Wardah 50 SPF Acne Calming
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Wardah Acne Calming is a hybrid chemical SPF sunscreen aimed at acne-prone skin, using Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, and Ethylhexyl Triazone. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and has low white cast. Low breakout risk fits its acne-calming focus, and it works as an okay makeup base, though it may sting near the eyes for some. Protection is rated moderate and the score is 65/100, so it is a serviceable daily option rather than a top performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
43
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #7, UV filter
- +17.6 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #11, UV filter
- −15 UVB coverage saturated
- ×0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #7, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
65
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Olivate)
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- −14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Cetearyl Olivate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
30
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #7, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
- → 1 Glycerin at #14, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Panthenol)
- → 3 Humectant polyols
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethyl Methacrylate)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Niacinamide
- ✨ Panthenol (B5)
- ✨ Allantoin
Full ingredient list (33)
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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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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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
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
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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
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
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13 Panthenol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
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14 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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15 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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21 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Botanical extract
-
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Botanical extract
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
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30 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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33 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
Is Wardah Acne Calming SPF good for acne-prone skin?
Yes, it is designed for acne-prone skin and is rated low for breakout risk. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and is generally unlikely to clog pores.
Is this a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a chemical sunscreen with a hybrid filter set: Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, and Ethylhexyl Triazone.
Is Wardah Acne Calming SPF any good?
It scores 65/100 with protection rated moderate, so it is a serviceable daily option rather than a top performer. It may sting near the eyes for some.