Skin Theory Antioxidant Suncream
66/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Skin Theory Antioxidant Suncream is a hybrid sunscreen combining Titanium Dioxide with chemical filters Octocrylene, avobenzone, and the modern Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It has a balanced finish but reads a bit heavier on skin, with some visible white cast, and it is generally a poor base under makeup. Pore-clogging signals are low and it does not usually sting. Protection is excellent, though the overall score is 66.2/100, reflecting the heavier wear and weaker makeup compatibility.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
84
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +18 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #18, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- −8.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −12.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #18, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
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
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- −50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −6 Tinosorb M at #11
🔥
Eye sting
Low
74
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #18, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
32
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
- −20 Cera Alba at #3, wax film
- −18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −17 Isopropyl Myristate at #6, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
High
37
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- −47 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
32
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #18, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #23, hyaluronic family
- → 2 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- → 4 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Myristate)
💄
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 9 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- ← 3 Humectant syrup tackiness
- ← 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +10 1 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
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (32)
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
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 20 wax film
- ↑ 10 wax water lock
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Botanical extract
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 18 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Supporting ingredient
-
20 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
27 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
29 Ribes Nigrum
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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32 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does Skin Theory Antioxidant Suncream leave a white cast?
It can show some visible white cast, which is common with its Titanium Dioxide content. It wears with a balanced finish but reads a bit heavier on skin.
Does the Skin Theory Antioxidant Suncream work under makeup?
It is generally a poor base under makeup, since it wears heavier and is more noticeable. If you want a makeup-friendly option, a lighter formula may suit better.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid sunscreen. It combines Titanium Dioxide with chemical filters Octocrylene, avobenzone, and the modern Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol.