Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Sunscreen
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ is a cushion compact using mineral Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide with the older filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate. It sets to a matte finish, leaves little to no white cast, and does not sting, though it feels moderately heavy as a layered base. It is generally low risk for clogging pores and serves as an okay makeup step since it provides its own coverage. With good protection and a score around 74, it is a convenient touch-up sun and makeup hybrid.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
80
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #3, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #5, UV filter
- +31.4 Titanium Dioxide at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- −11.3 UVB coverage saturated
- −0.4 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
👻
White cast
Low
77
- +100 Starting score
- −27.5 Zinc Oxide at #3 (nano)
- −17.5 Titanium Dioxide at #7 (nano)
- −10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- −5 Titanium Dioxide as pigment (CI 77891) at #4
- +30 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +3 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +4.1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
80
- +100 Starting score
- −11 Octinoxate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Volatile alcohol at #49
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Zinc Oxide at #3
- −16 Titanium Dioxide at #7
- +14 Volatile silicone at #2, flashes off
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #27, heavy comedogenic ester
- −2 Isopropyl Palmitate at #30, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
41
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80)
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Iron-oxide pigments at #18, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- −15 Zinc Oxide at #3, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- −5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
💧
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- ← 2 Volatile alcohol at #49
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 12 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #3, mild sebum absorbent
- → 1 Glycerin at #13, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #52, hyaluronic family
- → 2 2 strong humectants (Mel, Beta-Glucan)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- ← 11 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- ← 0.5 Volatile alcohol at #49
- → 2 2 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 8 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- ← 3.8 High mineral load at #3 greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +2 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
Full ingredient list (52)
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
-
Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 8 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 7 volatile carrier, flashes off
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills ← 3.8 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted) (nano)
-
Colorant or pigment
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light ← 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte ← 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide)
- ↑ 31.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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11 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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13 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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14 Propanediol
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
18 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 2 wax water lock
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22 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
24 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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28 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- 1 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
33 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
38 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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40 Adenosine
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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41 Mel
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
47 Lily Extract
Botanical extract
-
48 Beta-Glucan
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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49 Alcohol
Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
51 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
Does the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion leave a white cast?
It is rated low for white cast and sets to a matte finish. As a tinted cushion, it blends into the skin tone you apply it over.
Is the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Sunscreen good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Its matte finish suits oily skin and it is rated low for clogging pores, so it is generally acne-friendly. It does not sting either.
Is this sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is mainly mineral with chemical support. It uses Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide along with the older filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.