Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ Pa++++
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ is a hybrid sunscreen pairing Titanium Dioxide with chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and modern UVA filters. It wears with a lightweight, watery feel, a balanced finish, and low white cast, and it performs excellently under makeup. Pore-clogging risk is low, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. With excellent protection and a high score of 81.9/100, it is a top everyday face pick.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Excellent
93
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #5, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- β34.1 UVB coverage saturated
- β9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #3 (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
87
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- +2.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- β8 Fragrance
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Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- +2.4 Volatile alcohol at #2, evaporating texture
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Fungal acne
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- β27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Isoceteth-20)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #9, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 4.5 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- β 1 Glycerin at #18, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #45, hyaluronic family
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- β 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates Crosspolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (50)
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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2 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 high up speeds filter migration
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Supporting ingredient
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- β 20.9 UV protection
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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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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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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13 Xylitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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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
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18 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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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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Supporting ingredient
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24 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
-
30 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
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31 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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34 Agar
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
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36 Isoceteth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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41 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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44 Maltose
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Botanical extract
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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49 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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50 Fragrance
Fragrance
Is Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ good?
Yes, it scores a high 81.9/100 with excellent protection. The lightweight, watery feel and low white cast make it a top everyday face pick.
Does the Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ Pa++++ work under makeup?
Yes, it performs excellently as a makeup base. It stays lightweight with a balanced finish and low white cast, so it layers cleanly under foundation.
Is the Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen, pairing Titanium Dioxide with chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and modern UVA filters.