Nivea Sun UV Face Specialist: Dark Spot Control SPF 50 Sun Fluid
77/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Nivea Sun UV Face Specialist Dark Spot Control is an SPF 50 face fluid using a hybrid filter system that combines Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and Ethylhexyl Triazone with classic chemical filters. It dries down to a matte finish, stays lightweight, and shows low white cast, so it sits well under makeup. Breakout risk is low, though it can sting at a medium level, which is worth noting for sensitive eyes. With excellent protection and a score of 76.8/100, it is a capable everyday option for oily and combination skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #6, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #10, UV filter
- −34.1 UVB coverage saturated
- −2.2 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 #3, stacked (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
41
- +100 Starting score
- −24 Avobenzone at #3, 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 #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Volatile alcohol at #7
- −8 Fragrance
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Avobenzone at #3, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 13 Volatile alcohol at #7
- ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Tapioca Starch)
- → 1 Glycerin at #15, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #17, hyaluronic family
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Tapioca Starch)
- ← 3 Volatile alcohol at #7
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 6 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #7), fast, even canvas
- → 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (32)
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
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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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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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
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11 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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15 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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20 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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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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29 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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30 Fragrance
Fragrance
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31 Yellow 6
Colorant or pigment
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32 FD&C Red 40
Colorant or pigment
Is this Nivea Sun fluid good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes, it is a good fit. It dries to a matte finish and breakout risk is rated low, so it generally suits oily and acne-prone skin. Note that it can sting at a medium level, so take care near the eyes.
Does the Nivea Sun UV Face Specialist: Dark Spot Control SPF 50 Sun Fluid leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. As a hybrid fluid it absorbs without a heavy veil and sits well under makeup.
What SPF is it and how is the protection?
It is SPF 50 with protection rated excellent. With a score of 76.8/100, it is a capable everyday choice for high UV coverage.