HK Brightening Sunscreen Cream SPF 50
59/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
HK Brightening Sunscreen Cream is an SPF 50 formula that blends mineral filters Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide with older chemical absorbers such as Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3. It has a matte finish but feels somewhat heavier and can show a medium level of white cast. It is unlikely to sting, is low on pore-clogging, and works well under makeup. With excellent protection but an older filter profile, it scores 59.2.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
80
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #8, UV filter
- +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #9, UV filter
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #10, UV filter
- −36.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −13.8 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
7
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #10 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −55 Zinc Oxide at #3
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +15 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
- +50 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
🔥
Eye sting
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Octocrylene at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Octisalate at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #3
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
- +20 Volatile silicone at #1, flashes off
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Persea Gratissima Oil at #27, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
67
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Persea Gratissima Oil)
👕
Fabric stains
High
5
- +100 Starting score
- −20 Oxybenzone at #10, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #8, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #11, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 6.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Kaolin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 7 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Kaolin)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Persea Gratissima Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 11 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation (tinted)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →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.
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 6.4 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
11 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
12 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
-
13 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
-
14 Kaolin
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
-
16 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
23 Lycopene
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
26 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
Does HK Brightening Sunscreen Cream leave a white cast?
It can show a medium level of white cast, so blend it in well. It finishes matte but feels somewhat heavier than a light lotion.
Is the HK Brightening Sunscreen Cream SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a blend of both, pairing mineral filters Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide with older chemical absorbers like Octocrylene and Benzophenone-3.
Is HK Brightening Sunscreen any good?
It scores 59.2 out of 100 despite excellent protection. The score is held back by an older filter profile and a heavier, medium-cast feel.