Simple Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ UVA + UVB
67/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Simple Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ is a chemical sunscreen built on an older filter set of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, avobenzone and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate. The gel wears light with a matte finish, keeps white cast low and works well as a makeup base. Its low breakout-trigger reading suits oilier skin, though it can feel slightly tingly. Scoring 66.9 with moderate protection, it is a reasonable lightweight daily gel rather than a high-protection standout.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
48
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #4, UV filter
- +13.3 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #6, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +14.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #11, UV filter
- −15.3 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #11 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
47
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Octinoxate at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −4 Ensulizole at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 16 Glycerin at #2, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 6 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 6 2 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 3.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (22)
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
-
2 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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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
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate)
- ↑ 7.6 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
- ↑ 4 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
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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10 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
17 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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19 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Simple Gel Sunscreen work under makeup?
Yes, it works well as a makeup base and has a matte finish, so it sits well under makeup. Its low breakout-trigger reading also helps for oilier skin.
Is the Simple Gel Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa++++ UVA + UVB mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses an older filter set of Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, avobenzone and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.
Is it any good?
It scores 66.9 out of 100 with SPF 50 and moderate protection. That makes it a reasonable lightweight daily gel rather than a high-protection standout.