L'Oreal Paris Aqua Essence UV Perfect Sunscreen SPF 50
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
L'Oreal Paris Aqua Essence UV Perfect is an SPF 50 hybrid sunscreen that blends modern filters such as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and Drometrizole Trisiloxane with Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate. It is lightweight with a matte finish and low white cast, and it works well as a base under makeup, though it carries a medium chance of stinging if it reaches the eyes. It is generally low risk for clogging pores. With excellent protection and a score of 82.8, it is a strong daily choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +32 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +11.2)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #12, UV filter
- −30.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −12.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −18 7 declared fragrance allergens; EU-banned: Butylphenyl Methylpropional
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 5 declared fragrance allergens
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #18, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- −42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-8 Laurate, Ceteth-10, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #8, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #11, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- ✨ Vitamin E
- ✨ Adenosine
Full ingredient list (32)
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
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 7 film former
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 32 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
15 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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16 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
20 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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21 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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25 Geraniol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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27 Ceteth-10
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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28 Hydroxide K
pH adjuster
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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30 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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32 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does L'Oreal Aqua Essence UV Perfect SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it rates low on white cast and has a matte finish, so it blends in cleanly and suits wear under makeup.
Is the L'Oreal Paris Aqua Essence UV Perfect Sunscreen SPF 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes, the matte finish and low pore-clogging risk make it generally well suited to oily and acne-prone skin.
Does it sting the eyes?
It carries a medium chance of stinging if it reaches the eyes, so apply carefully around the eye area.