NIVEA MEN Extra White Serum SPF 50
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
NIVEA MEN Extra White Serum SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen serum built on older-style filters including Homosalate, Octocrylene and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It delivers a matte finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low, though it may sting more than some on sensitive skin. With good protection, an excellent makeup-base rating and a score of 66.3/100, it suits those wanting a matte daily serum, with its older filter base holding the score back.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
59
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #8, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- −8.4 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, 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
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #34
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
42
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Volatile alcohol at #5
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
67
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate)
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #8, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #5
- ← 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 8 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Panthenol, Glyceryl Glucoside)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- ← 7 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #5
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #5), fast, even canvas
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (34)
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 (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 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 alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
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
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
17 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
24 Dimethiconol
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
33 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Colorant or pigment
Does NIVEA MEN Extra White Serum work under makeup?
It rates excellent as a makeup base, with a matte, lightweight finish and low white cast, so it is generally a strong base layer.
Is the NIVEA MEN Extra White Serum SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen built on older-style filters including Homosalate, Octocrylene and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Will it sting sensitive skin?
It rates medium for stinging, so it may feel less comfortable on very sensitive skin or near the eyes.