H-E-B Ultra SunScreen SPF 50
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
H-E-B Ultra SunScreen SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen from the H-E-B store brand using an old-school filter blend of homosalate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate, and avobenzone. It dries down to a matte, lightweight finish with low white cast, which suits oilier skin, and it works okay as a base under makeup. It may sting if it reaches the eyes during sweat. With good protection and a score of 69.0/100, it is a reasonable value option for daily wear.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
60
- +12 Homosalate at #1, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- +0 Saccharomyces/Podophyllum Peltatum Ferment Filtrate at #11, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +20 2 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (27)
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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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 13 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
13 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
15 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
17 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
21 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
25 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Is H-E-B Ultra SunScreen SPF 50 good for oily skin?
It is a reasonable fit. It dries to a matte, lightweight finish and has a low pore-clogging profile, which oilier and breakout-prone skin generally prefers.
Is the H-E-B Ultra SunScreen SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses an old-school blend of homosalate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate, and avobenzone, with no mineral filters.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 69.0/100 with good broad-spectrum protection, so it is a solid, value-oriented everyday pick. Take care around the eyes, since it may sting if it migrates there during sweat.