Wardah A-arbutin 5% Niacinamide SPF 35 Pa+++ Hyperpigmentation Expert Day Moisturizer
64/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Wardah A-Arbutin 5% Niacinamide SPF 35 PA+++ Day Moisturizer is a chemical sunscreen moisturizer on older-generation filters, with titanium dioxide and brightening actives for hyperpigmentation. It keeps a balanced finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, and pore-clogging risk is low, though it can sting somewhat near the eyes when sweating. Protection is rated good. Its score of 64.1/100 reflects a treatment-focused day cream with moderate sun defense.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #6, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #8, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −10.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.7 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 35, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, 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
87
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Titanium Dioxide at #8
- +2.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
45
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
- −38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #4, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #6, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #8, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
- → 1 Glycerin at #27, the anchor humectant
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Stearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 2 2 sebum-absorbing powders (Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- ← 2.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate 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
- ✨ Bisabolol
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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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
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
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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15 Bisabolol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
pH adjuster
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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19 Allantoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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23 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Supporting ingredient
-
25 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Supporting ingredient
-
27 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
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28 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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29 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
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31 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
Is the Wardah A-arbutin 5% Niacinamide SPF 35 Pa+++ Hyperpigmentation Expert Day Moisturizer mineral or chemical?
It is mainly a chemical sunscreen on older-generation filters, with some titanium dioxide. It also includes brightening actives aimed at hyperpigmentation.
Does the Wardah A-arbutin 5% Niacinamide SPF 35 Pa+++ Hyperpigmentation Expert Day Moisturizer leave a white cast?
White cast is generally low, and it wears with a balanced, lightweight finish. It can sting somewhat near the eyes when sweating.
Is it good for sun protection?
Protection is rated good at SPF 35 PA+++ and it scores 64.1/100. It is a treatment-focused day moisturizer with moderate sun defense.