Garnier Sun Control Moisturizer SPF 15
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Garnier Sun Control Moisturizer is an SPF 15 daily moisturizer using a hybrid blend of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, titanium dioxide and Mexoryl SX (terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid). It wears matte and lightweight with a low white cast and is generally low-sting with low breakout triggers. Protection is rated weak here, and with a score of 49.0/100 it is best treated as a light mattifying moisturizer rather than dedicated sun protection.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Weak
34
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +8.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #24, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- −1.2 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.6 Almost no UVA1, poor aging protection
☢️
Health safety
Medium
48
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −16 Butylparaben at #11, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
🤧
Allergens
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −4 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −8 Sensitizing preservatives (Imidazolidinyl Urea)
- −6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
👻
White cast
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −35 Titanium Dioxide at #6
- +2.4 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −6 3 declared fragrance allergens
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #6
- +4 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
- +1.8 Volatile hydrocarbon at #4, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #22, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
72
- +100 Starting score
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Titanium Dioxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 9 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- ← 6 High mineral load at #6 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (28)
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
-
2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
11 Butylparaben
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 16 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
14 Yellow 6
Colorant or pigment
-
15 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Botanical extract
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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20 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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23 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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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)
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
28 Fragrance
Fragrance
Is Garnier Sun Control Moisturizer SPF 15 good?
It scores 49.0/100 with protection rated weak, so it sits at the lower end. It is best treated as a light mattifying moisturizer rather than dedicated sun protection.
Is Garnier Sun Control mineral or chemical?
It is a combination formula, pairing chemical filters ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and Mexoryl SX with the mineral filter titanium dioxide.
Is Garnier Sun Control good for oily skin?
It can suit oily skin reasonably well. The finish is matte and lightweight and it is rated low on pore-clogging triggers.