Biore UV Aqua Rich for acne-prone skin

Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 moisturizing and UV protection for your combination skin, with hyaluronic acid and glycerin providing humectant action while tocopheryl acetate offers antioxidant benefits.
- While supportive for general skincare, the formula is not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, lacking ingredients that directly address these concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM every morning as the final step of your daily routine.
- Layer the moisturizing sunscreen after your moisturizer has fully absorbed, right before heading out into the sun .
- Smooth a nickel-sized amount of the moisturizing sunscreen evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Perform a patch test before first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
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 work for acne-prone skin?
Biore UV Aqua Rich works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, offering moderate moisture and sun protection with a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. However, it lacks specific ingredients to target breakouts and blemishes. A product for this skin needs soothing ingredients that address acne, along with ceramides and pore-friendly minerals to balance oily and dry areas without clogging pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cream is an average fit for your skin because it provides general moisture and sun protection with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and tocopheryl acetate, but it lacks ingredients that directly target breakouts. A top-tier product for this skin needs soothing ingredients like zinc oxide and niacinamide that help calm blemishes while offering sun protection without clogging pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Octinoxate do for acne-prone skin?
Octinoxate helps protect acne-prone skin from UV rays without clogging pores or disrupting normal facial bacteria. It is unlikely to trigger breakouts, though acne-prone skin still needs lightweight, non-greasy formulations.
What does Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate do for acne-prone skin?
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate is a sunscreen ingredient that protects acne-prone skin from UV rays without clogging pores. Because it shields against the sun, it helps prevent dark spots from lingering after breakouts heal.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing sunscreen goes last in your morning routine after your moisturizer, providing moderate UV protection and hydration with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and tocopheryl acetate. While it is safe and works well enough, acne-prone skin needs products with targeted ingredients that directly clear blemishes and breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this sunscreen after applying your retinol treatment to protect your skin during the day while keeping it soft and moisturized. Because this product does not directly target breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a dedicated treatment step with active ingredients that address blemishes.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing spf every morning to protect your skin and keep it soft and comfortable. Daily application helps maintain hydration and supports your skin barrier.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging, and breakouts are a low complaint from reviewers, though it lacks specific ingredients to target acne. To work best for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing and blemish-clearing ingredients that directly address breakouts.
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, 2017Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Dermatological 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, 2021The 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, 2024Replacing 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
Why other sunscreens fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 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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