Garnier Pureactive BHA + Niacinamide UV SPF50+ Fluid
87/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Garnier Pureactive BHA + Niacinamide UV SPF50+ is a chemical sunscreen fluid on a modern filter set including Ethylhexyl Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Drometrizole Trisiloxane, with added BHA and niacinamide. It is lightweight with a matte finish, low white cast and generally no sting, and breakout risk is low, making it well suited to oily, blemish-prone skin. It works well under makeup. With a high score of 87.2/100 and excellent protection, it is an excellent everyday fluid.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
94
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #7, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +24 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +8.4)
- +8.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #28, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- −18.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −13.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
63
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Isopropyl Myristate at #5, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −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 #14, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Silica Silylate, Perlite)
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 8 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Perlite, 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 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (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 →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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (32)
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.
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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
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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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
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11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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12 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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
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15 Perlite
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
17 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
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25 Zinc Pca
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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)
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
30 Sarcosine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
31 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is the Garnier Pureactive BHA + Niacinamide UV SPF50+ Fluid good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes, it pairs BHA and niacinamide with a matte finish and low breakout risk, so it is well suited to oily, blemish-prone skin. It generally does not sting either.
Does the Garnier Pureactive BHA + Niacinamide UV SPF50+ Fluid work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base, and its matte, lightweight feel with low white cast helps it sit cleanly under foundation.
Is it good?
It scores a high 87.2/100 with excellent measured protection, so it is an excellent everyday fluid.