Korff Sun Secret SPF 50+
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
The Korff Sun Secret SPF 50+ is a hybrid sunscreen pairing chemical filters such as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, avobenzone, ethylhexyl salicylate, and Tinosorb S with titanium dioxide. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight, keeps white cast low, and rates well as a makeup base. Breakout risk is low, though some users may notice mild stinging. With a 71.8/100 score and good protection, it is a solid option for wear under makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
67
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #17, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- −17.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −8.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Titanium Dioxide at #17 (nano)
- +0.3 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +0.4 Coated minerals (Alumina, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #9, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #5, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #17, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 8 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #33, hyaluronic family
- → 3 Humectant polyols
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 9 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- → 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Full ingredient list (46)
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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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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12 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
21 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
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22 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
24 PEG-8
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
30 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
32 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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36 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
39 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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46 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does the Korff Sun Secret leave a white cast?
White cast is generally not a concern. Despite containing some titanium dioxide, it rates low for ghost mode.
Does the Korff Sun Secret SPF 50+ work under makeup?
Yes. It rates well as a makeup base, with a balanced, lightweight finish that layers cleanly.
Is the Korff Sun Secret SPF 50+ good?
It scores 71.8/100 with good protection and low breakout risk. Some users may notice mild stinging, so patch test if your skin is sensitive.