.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is chemical. The filters are avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, an older but broad-spectrum set, with no zinc or titanium.
Is it any good?
It scores 65.3/100 with good protection at SPF 50. It is a serviceable everyday lotion, held back mainly by its dated filter blend.