Make Up Forever Step 1 Primer UV Protector SPF 50
88/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Make Up Forever Step 1 Primer UV Protector SPF 50 is a hybrid mineral and chemical primer combining modern filters such as Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with Titanium Dioxide. The balanced finish keeps white cast low and feels lightweight and non-stinging, with a low pore-clogging profile, and it is built to sit well under makeup. With excellent rated protection and a score of 87.6, it is a strong sun-protective primer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
92
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #5, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #7, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #12, UV filter
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #29, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −26.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −5.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #29
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #45
- +4 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +0.6 Coated minerals (Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Octisalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #46, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #29, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Humectant polyols
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 3 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
🌊
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.
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1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
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)
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
20 Cellulose
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
21 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
pH adjuster
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Colorant or pigment
-
28 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
30 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
31 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
32 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Botanical extract
-
38 Tin Oxide
Colorant or pigment
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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43 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Colorant or pigment
-
46 Ci 77491
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does the Make Up Forever Step 1 Primer UV Protector SPF 50 work as a makeup base?
Yes, it is designed as a primer and works well as a makeup base. The balanced, lightweight finish helps makeup sit smoothly.
Does the Make Up Forever Step 1 Primer UV Protector SPF 50 leave a white cast?
White cast is generally low. The modern hybrid filters keep it from looking chalky.
Is it any good?
It scores 87.6/100, which is strong, with excellent protection. It is a top primer for everyday makeup wear.