PCA Skin Protecting Hydrator Broad Spectrum Spf
75/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
PCA Skin Protecting Hydrator Broad Spectrum is an older-generation hybrid using chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. It wears with a balanced finish, feels lightweight, keeps white cast low, and does not commonly sting, but it rates poorly as a makeup base. It is low on pore-clogging ingredients. Scoring 74.5/100 with good protection, it is a solid hydrating sunscreen best worn on its own rather than under makeup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
67
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #23, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- β9.8 UVB coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
π»
White cast
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 4.3% declared
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #23
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +1.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
90
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 4.3% declared
- β2 Titanium Dioxide at #23
π
Fungal acne
Medium
70
- +100 Starting score
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- β7 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
π
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- β 4 Glycerin at #11, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- β 1 Humectant polyols
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Allantoin
- β¨ Aloe vera
- β¨ Panthenol (B5)
Full ingredient list (26)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 4.3% declared
- β 8 4.3% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
-
7 Caffeine
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
11 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 β nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
15 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 β nourishing humectant
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
19 Polyether-1
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
-
22 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
26 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
Does the PCA Skin Protecting Hydrator Broad Spectrum Spf work under makeup?
It rates poorly as a makeup base, so it is generally best worn on its own rather than under foundation. On skin alone it wears with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a hybrid, using chemical filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate alongside mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.
Is the PCA Skin Protecting Hydrator Broad Spectrum Spf any good?
It scores 74.5/100 with good protection, making it a solid hydrating sunscreen. It keeps white cast low and is low on pore-clogging ingredients.