Nivea Sun Kids Spray Sensitive Spf 50+
80/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Nivea Sun Kids Spray Sensitive SPF 50+ is a chemical spray on a hybrid filter system, blending Homosalate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with newer filters like Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It leaves a matte finish with a low white cast, feels lightweight, and layers well under makeup, though it may sting sensitive eyes for some users. The low breakout-trigger level suggests it is generally fine for blemish-prone skin. Scoring 80.4/100 with excellent protection, it is a dependable high-SPF spray.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
87
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +45.6 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #8, UV filter
- +8.4 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #13, UV filter
- −30.7 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Ensulizole at #13, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −18 Volatile alcohol at #3
- −5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Copernicia Cerifera Wax at #9, wax film
- −1 Hydrogenated Polyisobutene at #25, heavy oil
- +2.8 Volatile alcohol at #3, evaporating texture
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
73
- +100 Starting score
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sucrose Polystearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
55
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 22 Volatile alcohol at #3
- → 4 Glycerin at #12, the anchor humectant
- → 2 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #3
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #3), 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
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +4 1 water-locking waxes
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.
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
- ✨ Vitamin E
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (31)
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
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- ↑ 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
-
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
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S)
- ↑ 45.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 wax film
- ↑ 4 wax water lock
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10 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 2 → nourishing humectant
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Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 7 film former
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12 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 8.4 UV protection
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
21 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 heavy oil
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is Nivea Sun Kids Spray Sensitive good?
Yes. It scores 80.4/100 with an excellent protection rating, which is dependable for a high-SPF spray. It also layers well under makeup.
Does the Nivea Sun Kids Spray Sensitive Spf 50+ leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and finishes matte, so it generally wears without a visible film.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen on a hybrid filter system, blending Homosalate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane with newer filters like Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.