Hera Black Cushion SPF 34 / Pa++
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Hera Black Cushion SPF 34 / PA++ is a cushion foundation pairing octinoxate, an older chemical filter, with mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It wears as a lightweight, matte tinted base with low white cast and layers well under makeup, with low sting and low pore-clogging risk. Scoring 71.8 with good protection, it is a tidy makeup-and-sun option, though SPF 34 means it is best paired with a dedicated sunscreen for full coverage.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
61
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +32.8 Zinc Oxide at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- β3.5 UVB coverage saturated
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 34)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
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White cast
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide at #12 (nano)
- β3 Titanium Dioxide at #14 (nano)
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β5 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #6
- +12 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +1.6 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- β11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide at #12
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #14
- β3 Trimethylsiloxysilicate at #9, silicone wax film
- +3.3 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #37, heavy comedogenic ester
- β2 Isopropyl Palmitate at #40, heavy comedogenic ester
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Fungal acne
High
29
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 40, Polysorbate 80)
- β18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #13, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β5 Zinc Oxide at #12, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- β 10 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Glycerin at #22, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Lauroyl Lysine)
- β 9 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 2 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 4 Transfer-resistant grip resin, holds makeup
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (46)
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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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- β 17.1 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Colorant or pigment
-
7 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 silicone wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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12 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 32.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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13 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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16 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- β 3 film former
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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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20 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
Supporting ingredient
-
22 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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27 Fragrance
Fragrance
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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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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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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31 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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34 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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38 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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42 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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43 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
Does Hera Black Cushion leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low and it finishes matte. It is a cushion that pairs octinoxate with mineral zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Does the Hera Black Cushion SPF 34 / Pa++ work under makeup?
As a tinted cushion it acts as a makeup base itself, rates well in that role, stays lightweight, and has low pore-clogging risk.
Is SPF 34 enough sun protection?
It scores 71.8 out of 100 with good protection. SPF 34 is decent, but it is best paired with a dedicated sunscreen for full daily coverage.