SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light UV Cream SPF50+/PA++++
69/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light UV Cream SPF50+/PA++++ is a hybrid sunscreen blending Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with Titanium Dioxide and the modern Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine filter for good protection. It wears matte and lightweight with low white cast and is low on pore-clogging risk, though it may sting somewhat for sensitive eyes. It layers well under makeup. With a 68.6/100 score, it is a refined everyday SPF 50.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
65
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #4, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +7.6 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #6, UV filter
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #8, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #14, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −38.9 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10 Propylparaben at #26, endocrine-scrutinized preservative
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- +1 Coated minerals (Alumina)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Octisalate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #9
- +1.5 Volatile silicone at #7, flashes off
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −4 Glyceryl Stearate SE at #12, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glyceryl Stearate)
- +0 Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate at #3, ferment, disputed Malassezia trigger (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #9, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 4.5 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer)
- ← 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- → 2 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 4 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica)
- ← 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (31)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
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), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
10 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 4 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
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)
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
20 Alumina
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
23 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
24 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
- ↓ 10 endocrine-scrutinized preservative
-
27 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
28 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
Is SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light UV Cream good for oily skin?
Yes. It has a matte, lightweight finish with low pore-clogging risk, which suits oily and combination skin looking to control shine.
Is the SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light UV Cream SPF50+/PA++++ mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen. It blends Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene and Ethylhexyl Salicylate with Titanium Dioxide and the modern Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine filter.
Does it work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated good as a makeup base, with a matte finish and low white cast. With good protection and a 68.6/100 score, it is a refined daily SPF 50.