Y.O.U. Sunbrella 2% Niacinamide Brightening Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++
72/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Y.O.U. Sunbrella 2% Niacinamide Brightening Sunscreen is a hybrid chemical SPF 50+ formula built on Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate and avobenzone for broad UVA and UVB coverage. It keeps a balanced finish with low white cast and a lightweight feel, and it is generally non-stinging and low on pore-clogging risk, so it commonly sits well under makeup. The added niacinamide is positioned for brightening support. With a score of 71.9/100 and moderate measured protection, it is a solid everyday face pick for most skin types.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Moderate
50
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #3, UV filter
- +34.2 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +20.9)
- +9 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #32, UV filter (UVA1 +4.8)
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +4 Label claims (SPF 50, PA rating)
☢️
Health safety
High
61
- +100 Starting score
- −36 Octinoxate at #3 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #32, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
71
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Avobenzone at #32, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −16 Octinoxate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −10 Cooling agents (Menthol)
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit at #46, butter/occlusive fat
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Fungal acne
Medium
52
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Sorbitan Stearate)
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit, Hydrogenated Lecithin)
- −18 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Sucrose Cocoate, Steareth-21)
👕
Fabric stains
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- −28 Avobenzone at #32, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) at #6, oil-soluble UVA filter, fabric stains
💧
Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- ← 7.5 4 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Hydrated Silica, Zea Mays Starch, …)
- → 1 Glycerin at #38, the anchor humectant
- → 2 Hyaluronic Acid at #33, hyaluronic family
- → 1 1 strong humectants (Ectoin)
- → 3 Humectant polyols
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
- → 6 Ceramide barrier lipids
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- ← 6 4 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica, Zea Mays Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, …)
- → 1 1 emollient lipids (Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit)
💄
Makeup base
Good
PillsPrimer
- → 8 1 velvet elastomer fillers, blur and grip
- → 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
- ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Carbomer)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for 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
Full ingredient list (74)
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
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- ↑ 18 UV protection
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing humectant polyol
-
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
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
8 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 3 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
11 Carbomer
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
-
15 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
18 Undecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
19 Steareth-21
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
22 Tridecane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
27 Menthol
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Phytosterols
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 9 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 28 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 → nourishing hyaluronic family
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
35 Zinc Pca
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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36 Ectoin
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
- 1 → nourishing humectant
-
Supporting ingredient
-
38 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 → nourishing the anchor humectant
-
39 Polyester-7
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- ↑ 3 film former
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 2 butter/occlusive fat
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
52 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
53 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
58 Asiaticoside
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
59 Ceramide NS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
60 Ceramide AS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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62 Glucose
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
64 Asiatic Acid
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Botanical extract
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
73 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
74 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
Does Y.O.U. Sunbrella Niacinamide sunscreen leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low, so it should wear clear on most skin tones. It is a hybrid chemical SPF 50+ with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is the Y.O.U. Sunbrella 2% Niacinamide Brightening Sunscreen SPF 50+ Pa++++ good for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is generally suitable. The finish is balanced and pore-clogging risk is rated low, so it commonly works for oily and acne-prone skin without feeling heavy.
Is this sunscreen mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical (hybrid) sunscreen. The filters include Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, and avobenzone, with no mineral filters.