Laikou Japan Sakura Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa+++
49/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Laikou Japan Sakura Sunscreen SPF 50 PA+++ is a hybrid formula pairing mineral titanium dioxide with older chemical filters including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor and Benzophenone-3. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low. With moderate protection and a low score of 49.2/100, it ranks at the bottom of this group, largely due to its dated filter base.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +7.2 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor at #15, UV filter
- +18 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #16, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- +13.2 Benzophenone-3 at #17, UV filter
- −14.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −4.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- −80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) at #15 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −24.5 Oxybenzone at #17, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #16, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 3 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- −10 Propylparaben at #37, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
- +30.6 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
🤧
Allergens
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −8 Sensitizing preservatives (Diazolidinyl Urea)
- −10 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor)
👻
White cast
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #3
- +25 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +1.7 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #16, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Oxybenzone at #17, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #3
- −3 Paraffinum Liquidum at #8, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #4, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
49
- +100 Starting score
- −18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- −33 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #16, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #17, yellow stains on white cotton
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #41, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- +3 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #24, hyaluronic family
- → 2 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 3 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
- → 3 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 1 Quick-setting carrier, fast, even canvas
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 6 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- ← 7.5 High mineral load at #3 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 (42)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 3 heavy oil
- 3 → dewy occlusive
-
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 2 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (4-MBC), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 7.2 UV protection
- ↓ 80 Enzacamene (4-MBC) (regulatory/evidence concern)
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 18 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 13.2 UV protection
- ↓ 24.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
-
18 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
19 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
21 Mg Stearate+
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
22 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
28 Malic Acid
pH adjuster
-
Botanical extract
-
30 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
31 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
40 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
41 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
42 Ci 16255
Colorant or pigment
Is Laikou Japan Sakura Sunscreen good?
It scores 49.2/100 with moderate protection, the lowest rating in its group. The dated filter base holds it back, so there are stronger options available.
Is the Laikou Japan Sakura Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa+++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It pairs mineral titanium dioxide with older chemical filters including Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor and Benzophenone-3.
Does it leave a white cast?
White cast rates low and the finish is balanced and lightweight, so visible residue is generally not a major concern.