SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening Uv Defense Sunscreen Spf 50
85/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 is a hybrid chemical sunscreen using a modern filter set, including Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol. It has a matte, lightweight finish, keeps clogging low, and shows little to no white cast, so it rates as a good makeup base. It can sting somewhat near the eyes, which is common for this kind of blend. With excellent protection and a high overall score of 84.9/100, it is a premium daily sunscreen for those who want strong coverage and a brightening focus.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
100
- +22 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #3, UV filter
- +38 Drometrizole Trisiloxane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +13.3)
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #9, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +38.4 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +14.4)
- +9.6 Octocrylene at #13, UV filter
- +4.8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #15, UV filter
- β40.6 UVB coverage saturated
- β28.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- β10.7 UVA1 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Octocrylene at #13 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
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White cast
Low
92
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #22
- β6 Tinosorb M at #12
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Eye sting
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β2 Octocrylene at #13, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β1 Octisalate at #15, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β18 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Fungal acne
Medium
56
- +100 Starting score
- β42 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
High
20
- +100 Starting score
- β45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #13, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Mexoryl XL at #4, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 22 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 1 Glycerin at #29, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #2
- β 3 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate)
π
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 10 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #2), fast, even canvas
- β 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 1 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (35)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β 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
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
- β 5 Alcohol high up speeds filter migration
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 22 UV protection
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl XL)
- β 38 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 10 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Supporting ingredient
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- β 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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10 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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11 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 38.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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13 Octocrylene
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 9.6 UV protection
- β 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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14 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 4.8 UV protection
- β 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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17 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Supporting ingredient
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19 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Colorant or pigment
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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28 Mica
Colorant or pigment
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29 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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30 PEG-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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33 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
Does SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense work under makeup?
Yes, it is rated a good makeup base and has a matte finish, so it generally sits well under foundation. It is lightweight and shows little to no white cast.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a hybrid chemical sunscreen using a modern filter set, including Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, and Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol.
Is SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF 50 good?
It earns a high overall score of 84.9/100 with excellent protection, making it a premium daily sunscreen. It can sting somewhat near the eyes, so apply carefully around them.