Watsons Dermaction Plus by Watsons Advanced Sun Solar Barrier Sheer Matt Invisible Balm SPF 50+ PA+++
92/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Watsons Dermaction Plus Advanced Sun Solar Barrier Sheer Matt Invisible Balm SPF 50+ PA+++ is a mineral-chemical hybrid combining Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with mineral Titanium Dioxide. It wears matte with a low white cast, feels lightweight and is generally low risk for clogged pores, and it does not tend to sting with sweat. Protection at SPF 50+ is excellent with PA+++ UVA defense. The score of 91.7/100 marks it as a top-tier everyday option.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Excellent
90
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +20.9 Ethylhexyl Triazone at #7, UV filter
- +28.8 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +9.6)
- +9.9 Titanium Dioxide at #22, UV filter (UVA1 +1.5)
- −12.5 UVB coverage saturated
- −2.3 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +3 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
👻
White cast
Low
95
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #22
- +0.9 Coated minerals (Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
99
- +100 Starting score
- −1 Glycine Soja Oil at #32, moderate comedogenic signal
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Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Glycine Soja Oil)
- −27 3 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ceteareth-20, Steareth-2, Steareth-21)
- −2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Stearic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
👕
Fabric stains
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #6, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
- −2 Titanium Dioxide at #22, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 11 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Talc)
- → 10 Glycerin at #4, the anchor humectant
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Glycine Soja Oil)
✨
Finish
Matte
MatteDewy
- ← 12 3 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Talc)
- ← 4 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Dibutyl Adipate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Glycine Soja Oil)
💄
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- → 6 3 soft-focus powders in moderation
- → 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- ← 5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2)
- ← 1.5 Humectant syrup tackiness (partly offset by the base)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance →Full ingredient list (40)
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 3 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 8 UV protection
- ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
4 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 10 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
5 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul A Plus)
- ↑ 34.2 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 15 oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Uvinul T 150)
- ↑ 20.9 UV protection
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
11 Talc
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Modern UV filter, broad-spectrum and photostable (Tinosorb S), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 28.8 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
-
14 Ceteareth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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15 Steareth-2
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
16 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9.9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Solvent base, the water phase
-
27 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
30 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
31 Stearic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 minor malassezia feeder
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- ↑ 1 moderate comedogenic signal
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Botanical extract
-
34 Melanin
Supporting ingredient
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
39 Benzoic Acid
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
Does Watsons Solar Barrier Sheer Matt Balm leave a white cast?
No, it commonly wears matte with a low white cast despite including mineral Titanium Dioxide. The hybrid balm blends in well on most skin tones. It feels lightweight rather than heavy.
Is Watsons Solar Barrier Sheer Matt Balm mineral or chemical?
It is a mineral-chemical hybrid, combining Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone and Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine with mineral Titanium Dioxide. So it uses both types of UV protection.
Is Watsons Solar Barrier Sheer Matt Balm any good?
It scores 91.7/100 with excellent SPF 50+ protection and PA+++ UVA defense. It is matte, lightweight and generally low risk for clogged pores. That makes it a top-tier everyday option.