Pilgrim 5% Vitamin C Complex Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++
90/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Pilgrim 5% Vitamin C Complex Brightening Serum Sunscreen is an SPF 50+ PA++++ serum that combines modern UVA filters Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with Titanium Dioxide. It has a matte finish, stays lightweight, and shows low white cast, and it is rated excellent as a makeup base, so it layers cleanly under foundation. It is rated low for stinging and low for pore-clogging, which is generally friendly to oily and breakout-prone skin. With good rated protection and a high score of 89.5/100, it is one of the standout picks in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
78
- +21.6 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #16, UV filter (UVA1 +13.2)
- +13.2 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #17, UV filter
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #19, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #46, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
🍄
Fungal acne
High
38
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −50 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #16, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #46, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile alcohol at #27
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 Glycerin at #23, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #47, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer)
- ← 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 0.5 Volatile alcohol at #27
- ← 5 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylyl Methicone)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
💄
Makeup base
Excellent
PillsPrimer
- → 12 2 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 4.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyacrylate-13)
🌊
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 (48)
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.
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
13 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
14 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 21.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 13.2 UV protection
-
18 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
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)
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
23 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
24 Isododecane
Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
25 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
26 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
27 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
30 Sodium PCA
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
33 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
34 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Botanical extract
-
36 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
37 Yellow 6
Colorant or pigment
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
40 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
48 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
Does Pilgrim Vitamin C Sunscreen work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated excellent as a makeup base. With a matte finish, lightweight feel, and low white cast, it generally layers cleanly under foundation.
Is the Pilgrim 5% Vitamin C Complex Brightening Serum Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It generally suits oily and breakout-prone skin. It has a matte finish and is rated low for pore-clogging.
Is Pilgrim Vitamin C Sunscreen any good?
Yes, it scores 89.5/100, which is one of the highest in this group. It pairs good rated protection with an excellent makeup-base rating.