L'Oreal Paris UV Defender UV Serum Protector Correct & Protect SPF 50+ Pa++++
81/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
L'Oreal Paris UV Defender UV Serum Protector Correct & Protect SPF 50+ PA++++ is a hybrid serum sunscreen pairing the advanced filters drometrizole trisiloxane and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid with diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate and titanium dioxide. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight, shows little white cast, and does not sting, with a low pore-clogging profile. Protection is rated excellent for daily SPF 50+ wear. At 80.6/100 it is a strong, well-rounded everyday facial sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +40 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +14)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +22.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +8)
- +28.8 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +17.6)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −24 UVB coverage saturated
- −36.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −9 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −6 4 declared fragrance allergens
- −6 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −17.5 Titanium Dioxide at #7 (nano)
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #15
- +9.8 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +0.7 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Volatile alcohol at #9
- −8 Fragrance
- −6 3 declared fragrance allergens
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Myristic Acid at #36, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Palmitic Acid at #27, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
66
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Myristic Acid)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #11, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −10 Mexoryl XL at #3, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #17, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −10 Titanium Dioxide at #7, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #9
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 1 Humectant polyols
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #9), fast, even canvas
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
- ← 1.5 High mineral load at #7 greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
-
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
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 40 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills ← 1.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 22.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
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
-
pH adjuster
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
17 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
18 Ci 77492
Colorant or pigment
-
19 Ci 77499
Colorant or pigment
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
21 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
28 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
29 Mannitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
31 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
32 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
35 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
40 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
46 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does L'Oreal UV Defender SPF 50+ leave a white cast?
No, it generally shows little white cast. It has a balanced, lightweight finish and does not sting.
Is L'Oreal UV Defender mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It pairs advanced filters like drometrizole trisiloxane and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid with titanium dioxide.
Is L'Oreal Paris UV Defender SPF 50+ good?
Yes. It scores 80.6/100 with excellent protection. It is a strong, well-rounded everyday facial sunscreen with a comfortable, lightweight feel.