u star Vit C Sun Cream SPF50 Pa+++
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
u star Vit C Sun Cream SPF50 Pa+++ is a chemical-leaning cream using older-generation filters such as ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, with a touch of titanium dioxide. It has a dewy finish, stays lightweight, and shows low white cast, with an okay makeup fit. It may sting slightly near the eyes. With a score of 69.4 and good protection, it is a comfortable daily cream, held back by its old-school filter base.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
76
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +11.4 Homosalate at #4, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #5, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +11.2 Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid at #9, UV filter
- +19.8 Titanium Dioxide at #17, UV filter (UVA1 +3)
- −19.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −1.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #4 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #5, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
67
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #17
- +0.9 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide, Methicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
44
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Homosalate at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −2 Ensulizole at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
96
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #17
- −2 Petrolatum at #30, heaviest occlusive
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Myristic Acid at #23, moderate comedogenic signal
- −1 Lauric Acid at #26, moderate comedogenic signal
- −4 Palmitic Acid at #11, moderate comedogenic signal
🍄
Fungal acne
High
29
- +100 Starting score
- −24 2 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid)
- −38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
- −9 3 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
High
28
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #5, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #17, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
- → 9 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
- → 1 Occlusives seal moisture in (Petrolatum)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 1 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- → 3 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
- ← 1 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (50)
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.
-
1 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 9 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- ↑ 11.4 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- ↑ 15.2 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
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
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Legacy UV filter (Ensulizole), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 11.2 UV protection
- ↑ 2 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
10 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 4 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
14 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
pH adjuster
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 19.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
18 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
21 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
26 Lauric Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
28 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
29 Methicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
30 Petrolatum
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 2 heaviest occlusive
- 1 → dewy occlusive
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
32 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
39 Arbutin
Supporting ingredient
-
40 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
42 Glutathione
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
Does u star Vit C Sun Cream SPF50 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. With a dewy finish, it generally applies clear and feels lightweight.
Is the u star Vit C Sun Cream SPF50 Pa+++ mineral or chemical?
It is chemical-leaning, using older-generation filters such as ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, with a touch of titanium dioxide.
How good is it overall?
It scores 69.4 with good UV protection, making it a comfortable daily cream. The old-school filter base is the main thing holding it back.