M&S Sun Smart Sensitive Moisture Protect Lotion SPF 50
83/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
M&S Sun Smart Sensitive Moisture Protect Lotion SPF 50 is a hybrid sunscreen blending Octocrylene and Avobenzone with the modern filters Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It wears balanced and lightweight with low white cast, does not commonly sting, and has low breakout risk. With excellent protection and a score of 83.3, it is generally a strong, gentle daily choice.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
99
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #10, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- −13 UVB coverage saturated
- −16.5 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
66
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Octisalate at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-40 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 10 Glycerin at #7, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 7 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 1 water-locking waxes
Full ingredient list (30)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 20 wax film
- ↑ 10 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
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
-
7 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 6.4 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
pH adjuster
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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25 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
28 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does M&S Sun Smart Sensitive SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low and the finish is balanced and lightweight.
Is the M&S Sun Smart Sensitive Moisture Protect Lotion SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, blending Octocrylene and Avobenzone with modern filters such as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.
Is it a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 83.3 out of 100 with excellent protection, making it a strong, gentle daily choice.