SOS Serum SOS SPF 50 Sun Cream
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
SOS Serum SOS SPF 50 Sun Cream is a chemical sunscreen on an older filter base including Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, and Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, plus some Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It wears lightweight with a balanced finish but tends toward a visible white cast. It is generally low on pore-clogging potential and does not commonly sting. With good protection and a score of 71.5/100, it is a serviceable SPF 50 with a dated filter set.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
68
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #2, UV filter
- +14 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +13.3 Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- +38.9 Zinc Oxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +17.1)
- −29 UVB coverage saturated
- −13.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.72 Avobenzone without a photostabilizer
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
90
- +100 Starting score
- −10 Avobenzone at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
👻
White cast
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Zinc Oxide at #7
- −35 Titanium Dioxide at #6
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
🔥
Eye sting
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Ensulizole at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
62
- +100 Starting score
- −22 Zinc Oxide at #7
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #6
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −10 Titanium Dioxide at #6, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Zinc Oxide at #7, mild sebum absorbent
- → 4 Glycerin at #9, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #13, hyaluronic family
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Polyacrylate)
- ← 6 High mineral load at #6 greys under foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
- ✨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (16)
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
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 14 UV protection
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Amiloxate)
- ↑ 13.3 UV protection
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 10 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- pills ← 6 High mineral load greys under foundation
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide)
- ↑ 38.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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9 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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12 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Does SOS Serum SOS SPF 50 leave a white cast?
Yes, it tends toward a visible white cast. It is otherwise lightweight with a balanced finish, so the residue is the main cosmetic drawback.
Is the SOS Serum SOS SPF 50 Sun Cream mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen on an older filter base, including Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane and Ethylhexyl Salicylate, with some Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It scores 71.5/100 with good protection. It is a serviceable SPF 50, though the dated filters and white cast hold it back from a higher rating.