May Island 7 Days Secret Centella Cica Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
May Island 7 Days Secret Centella Cica Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ is a Korean hybrid sunscreen that combines older chemical filters (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene) with the minerals Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It dries to a matte finish, feels lightweight, and has low pore-clogging risk, though it may leave a slight white cast. The filter blend is generally considered old-school rather than modern. Good protection and a 69.4/100 score make it a reasonable everyday pick at a budget tier.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
80
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #8, UV filter
- −28.9 UVB coverage saturated
- −3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
54
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Medium
36
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −35 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +11.3 Coated minerals (Alumina, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Methicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
63
- +100 Starting score
- −7 Octocrylene at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #6
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- +9.5 Volatile silicone at #3, flashes off
👕
Fabric stains
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #8, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Zinc Oxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 12 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #6, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #10, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #32, hyaluronic family
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 11 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 9 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 6 High mineral load at #6 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (51)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
10 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
12 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
31 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
34 Asiaticoside
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
35 Asiatic Acid
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
36 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
37 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
41 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
42 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
43 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
46 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
51 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does May Island Centella Cica Sun Cream leave a white cast?
It may leave a slight white cast. White cast is rated medium, which is common for formulas that include Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide alongside chemical filters.
Is the May Island 7 Days Secret Centella Cica Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally suitable. The finish is matte and pore-clogging risk is rated low, which commonly works well for oily and combination skin.
Is this sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid. It combines older chemical filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Octocrylene with the minerals Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.