Nivea Japan UV Super Water Essence Ex
78/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Nivea Japan UV Super Water Essence Ex is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen combining Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and triazine filters. It has a balanced, lightweight finish and low white cast and works well under makeup, with low pore-clogging potential, though it may sting somewhat near the eyes. With excellent protection and a score of 77.6 out of 100, it is a strong watery essence for daily face use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
84
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #8, UV filter
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #18, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −14.4 UVB coverage saturated
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
- −8 Fragrance
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Isopropyl Palmitate at #7, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
76
- +100 Starting score
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #5, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- → 4 Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid at #11, hyaluronic family
- → 2 1 strong humectants (Trehalose)
- → 1 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (26)
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
-
2 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 high up speeds filter migration
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant
-
10 Mannitol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
14 Lauramide
Supporting ingredient
-
15 Glutamine
Supporting ingredient
-
16 Lysine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
17 Sodium
Supporting ingredient
-
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)
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
23 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
24 Sodium Oxide
Supporting ingredient
-
25 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
26 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does the Nivea Japan UV Super Water Essence leave a white cast?
It has a low white cast and a balanced, lightweight finish, so it generally wears clear. It is a chemical (hybrid) formula.
Does the Nivea Japan UV Super Water Essence Ex work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated as a good base under makeup thanks to its light, watery feel. It also has low pore-clogging potential.
Is it good?
It has excellent protection and a score of 77.6 out of 100, making it a strong daily essence. It may sting somewhat if it gets into the eyes.