Pretty Skin Super Aqua Sun Cream SPF 50+ Pa++++
64/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Pretty Skin Super Aqua Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++ is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter base of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide added. It carries a medium weight, a balanced finish, and tends toward a visible white cast, and it works poorly under makeup. It is generally low on pore-clogging potential. With good protection but a score of 63.7/100, it is a middling option held back by cosmetics and dated filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
71
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #4, UV filter
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #5, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- −11.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −11.6 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #8, 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
👻
White cast
High
16
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #5
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- +6.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
73
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #5
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −2 Cera Alba at #18, wax film
- −2 Microcrystalline Wax at #20, wax film
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #16, butter/occlusive fat
- −6 Paraffinum Liquidum at #6, heavy oil
- +16 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Sesquioleate)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
42
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #8, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #5, mild sebum absorbent
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #19, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 1 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 5 Occlusives seal moisture in (Paraffinum Liquidum)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 8 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +4 2 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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (33)
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
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 6 heavy oil
- 5 → dewy occlusive
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing light emollient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
18 Cera Alba
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 wax film
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
29 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
32 Ci 77288
Colorant or pigment
-
33 Fragrance
Fragrance
Does Pretty Skin Super Aqua Sun Cream leave a white cast?
Yes, it tends toward a visible white cast and carries a medium weight. It also works poorly under makeup, so the cosmetics are its weak point.
Is the Pretty Skin Super Aqua Sun Cream SPF 50+ Pa++++ mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen using an older base of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide added.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It scores 63.7/100 with good protection. The protection is solid, but the white cast and dated filters make it a middling pick overall.