Garnier Super UV Cooling Watergel Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Garnier Super UV Cooling Watergel Sunscreen SPF 50 is a hybrid water-gel using chemical filters with Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone. The gel wears with a balanced finish, feels lightweight, and keeps white cast low while working well under makeup. The breakout risk is low, with a medium chance of stinging. Protection is excellent and the 79/100 score marks it as a strong, modern everyday pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
95
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #7, UV filter
- −24 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (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
35
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −10 Cooling agents (Menthol)
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Isopropyl Palmitate at #4, heavy comedogenic ester
- −2 Isocetyl Stearate at #28, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- −42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG-8 Laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 1 Glycerin at #39, the anchor humectant
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 2 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diisopropyl Sebacate)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (39)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
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)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
-
8 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
13 Ci 42090
Colorant or pigment
-
14 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
20 PEG-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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24 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
25 Menthol
Supporting ingredient
-
26 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
27 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
-
29 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
30 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
31 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Botanical extract
-
34 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
35 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
36 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
39 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
Is Garnier Super UV Watergel good under makeup?
Yes. It rates good as a makeup base, with a lightweight feel, balanced finish and low white cast that layers well.
Is the Garnier Super UV Cooling Watergel Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid water-gel using chemical filters with Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Is it good?
Yes. With excellent protection and a 79/100 score, it is a strong, modern everyday pick.