Taiyu SPF 50 Sunscreen Aqua Gel
57/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Taiyu SPF 50 Sunscreen Aqua Gel is a chemical sunscreen using older filters including Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate), Avobenzone and Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3). It has a balanced finish, feels lightweight and is unlikely to leave a white cast, though it can sting somewhat near the eyes. Breakout risk is generally low and it sits okay under makeup. With moderate protection and a score of 56.6/100, it is a middling option compared with sunscreens on more modern filters.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
45
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #6, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #7, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #8, UV filter
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
14
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #8 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
Allergens
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −6 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
60
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −11 Octinoxate at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
35
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #7, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #8, yellow stains on white cotton
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- → 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 7.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer)
- ← 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (24)
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
-
pH adjuster
-
3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
5 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- ↑ 17.1 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
-
Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
16 Arbutin
Supporting ingredient
-
17 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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21 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
22 Colour
Supporting ingredient
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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24 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
Is the Taiyu SPF 50 Sunscreen Aqua Gel good?
It scores 56.6/100 in our ratings, a below-average result. Protection is moderate and it relies on older filters, so sunscreens on more modern filters generally rate higher.
Is the Taiyu SPF 50 Sunscreen Aqua Gel mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen, using Octinoxate, Avobenzone and Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3). It contains no mineral filters.
Does it leave a white cast?
No, white cast risk is low. As a chemical aqua gel it dries down clear, though it can sting somewhat if it gets near the eyes.