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Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream

67/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream is a hybrid sunscreen that pairs organic filters like Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with Titanium Dioxide, plus the modern UVB filter Ethylhexyl Triazone. It wears with a balanced finish and stays lightweight with low white cast, so it is generally an easy daily option, though it may feel slightly sticky as warmth builds. Its protection is rated good. With a score of 67.2 out of 100, it is a solid mainstream pick.

Ingredient & SPF scores

☀️

UV protection

Good 78
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
  • +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
  • +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
  • +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #10, UV filter
  • +8.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #26, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
  • −19.8 UVB coverage saturated
  • −10.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
How we rate uv protection →
☢️

Health safety

High 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • −30 Octocrylene at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety →
🤧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • −18 Fragrance
  • −5 3 declared fragrance allergens
  • −7 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens →
👻

White cast

Low 84
  • +100 Starting score
  • −17.5 Titanium Dioxide at #7 (nano)
  • +1.2 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
How we rate white cast →
🔥

Eye sting

Medium 47
  • +100 Starting score
  • −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • −4 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • −8 Fragrance
  • −4 2 declared fragrance allergens
How we rate eye sting →
🪨

Heavy feel

Low 80
  • +100 Starting score
  • −16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
  • −2 Synthetic Wax at #15, wax film
  • −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #30, butter/occlusive fat
How we rate heavy feel →
🔴

Comedogenic

Low 66
  • +100 Starting score
  • −32 Isopropyl Palmitate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
  • −1 Myristic Acid at #28, moderate comedogenic signal
  • −1 Palmitic Acid at #22, moderate comedogenic signal
How we rate comedogenic →
🍄

Fungal acne

High 22
  • +100 Starting score
  • −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
  • −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
  • −50 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
  • −7 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
How we rate fungal acne →
👕

Fabric stains

High 20
  • +100 Starting score
  • −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • −15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
  • −10 Titanium Dioxide at #7, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
How we rate fabric stains →
💧

Moisture

Hydrating
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
  • → 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
  • → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
How we rate moisture →

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Talc)
  • ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #9
  • → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
  • → 6 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
How we rate finish →
💄

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • → 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #9), fast, even canvas
  • → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
  • ← 3 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
  • ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
  • ← 3 High mineral load at #7 greys under foundation (nano)
How we rate makeup base →
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +2 1 water-locking waxes
How we rate 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.

  • ✨ Vitamin E

Full ingredient list (35)

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.

  1. 1 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  2. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 32 heavy comedogenic ester
    • 6 → dewy slippy emollient ester
    • ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
  3. 3 Glycerin

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)

    • ↑ 7.6 UV protection
    • ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
  6. 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
  7. Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)

    • ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • pills ← 3 High mineral load greys under foundation (nano)
  8. Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

  9. 9 Alcohol Denat

    Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes

  10. Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 17.6 UV protection
  11. 11 Talc

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
  12. 12 Stearic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 5 minor malassezia feeder
  13. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

  14. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  15. 15 Synthetic Wax

    Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin

    • ↑ 2 wax film
    • ↑ 2 wax water lock
  16. 16 Tocopherol

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  17. 17 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  18. Supporting ingredient

  19. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  20. 20 Eugenol

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  21. 21 Triethanolamine

    pH adjuster

  22. 22 Palmitic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
  23. 23 Linalool

    Fragrance component, a declared allergen

  24. 24 Benzyl Alcohol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  25. 25 Caprylyl Glycol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  26. Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX), low in the list, likely a minor contributor

    • ↑ 8.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
  27. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  28. 28 Myristic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  29. 29 Disodium EDTA

    Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable

  30. Botanical extract

    • ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
    • 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
    • 1 → dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  31. 31 Potassium Sorbate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  32. 32 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  33. Supporting ingredient

  34. Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  35. 35 Fragrance

    Fragrance

Does Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream leave a white cast?

White cast is rated low, so it generally blends in without leaving a noticeable white film. It wears with a balanced finish and stays lightweight on the skin.

Is the Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream mineral or chemical?

It is a hybrid sunscreen. It pairs chemical filters such as Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with the mineral filter Titanium Dioxide.

Is Garnier Ambre Solaire Sun Cream any good?

It scores 67.2 out of 100, which makes it a solid mainstream pick. Its protection is rated good and it has low pore-clogging risk.

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