SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Uv Defense Spf 50
82/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense SPF 50 is a hybrid facial sunscreen pairing chemical filters such as Octinoxate, Mexoryl SX, and Tinosorb S with Titanium Dioxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish, low white cast, and is generally non-stinging and low on pore-clogging, so it sits well under makeup. The broad filter blend delivers good protection for daily face wear. A score of 81.6/100 marks it as a strong, well-rounded daily facial option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
79
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- +22.4 Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +8)
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- β9.6 UVB coverage saturated
- β9.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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White cast
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- +1 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide)
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Eye sting
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β4 Volatile alcohol at #9
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Heavy feel
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- β2 Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract at #31, butter/occlusive fat
- +2 Volatile silicone at #5, flashes off
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Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- β1 Palmitic Acid at #16, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Low
78
- +100 Starting score
- β18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- β4 2 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
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Fabric stains
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- β5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Volatile alcohol at #9
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 10 Glycerin at #6, the anchor humectant
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 1 Volatile alcohol at #9
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Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #9), fast, even canvas
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- β 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (33)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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6 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Mexoryl SX), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 22.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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pH adjuster
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- β 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
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14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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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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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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21 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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22 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Supporting ingredient
-
24 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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28 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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29 Xanthan Gum
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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Botanical extract
- β 2 butter/occlusive fat
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
Is this a good daily face sunscreen?
Yes. It scores 81.6/100 with good protection, a balanced lightweight finish, and low white cast, making it a strong everyday facial pick.
Is the SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Uv Defense Spf 50 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a balanced finish and low pore-clogging risk, so it is generally suitable for combination and breakout-prone skin.
Is the SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Uv Defense Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, blending chemical filters such as Octinoxate, Mexoryl SX, and Tinosorb S with Titanium Dioxide.