WOW skin science Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
61/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
WOW skin science Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray is an SPF 50 spray using an older-school chemical blend of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, and Homosalate with some Titanium Dioxide. It has a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and shows low white cast, and it layers okay with makeup. It is low on breakout triggers but the filters can sometimes sting. Protection is rated good and the score is 60.7/100, a convenient spray option for quick reapplication.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
58
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +16 Octocrylene at #3, UV filter
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #4, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +11.4 Homosalate at #5, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #10, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −22.2 UVB coverage saturated
- −3.9 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Medium
33
- +100 Starting score
- −40 Homosalate at #5 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #2, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #3, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 2 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
🤧
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)
🔥
Eye sting
Medium
32
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −22 Octocrylene at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −6 Homosalate at #5, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
62
- +100 Starting score
- −14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
- −24 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Glyceryl 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 #3, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #10, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- → 4 Glycerin at #8, the anchor humectant
- → 2 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
- → 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- → 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate)
- → 3 1 emollient lipids (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
🌊
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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (18)
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 16 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 22 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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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
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate)
- ↑ 11.4 UV protection
- ↑ 6 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 → nourishing light emollient
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8 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 4 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 → nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
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)
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Plant oil, an emollient
- 2 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 3 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
16 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
What SPF is WOW Sunscreen Spray?
It is SPF 50 in a spray format, convenient for quick reapplication. Protection is rated good with a score of 60.7/100.
Does the WOW skin science Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low on white cast and wears lightweight with a balanced finish. The chemical filters can sometimes sting, so avoid spraying near the eyes.
Is the WOW skin science Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 mineral or chemical?
It is mostly chemical, using older-school filters Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, and Homosalate, with some Titanium Dioxide.