Biore UV Aqua Rich for oily acne-prone skin

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate hydration and UV protection for your oily skin, as hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide humectant action while UV filters shield against sun damage.
- Grapefruit fruit extract and tocopheryl acetate offer antioxidant benefits, supporting overall skin health for your acne concerns.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis sunscreen is highly praised for its exceptionally lightweight, watery feel that sinks in quickly without leaving a white cast, making it ideal for daily use and as a makeup base. While it offers excellent protection and hydration for most, its significant alcohol and fragrance content can lead to dryness, irritation, or breakouts for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin, and may cause stinging around the eyes.
Highlights
Lightweight & watery Mostly Mentioned
- “melts into skin”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “not greasy”
No white cast Mostly Mentioned
- “transparent finish”
- “no white residue”
- “good for dark skin”
Strong alcohol scent Mostly Mentioned
- “smells like alcohol”
- “overwhelming scent”
- “fumes sting eyes”
Excellent makeup base Often Mentioned
- “primer-like”
- “foundation adheres well”
- “sits well under makeup”
High protection Often Mentioned
- “SPF 50+ PA++++”
- “prevents sunburn”
- “good for summer”
Hydrating & dewy Often Mentioned
- “feels like a moisturizer”
- “dewy finish”
- “non-drying”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings eyes”
- “eyes water constantly”
- “burns if it runs”
Fragrance sensitivity Sometimes Noted
- “strong citrus smell”
- “irritating fragrance”
- “too perfumed”
Shiny/greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “too dewy for oily skin”
- “looks greasy”
- “oil slick by noon”
Skin breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “small bumps”
- “clogged pores”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, skinsort.com, hwahae.co.kr, target.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence work for oily acne-prone skin?
Biore UV Aqua Rich works reasonably well for oily acne-prone skin, as it provides sun protection and moisture without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. However, because other products manage excess oil and target breakouts better, this type of skin needs sun protection with ingredients like zinc oxide, niacinamide, or soothing plant extracts to control shine and keep pores clear.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin make this cream a good fit by providing light hydration, while tocopheryl acetate and UV filters help protect the skin. However, this skin type needs oil-balancing and calming ingredients like zinc oxide, niacinamide, or centella asiatica to manage excess oil and breakouts best.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
What does Octinoxate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Octinoxate helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from sun damage without disrupting normal skin bacteria or worsening breakouts. However, because sunscreens of this type can feel heavy, acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulas with non-clogging ingredients that control shine and keep pores clear.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
What does Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate helps protect oily acne-prone skin from sun damage without feeling heavy. This sunscreen ingredient is unlikely to clog pores, keeping your skin safe from UV rays while maintaining a clear, comfortable feel.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
Biore UV Aqua Rich goes in the morning routine as the final step before sun exposure, after your moisturizer. This product works for your skin by offering moderate hydration and sun protection, though oily acne-prone skin often does better with a lightweight fluid or gel that controls shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with this moisturizer. This routine helps keep your skin soft and smooth while reducing the dryness that retinol may cause.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing SPF every morning to protect your oily, acne-prone skin from the sun. To better support this skin type, products of this type also need oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight textures that control shine.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Biore UV Aqua Rich is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin, as its ingredients show a safe profile and do not disrupt acne-related skin bacteria. However, because it may leave a shiny or greasy finish, this skin type often benefits from lightweight, oil-free formulas with mattifying powders and gentle exfoliants to keep pores clear.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical application of an aqueous gel containing 0.1% w/w naringenin demonstrated in vitro safety, significantly reduced UV-induced stratum corneum lipid peroxidation, and showed in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy against methyl nicotinate-induced inflammation in human participants compared to a blank gel and untreated area, while chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and kaempferol displayed pro-oxidant profiles.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2024The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Replacing 20% of the chemical UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate with urucum oil in solid lipid nanoparticles maintained the skin protection factor without inducing toxic responses or significant skin penetration in human volunteers.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Oral and dermal administration of Uvinul A plus resulted in three major urinary metabolites accounting for 52% of the oral dose, with a very low estimated daily systemic exposure of 8.1-9.3 μg/d in volunteers not intentionally exposed.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2020Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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