SAFE SEA SPF 50 Sting Blocking Sunscreen
65/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
SAFE SEA SPF 50 is a chemical sunscreen using an older-generation filter set of Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. It wears with a balanced, lightweight finish, keeps pore-clogging low, and leaves little to no white cast, working acceptably as a makeup base. Despite the sting-blocking name, the formula can sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes. With good protection and an overall score of 64.9/100, it is a serviceable everyday and outdoor sunscreen.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
60
- +16 Octocrylene at #1, UV filter
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- −11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
36
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil at #11, butter/occlusive fat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #1, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (25)
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.
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 12 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
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
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
10 Mg Stearate+
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 5 butter/occlusive fat
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
19 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
21 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
24 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
25 Sorbic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does SAFE SEA SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast and applies with a balanced, lightweight finish. It blends in well for daily and outdoor use.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a chemical sunscreen using Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, an older-generation filter set.
Is SAFE SEA SPF 50 good?
It scores 64.9/100 overall with good protection, making it a serviceable everyday and outdoor sunscreen. Despite the name, it can sting somewhat if it reaches the eyes.