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Equate Ultra Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Lotion, SPF 50

Equate SPF 50 πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ American
Equate Ultra Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Lotion, SPF 50

49/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Equate Ultra Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Lotion SPF 50 is a chemical lotion built on Homosalate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone). It has a balanced, lightweight finish with a low chance of white cast and is generally non-stinging. Pore-clogging concerns are low. With a score of 49.0/100 and protection rated weak here, it is best treated as a budget option rather than a top performer.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Weak 25
  • +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #18, UV filter
  • +13.2 Benzophenone-3 at #19, UV filter
  • +7.2 Homosalate at #20, UV filter
  • +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #21, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
  • +4.8 Octocrylene at #22, UV filter
  • Γ—0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Low 2
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’70 Oxybenzone at #19 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’14 Homosalate at #20, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #22, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #21, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 61
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’1 1 declared fragrance allergens
  • βˆ’11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Low 83
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’3 Avobenzone at #21, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’2 Octocrylene at #22, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’2 Oxybenzone at #19, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’1 Homosalate at #20, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’1 Octisalate at #18, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 95
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’5 Stearic Acid at #4, rich gel-network thickener
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’30 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Isostearate)
  • βˆ’14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate)
  • βˆ’10 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 27
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’28 Avobenzone at #21, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’20 Oxybenzone at #19, yellow stains on white cotton
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #22, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Balanced
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
  • β†’ 6 1 strong humectants (Sorbitol)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
  • β†’ 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
  • ← 1 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +20 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
How we rate water resistance β†’

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 ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. 2 Sorbitol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 6 β†’ nourishing humectant
  3. 3 Vp/Eicosene Copolymer

    Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance

    • ↑ 20 film former
  4. 4 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 5 rich gel-network thickener
    • ↑ 10 minor malassezia feeder
  5. 5 Triethanolamine

    pH adjuster

  6. 6 Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
  7. 7 Sorbitan Isostearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 30 feeds malassezia
  8. 8 Benzyl Alcohol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  9. 9 Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  10. 10 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  11. 11 Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  12. 12 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  13. 13 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  14. 14 Ethylhexyl-Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  15. 15 Carbomer

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  16. 16 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  17. 17 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  18. 18 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 4.8 UV protection
    • ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
  19. 19 Benzophenone-3

    Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 13.2 UV protection
    • ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
  20. 20 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 7.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
  21. 21 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

    Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  22. 22 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 4.8 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone

Is the Equate Ultra Sunscreen Lotion any good?

It scores 49.0/100 with protection rated weak here. It is best treated as a budget option rather than a top performer, despite the SPF 50 label.

Is the Equate Ultra Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Lotion, SPF 50 mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen, using Homosalate, Octocrylene, Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone).

Does it leave a white cast?

White cast is generally low, with a balanced, lightweight finish typical of an all-chemical lotion.

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