Moleculogy Starter Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++
84/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Moleculogy Starter Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ is a hybrid that pairs Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with modern filters (Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol) plus Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It is lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast, low pore-clogging risk, and rarely stings, sitting okay under makeup. With excellent protection it scores 84.3/100, a strong, well-rounded daily option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #20, UV filter
- −38.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −18 UVA2 coverage saturated
- −2.3 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
Low
60
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #7
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #13
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −6 Tinosorb M at #10
- +5.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +7 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Octisalate at #20, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #7
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #13
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate, Ceteareth-20)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Zinc Oxide at #7, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #7, mild sebum absorbent
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer at #33, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Glyceryl Glucoside)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 5 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate)
- → 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 6 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 3.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, …)
- ← 6 High mineral load at #7 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (44)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 → dewy emollient lipid
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
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
-
Humectant, pulls water into the 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)
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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)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
12 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
15 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 4.8 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
21 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
30 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
43 Resveratrol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
Is the Moleculogy Starter Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ good?
It scores 84.3/100, a strong rating. It combines excellent protection with a lightweight balanced finish, low white cast, and low pore-clogging risk.
Is the Moleculogy Starter Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing chemical filters such as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and modern triazine filters with mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.
Is it good for acne-prone skin?
Pore-clogging risk is rated low and it rarely stings, which is generally friendly for breakout-prone skin.