Heliocare 360 Water Gel SPF 50+
77/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Heliocare 360 Water Gel is an SPF 50+ chemical sunscreen with a hybrid, modern filter set that includes Tinosorb A2B (tris-biphenyl triazine), Uvinul A Plus, avobenzone and octocrylene. The gel texture is lightweight and balanced with low white cast, and it is low on breakout risk. Some may notice mild sting around the eyes. With excellent protection and a score of 76.5/100, it is a strong, well-rounded daily sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
90
- +16 Octocrylene at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #6, UV filter
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +24 Tris-Biphenyl Triazine at #12, UV filter
- +13.2 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #16, UV filter
- β28.9 UVB coverage saturated
- β15.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β2 2 declared fragrance allergens
- β10 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β4 Tinosorb A2B at #12 (particulate filter)
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Eye sting
Medium
37
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β22 Octocrylene at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β4 Ensulizole at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
- β4 2 declared fragrance allergens
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
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Fabric stains
High
15
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #2, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #9, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- β 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #21, hyaluronic family
- β 2 2 strong humectants (Urea, Trehalose)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- β 1.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glyceryl Polyacrylate)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (52)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 16 UV protection
- β 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- β 13.3 UV protection
- β 4 migrates into eyes with sweat
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7 Arginine
pH adjuster
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb A2B), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 24 UV protection
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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Botanical extract
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 13.2 UV protection
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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19 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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23 Trehalose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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24 Urea
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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25 Serine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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26 Pullulan
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Algin
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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36 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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38 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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pH adjuster
-
45 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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46 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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48 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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50 Fragrance
Fragrance
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51 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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52 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is the Heliocare 360 Water Gel SPF 50+ any good?
Yes, it scores 76.5/100 with excellent protection. The hybrid filter set is modern and photostable, making it a strong, well-rounded daily sunscreen.
Does the Heliocare 360 Water Gel SPF 50+ leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. The water gel texture is lightweight and tends to apply clear.
Does it sting?
Sting is rated medium, so some users may notice mild irritation around the eyes. It is otherwise low on pore-clogging risk.