Topicrem MELA Corrective Day Cream SPF 20
79/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Topicrem MELA Corrective Day Cream SPF 20 is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen combining Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. It feels lightweight with a matte finish and low white cast, and is unlikely to sting, with low pore-clogging potential. At SPF 20 its protection rates as excellent for that label, and a score of 78.8 out of 100 makes it a comfortable daily face cream.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Excellent
86
- +48 Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +17.1 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #7, UV filter
- +38.4 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- β15.5 UVB coverage saturated
- β2.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #7 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Medium
58
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β1 1 declared fragrance allergens
- β11 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
- β6 Sensitizers from 3 different categories
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White cast
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β25 Tinosorb M at #2, may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
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Eye sting
Low
79
- +100 Starting score
- β11 Octinoxate at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
- β2 1 declared fragrance allergens
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Fungal acne
High
26
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate)
- β50 6 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-4 Dilaurate)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 16 Glycerin at #3, the anchor humectant
β¨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- β 1 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 3 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 7 Humectant syrup tackiness
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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¨ Vitamin C
- β¨ Niacinamide
Full ingredient list (42)
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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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb M), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 48 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 25 may look bluish-grey on deeper skin tones
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3 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 16 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate)
- β 17.1 UV protection
- β 11 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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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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12 Niacinamide
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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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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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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18 Ceteth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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19 Steareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Volatile hydrocarbon, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 1 volatile carrier, flashes off
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25 Tromethamine
pH adjuster
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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27 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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35 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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36 PEG-4
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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37 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
39 Dextran
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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41 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
42 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Is the Topicrem MELA Corrective Day Cream mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen built on Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol plus Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate. It contains no mineral zinc or titanium filters.
Is the Topicrem MELA Corrective Day Cream SPF 20 good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It has a matte, lightweight finish with low pore-clogging potential, so it is generally well suited to oily and acne-prone skin. Patch testing first is sensible.
What SPF is it and is it any good?
It is an SPF 20 day cream with a strong overall score of 78.8 out of 100. SPF 20 suits everyday low-exposure wear rather than long, intense sun.