Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Vitamin C Anti Dark Spots SPF 50+
83/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Vitamin C Anti Dark Spots SPF 50+ is a chemical sunscreen with a hybrid blend of modern filters, Tinosorb S, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Mexoryl XL, plus avobenzone. It commonly wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast and works well under makeup, though it may sting sensitive eyes a bit. Excellent protection drives a strong 82.5/100, a great daily face option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
93
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #8, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #11, UV filter
- +24 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #15, UV filter (UVA1 +8.4)
- −28.7 UVB coverage saturated
- −9.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −4 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Isopropyl Myristate at #5, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60)
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #9, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #15, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Silylate)
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #20, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Sodium Lactate)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Silylate)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (44)
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 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
4 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
12 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
17 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
pH adjuster
-
24 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
27 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
32 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
33 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
34 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
37 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
39 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
40 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
44 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV good under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base. It has a matte finish with low white cast, so it layers well under foundation.
Is the Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Vitamin C Anti Dark Spots SPF 50+ good for oily skin?
Yes, it is a reasonable match. The matte finish, lightweight feel and low breakout-trigger rating generally suit oily and combination skin.
Is this sunscreen any good?
Yes, it scores 82.5 out of 100 with excellent protection from a modern hybrid filter blend. It is a strong daily face option, though it may sting sensitive eyes a bit.